Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1425344
50 DEVICES & IMPLANTS Centinel spine launches new implants for total disc replacement system By Carly Behm C entinel Spine launched new angled endplate implants for the Prodisc L total disc replacement system. The endplates are designed to shift the lordotic angle of the implant to the inferior endplate and give surgeons more options to address a patient's lumbar anatomy and pathology. J. Rush Fisher, MD, of Philadelphia-based Penn Spine Center, has used the endplates for lumbar arthroplasties, according to a Sept. 28 news release. "The overall balance of the spine simply looks better," Dr. Fisher said. "This is especially true at the L5-S1 lev- el where an 11 degree implant is needed and on all multi-level cases." n NuVasive opens training center in New York City By Carly Behm N uVasive opened its East Coast Experience Center in New York City, according to a Sept. 23 news release. The center focuses on training surgeons on techniques including the X360, XLIF and C360 procedures. It has educational training rooms and a dedicated site to demonstrate its Pulse platform. The East Coast Experience Center compliments NuVa- sive's flagship experience center in San Diego. "The NuVasive East Coast Experience Center demon- strates our commitment to world-class surgeon educa- tion and training to help improve the standard of patient care in spine surgery," CEO J. Christopher Barry said. "This investment continues to play an integral role in the adoption of NuVasive's spine procedures and technol- ogies, especially as we integrate the Pulse platform into our procedural offering." n Ohio State University debuts augmented-reality spine surgery system By Carly Behm T he Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus performed the state's first augmented reality-assisted spine surgery. Safdar Khan, MD, an orthopedic spine surgeon, used the Augmedics Xvision spine system for spine implant proce- dures, according to a Sept. 14 announcement. He used the technology to see a 3D model of a patient's spine while looking at them on the operating table. "The addition of augmented reality to the full complement of complex spinal care available at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center will enhance our clinical team's ability to develop an effective, personalized treatment plan for pa- tients," Dr. Khan said. n Orthopedic executive gets 8 months in prison for role in kickback scheme By Laura Dyrda B ruce Thomas, the owner of Pinnacle Orthopedic Ser- vices, an orthopedic devices and orthotics company, was sentenced to eight months in prison Sept. 10 for his role in a kickback scheme, according to Bethesda Magazine. Mr. Thomas pleaded guilty in May to giving David Laufer, former chief of prosthetics and orthotics at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., $20,000 in cash, airplane tickets and other items in exchange for the hospital's business. Pinnacle received $20 million from Walter Reed for pros- thetics and orthotics from 2012 to 2019 through blanket project agreements. Mr. Thomas was ordered to pay a $50,000 fine and $28,000 in restitution in addition to serv- ing eight months in prison. Mr. Laufer pleaded guilty to his role in the scheme last October and was sentenced in Sep- tember to eight months in prison. n