Becker's Spine Review

48 DEVICES & IMPLANTS 1st commercial cases performed with NuVasive's spine platform By Carly Behm T he first commercial cases using NuVasive's Pulse Platform for spine surgery have been completed in Ohio and Texas. Michael Kachmann, MD, and Zachary Tempel, MD, from May- field Brain & Spine in Cincinnati used Pulse in an extreme lateral interbody fusion with minimally invasive fixation and nerve root decompression, according to a Sept. 30 news release. The surgery was performed at TriHealth's Good Sa- maritan Hospital in Cincinnati. Paul Holman, MD, of Houston Methodist Hospital per- formed the first commercial case with Pulse in Texas. Dr. Holman helped with the clinical development of Pulse, and he described the technology as a "game-changer" for spine surgery. Pulse is an integrated platform designed to increase safety and efficiency in spine surgery. It received FDA approval in July. n 7 key robotics updates from Q3 By Carly Behm F rom a revealing study about surgical robot technology to debut surgeries, here are seven key updates on spine and orthopedic robots in the third quarter: 1. Thomas Mazahery, MD, of OrthoVirginia performed the Washington, D.C., region's first spine surgery using artificial intelligence-driven robotic technology on July 19. 2. Curtis Kephart, MD, performed Delray Beach, Fla.-based Delray Medical Center's first knee replacement with the Smith+Nephew Cori Robot. 3. Parkland Medical Center in Derry, N.H., has become the first hospital in the state to offer robotic spine surgery. The hospital onboarded Globus Medical's ExcelsiusGPS system. 4. Zimmer Biomet's Rosa Hip System was approved for ro- bot-assisted direct anterior total hip replacements. 5. Drawbacks of robotic surgery include additional operating room time and concerns related to the accurate implantation of pedicle screws. But Darren Lebl, MD, of New York City- based Hospital for Special Surgery said the technology has reached a tipping point.. 6. Trevor Pickering, MD, of Mississippi Sports Medicine & Or- thopaedic Center in Jackson, performed the country's first robotic hip replacement surgery with Zimmer Biomet's Rosa system. n Medtronic adds to minimally invasive spine portfolio By Carly Behm M edtronic announced three new additions to its minimally invasive spine surgery offerings. These additions make Medtronic the only com- pany to combine spinal implants, biologics, navigation, robotics and artificial intelligence data, according to a Sept. 30 news release. The Catalyft PL and PL40 are part of the Catalyft expand- able interbody system. They are designed for anterior rim engagement and integrate with StealthStation. The Space-D access system enables pedicle-screw-based distraction, retraction and compression. It's compatible with Medtronic's CD Horizon Solera Voyager. The Accelerate Graft Delivery System with Grafton DBF sys- tem is made for more controlled and efficient delivery of graft material. It enables more bone graft to facilitate fusions and is faster than traditional graft delivery methods. n Alphatec launches new spinal fixation system By Carly Behm A lphatec launched the InVictus OsseoScrew expandable spinal fixation system, according to a Sept. 29 news release. The device is designed to be an alternative to the con- ventional use of cemented fenestrated screws in pa- tients with compromised bone and helps restore spinal column integrity. InVictus OsseoScrew integrates with the InVictus minimally invasive and open platforms, along with Alphatec's SafeOp automated EMG. Christopher DeWald, MD, of Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush in Chicago, described the system as "a solution for an underserved patient population." "The system allows the surgeon a controlled expan- sion to optimize fixation with improved screw purchase, while helping to minimize the clinical challenge of ped- icle screw failure by pull out," he said in a news release. "It can be elegantly integrated with SafeOp to provide a more predictable technique and reinforce confidence during screw insertion." n

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