First procedures with Spinal Elements’ Katana lateral system successfully performed

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The first procedures using Spinal Elements’ minimally invasive Katana lateral system have been successfully completed.

The Katana lateral system is a muscle-splitting system that is designed to overcome some of the inherent challenges in minimally invasive lateral surgery. Currently-marketed lateral systems can trap tissue as the access is created. Furthermore, the nature of how these systems create the surgical corridor can compress neural structures near the spine. According to a company release, the Katana system was designed to address both of these challenges.

Surgical access with Katana is gently created in the plane of the muscle, intended to prevent the muscle entrapment that can plague earlier technology based system. The posterior-forward design of the Katana system is further intended to help prevent the nerve compression problems that other systems can create. Both of these design enhancements are proprietary to Spinal Elements’ next generation system.

The implants associated with the Katana lateral system use Spinal Elements’ Ti-Bond titanium surface technology. The application of Ti-Bond is intended to allow the implants to maintain their radiolucent properties that permit intraoperative monitoring of implant position while allowing postoperative assessment of fusion progress. These implants also maintain a load-sharing strength profile that has been clinically proven important to the bone-healing process. These properties are further enhanced by the additional stability of Ti-Bond’s roughened surface and longer-term benefits of its hydrophilic titanium structure, according to the release.

Burak Ozgur, a spinal surgeon based in Newport Beach, USA, says, “The system far exceeded my expectations. The Katana system’s design allows for efficient access to the spine without the drawbacks of the other systems available. The lack of muscle entrapment and encroachment into my surgical corridor allows for a more fluid procedure.”