Medtronic Rolls Out Two New Spinal Devices

The Memphis, Tenn.-based Spinal and Biologics division of Medtronic Inc., recently released two new spinal products. Late last week the company kicked off the U.S. launch of its Atlantis Vision Elite anterior cervical plate system and the Vertex Select Chromaloy Plus rods to treat the occipitocervical and upper-thoracic spine.

The Atlantis Vision Elite is a titanium implant used to treat patients who suffer from degenerative disc disease that affects the neck—the cervical spine. When a spinal disc is diseased, it can lose height, compressing nerves and causing pain in the neck. There are an estimated 180,000 cervical fusion procedures performed in the United States each year to relieve compression on the spinal cord or nerve roots, according to figures cited by Medtronic.

The device is designed to provide stability during spinal fusion, which involves joining two bones together, such as adjacent vertebrae.

This system combines two existing Medtronic technologies in one plate—a quarter turn locking mechanism designed to prevent the screws from backing out or loosening during fusion, and a plate design that offers surgeons visibility to better view the spine.

Medtronic’s Atlantis product line has more than 12 years of clinical history.

“This system further differentiates our anterior cervical fixation portfolio by building on the clinical experience and innovation of the Atlantis platform,” said Doug King, president of Medtronic Spinal. “It is the result of the merging of two of our market leading technologies into one implant.”

The system consists of a variety of shapes and sizes of bone plates, screws and associated instruments. Fixation is provided by bone screws inserted into the vertebral body of the cervical spine using an anterior approach. This system is intended for anterior interbody screw fixation from C2 to T1, and is indicated for use in the temporary stabilization of the anterior spine during the development of cervical spinal fusions in patients with degenerative disc disease (as defined by neck pain of discogenic origin with degeneration of the disc confirmed by patient history and radiographic studies); trauma (including fractures), tumors, deformity (defined as kyphosis, lordosis, or scoliosis), pseudarthrosis, and/or failed previous fusions.

The launch of Vertex Select Chromaloy Plus line of rods was made at the 27th annual meeting of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons/ Congress of Neurological Surgeons Section of Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves in Phoenix, Ariz.

The new product is a supplement to the Vertex Select reconstruction system. During a procedure, a surgeon uses the rods to connect existing or new fusion systems in the patient’s occipitocervical and upper-thoracic spine. Chromaloy rods consist of cobalt chrome alloy material with engineered features, including a blend of three metals that, according to mechanical testing, help improve the rod’s biomechanical characteristics and maintain a more rigid overall construct. Vertex Select is intended to provide stabilization to promote fusion.

“The addition of theChromaloy Plus rods further differentiates the Vertex system by providing a surgeon a choice among multiple rod diameters and material options to better accommodate patient anatomy and pathology,” King said.

The Vertex Select system consists of implants and general instruments that can be used to surgically treat patients with a variety of conditions that can contribute to spinal instability, including degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, fracture, tumors, and/or spondylolisthesis.According to Medtronic, the Vertex system product line has more than 10 years of clinical experience and has been used in more than 100,000 cases.