SpineGuard receives EU patent for its Smart Screw

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SpineGuard has been granted a patent by the European Patent Office for the integration of its Dynamic Surgical Guidance technology directly into a pedicle screw.

SpineGuard’s proprietary technology platform, already used in its PediGuard product, enables surgeons to place pedicle screws “more safely and accurately” delivering significant benefits for patients, surgeons and hospitals. A company press release says that the smart screw product represents the next generation of the technology, migrating the sensory technology into the screw itself and thereby delivering further clinical workflow, economic and patient outcome benefits. In SpineGuard’s ‘smart screw’ concept, the sensor is embedded at the tip of the screw with the electronic component located in the screwdriver handle.

“This grant follows previous patent grants in the USA and China and, combined, means we now have an exceptionally strong and broad IP position relating to the Smart Screw technology platform,” said Stéphane Bette, chief technology officer and co-founder of SpineGuard.

“There is a well-documented safety issue associated with pedicle screw placement and a striking unmet need for differentiation among the numerous pedicle screw systems in an ultra-competitive arena. This new block in our IP portfolio brings us incremental value and confidence as we complete development and prepare the roll-out of our dynamically guided screw products,” added Pierre Jérôme, CEO and co-founder of SpineGuard.