Minneapolis-based VTI received a U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent for its InterCushion pipeline product.
Here are five points:
1. The patent protects VTI's modular, in-vivo assembly technology and its motion preservation.
2. Canadian clinical trials have shown InterCushion subdues pain, preserves discs and stops modic changes.
3. In those trials, patients are seeing successful outcomes at five years post-implantation.
4. One of the trial researchers, Dr. Philip de Muelenaere, said: "The 5-year follow-up MRI study proves that the prosthesis had maintained its position, maintained the disc height and kept the patients pain free."
5. VTI holds more than 25 patents and patent-pending assets.