Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/984530
42 DEVICES & IMPLANTS Medtronic faces criticism for alleged delayed response in cybersecurity issue: 5 things to know By Mackenzie Garrity W hiteScope, a provider of deep security research and security solutions, found cybersecurity vulnerabilities when doing research on Medtronic's CareLink 2090 defibrillator program, according to the Star Tribune. Here are five things to know. 1. WhiteScope discovered the cybersecurity issues in the defibrillator program could al- low hackers to remotely tamper with the pro- graming of the implanted devices. 2. is issue was first brought to Medtronic's attention a year ago. However, the company released a statement saying the vulnerabilities didn't create a safety risk to patients. 3. Homeland Security published an advisory about the issue and noted Medtronic made improvements to its internal integrity net- work checks and issued advice on keeping the device in secured environments. 4. WhiteScope alleged the cybersecurity is- sues found in Medtronic's device should take a month or two to address. Two other inde- pendent security researchers reviewed the company's report and found the issues are due to CareLink 2090 programmers using commercial soware. 5. Medtronic acknowledged the extended time it took to resolve the issue. e company reiterated while the cybersecurity issues were present, theydid not present harm to patients. It can be difficult for medical technology com- panies to address cybersecurity problems im- mediately. Like Medtronic, companies must determine if patients face a threat first. n 5 things to know about Xenco Medical CEO Jason Haider By Mackenzie Garrity H ere are five things to know about Xenco Medical CEO Jason Haider. 1. Mr. Haider is the founder of Xenco Medical. 2. He has been serving as CEO since 2011. 3. Mr. Haider is responsible for developing and creating Xenco Medical's product strategy and marketing identity. 4. Mr. Haider earned his bach- elor's degree from Cornell Uni- versity in Ithaca, N.Y. 5. Last year, Xenco Medical launched its TraumaGPS ser- vice, an on-demand trauma sur- gery delivery app. n 5 spine surgeons on the future of implant technology & material By Laura Dyrda F ive spine surgeons discuss how implant technology and material will likely evolve in the future. Paul Slosar, MD. President of Spine- Care Medical Group (Daly City, Ca- lif.): The focus is now on surface tech- nologies for fusion implants. The most sophisticated and advanced surface has a unique titanium nano-technology to stimulate the host bone to grow rapid- ly, promoting early osseous-integration. This should lower surgeons' depen- dence on expensive or inflammatory biologics. The porous implants may be better than smooth surfaces, but still lag behind in terms of stimulating a cellular response. Todd J. Lansford, MD. South Caroli- na Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center (North Charleston): The most important trend in spine technology would be the continued integration of biplanar fluoro to navigation. I say this especially because the use of robotics is an expanding field; advances in im- aging will increase the speed for robot procedures. Once navigation improves in speed and ease, robots will be used more frequently. The second trend I see is use of titanium/tritanium implants. This has shown superiority over PEEK and will gain in use throughout the year. Christian Zimmerman, MD. Saint Al- phonsus Medical Group (Boise, Ida- ho): Advancements in onsite hardware creation may be a thing of the extreme future, but online custom-made hard- ware may realize a place in the implant market. Michael Musacchio, MD. NorthShore University HealthSystem's Neurolog- ical Institute (Evanston, Ill.): Over the next five years, we will see a full conver- sion to 3-D navigation in spine surgery, further simplifying procedures, and that will mostly benefit patients in need of correcting deformities. Meanwhile, 3-D printing and custom implants are pro- viding a better fit for patients, resulting in potential cost reductions. Brian Gill, MD. Nebraska Spine Hospi- tal (Omaha): I am interested in seeing how 3-D technology/printing capabil- ities will translate into implant design and function; whether this technology translates into quantifiable better out- comes remains to be seen. n