DePuy expands 3D printed spinal implants portfolio
Device maker DePuy Synthes has launched the Conduit Interbody Platform with EIT Cellular Titanium Technology, expanding its offering to treat degenerative spine disease.
Its portfolio, which includes 3D printed implants for spinal fusion surgery, is designed to mimic natural bone and help facilitate spinal fusion.
During spinal fusion, a degenerated, collapsed disc is removed and replaced with an interbody spacer along with bone graft with the goal of restoring natural height and alignment between two vertebrae. The concept is to replace the former mobile disc space between two vertebrae with an interbody spacer so that the segment fuses as a single, solid bone. Thanks to 3D printing, Conduit Implants are 80% porous – bringing a differentiated cellular structure designed to mimic the properties of bone and assist with intra and post-operative visualisation. The cellular structure has a modulus of elasticity, or change in stiffness, similar to bone. All of these characteristics aim to help facilitate bone fusion.
Dr Wilson Ray, neurological surgeon from St. Louis, Missouri, said: “My experience with Conduit has been in both the lumbar and cervical spine. The implant allows for superior visualisation, virtually no scatter on CT scan and early fusion assessment as compared to other titanium interbody devices.”
Features of Conduit Implants include:
- Nanoscale surface roughness: in in-vitro studies, similar titanium materials with nanoscale features were shown to lead to an increase in adhesion of osteoblasts compared to conventional titanium materials;
- A porosity of 80%, which closely mimics that of human cancellous bone with a porosity of 50%-90%;
- EIT Cellular Titanium material with a modulus of elasticity similar to cancellous bone4 and
- Clear visualization of the space in and around the implant both intra- and post-operatively on X-ray, CT scan and MRI without significant interference as a result of the structure of the interbody cage.
The launch of the Conduit Implants portfolio follows Johnson & Johnson’s acquisition of Emerging Implant Technologies (EIT) in 2018, a developer of 3D printed technologies for spine procedures.
Nadav Tomer, worldwide president, spine, DePuy Synthes said: “Our goal as a spine business is to focus on the areas with the most potential to solve unmet clinical needs, and we are excited to add advanced materials to our interbody portfolio as another option for surgeons. The launch of the Conduit portfolio, together with our comprehensive interbody implant offerings for degenerative disc disease, helps us deliver life-enhancing spine solutions that advance the standard of care for patients everywhere.”