Medtronic announces global launch of its titanium-coated peek interbody fusion devices

6172

Medtronic introduced its pure titanium voating (PTC) platform of interbody fusion devices for the spine at the 2014 Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) meeting (18-22 October, Boston, USA). The PTC platform includes four products: the Capstone PTC, the Clydesdale PTC, the Anatomic PEEK PTC, and the Cornerstone-ST Ti-coated anatomical cervical cage (not available in the USA).

A company press release reports that these PTC devices represent an evolution in interbody fusion technology because they are constructed of a combination of the two materials most commonly used in interbody fusion procedures: titanium and polyetheretherketone (PEEK).


It adds that with the application of a thin layer of textured pure titanium about 1/10th of a millimetre thick to the top and bottom of each PEEK implant, the PTC devices possess attributes of both PEEK and titanium. Specifically, as demonstrated in mechanical testing compared to PEEK alone, the pure titanium coating has a greater coefficient of friction. Additionally, this textured coating increases the surface area of the implant, which means there is more area for bone to come into contact with the surface of the implant. Yet, the titanium layer is thin enough that it does not change the radiolucency or mechanical properties of the underlying PEEK implant.


“Our PTC platform of interbody spacers is the result of our relentless effort to add value to our products and respond to surgeon needs by offering the advantages of combined materials in a single implant,” said Doug King, president of the Spine business and senior vice president at Medtronic. “We will continue to leverage our innovation to produce more advanced and differentiated products for surgeons to use to treat their patients.”


Divergence


Also at the CNS annual meeting, Medtronic announced the US launch of the Divergence anterior cervical fusion system for the treatment of single-level cervical disc disease.


A press release reports that the system represents a new approach to one-level anterior cervical discectomy with fusion (ACDF) procedures. With the Divergence systme, the plate and interbody cage can be inserted simultaneously using a common set of instrumentation and one surgical technique.