Allen Spine (Acton, Mass.). Allen Spine, a division of Allen Medical Systems, develops patient positioning systems designed to enhance surgical access. The Allen Spine System is able to turn an OR table into a surgical spine system by allowing intraoperative lumbar spine flexing from kyphosis to lordis. The company’s spine product line features several other products designed for procedures such as lateral lumbar interbody fusion. Allen Medical Systems was founded in 1984 by Dan Allen and has grown to include orthopedic, spine, gynecology, laproscopic and urology product lines. Led by vice president and general manager Jason Krieser, Allen Medical Systems has become one of the top players in the spine and hip positioning accessories markets.
Amedica/US Spine (Salt Lake City). Amedica received FDA clearance for the first load-bearing ceramic spine device in 2006. The next year, the company received clearance for the Valeo Spacer System implants, cervical plating system and pedicle screw system using the technology. The silicon nitride ceramic has a higher resistance to wear when compared with other materials and performs comparably under MRI, fluoroscopy and CT imaging systems, according to the company. President, director and CEO Ben Shappley brought 28 years of orthopedic and neurosurgical implant experience with him when he joined in 2009. The company recently emerged in the European reconstructive surgery market by submitting a design dossier to the British Standards Institute requesting distribution permission for its total ceramic femoral head technology.
Blue Chip Surgery Center Partners (Cincinnati). Experts at Blue Chip are focused on partnering with physicians to develop largely physician-owned spine surgery centers. The company takes care of financial, payor, legal and operational matters, allowing surgeons to focus on the clinical aspect of the facilities. The company has helped develop several successful spine ASCs, including Mayfield Clinic Spine Surgery Center in Cincinnati, Parkway Neuroscience & Spine Institute in Hagerstown, Md., and St. Louis Spine surgery Center in Creve Couer, Mo. The company also provides turnaround services for underperforming centers and works on joint ventures with hospitals and health systems. In addition to spine-focused ASCs, Blue Chip experts can help add spine to an existing multi-specialty ASC.
Invibio Biomaterials Solutions (West Conshohocken, Pa.). Invibio is a medical device manufacturer that provides PEEK-based biomaterials for orthopedic and spine applications. Founded in 2001 with the help of current president Michael J. Callahan, the company has a focus on manufacturing and selling quality PEEK products. The company has been a player in the field for the past decade and collaborated with companies such as Smith & Nephew to develop advanced structural bioresorbable materials. In 2009, the company introduced the MORTIS polymer, an enhanced PEEK polymer with properties for articulating and bearing applications against hard counterfaces.
joimax (Irvine, Calif.). Founded by Wolfgang Ries of Germany in 2001, joimax focuses on technologies, systems and methods for integrating endoscopic surgical access to the spine. The minimal incision allows surgeons to perform surgery with less damage to surrounding tissues. The company’s products include the TESSYS transforaminal endoscopic surgical system, Shrill shaver drill system and C-Camsources combined camera light source system. The joimax products are designed as user-friendly and cost-effective systems for endoscopic spine surgery. This past April, the company held a user meeting in Denver and plans to attend several other professional conferences throughout the year.
Musculoskeletal Imaging Consultants (San Antonio). Founded by CEO Douglas Smith, MD, a radiologist who completed orthopedics training at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., Musculoskeletal Imaging Consultants provides teleradiology services to orthopedic surgeons and practices across the country. The company’s radiologists are selected for their expertise in musculoskeletal radiology and are available through telephone or interactive online consulting sessions. Radiologists have a special focus on spine, sports medicine, hand surgery and neuroradiology. The company’s Virtual Viewbox, which is HIPAA/HITECH compliant, allows physicians to view their readings anywhere with internet access. The TeleradPAD iPad based interface allows physicians to view reports and attached annotated images with their handheld devices.
Scolisoft (Charlottesville, Va.). Scolisoft was founded by Vincint Arlet, MD, a spine surgeon with the University of Virginia School of Medicine in Charlottesville, and powered by AOSpine. The website is a database of images and information gathered from patients who have been treated for scoliosis. Surgeons are able to become members of the website and use the database as guidance during unusual cases or for research purposes. Surgeons may also upload their cases onto the website so other surgeons can access them, once they are registered users. The website is HIPAA compliant and can be used for patient education as well.
Spine-Health (Deerfield, Ill.). Spine-Health is a publication developed by a multi-specialty group of medical professionals to provide information about back pain and spine care for patients and physicians. The website also provides space for interaction between users to share information about a variety of pain-related subjects open to users of all age groups. Founded in 1999 by Peter F. Ullrich, Jr., MD, and Stephanie Burke, the publication has grown to cover topics such as back pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia, depression and osteoporosis. The publication’s content is reviewed by health professionals with the goal of providing clear, unbiased, non-commercial articles about patient care. The website is free to all users and supported by physicians. The publication has received several awards, including the Medical Standard of Excellence Award from WebAwards and eHealthcare Leadership Award.
Spine Surgical Innovation (Easton, Mass.). Spine Surgical Innovation markets and distributes the Holmed Swivel Port System for use in minimal incision spine surgery. The Swivel Port is designed to allow surgeons access to the spine without disrupting the muscle and has applications in both posterior and lateral lumbar approaches. Most recently, the company launched the In-Situ Cobalt Chrome 3.2 and 3.5mm Rod Cutters, which are designed to save time during use. The company also offers two new systems designed for posterior cervical spine surgery. The company markets its surgeon-driven products globally and has a focus on making surgical instruments systems safe, effective and easy to use.
Symbion Healthcare (Nashville, Tenn.). Symbion acquires, develops and operates short-stay surgical facilities through partnership with physicians, hospitals and health systems. The company’s network includes more than 70 short-stay facilities in 28 states across the company. Symbion experts assist these facilities to increase case volume and revenue, manage costs, maximize efficiency and enhance clinical quality. The company recently acquired Neospine, a developer and operator of outpatient spine surgery facilities. Through this line of business, Symbion is partnering with neurosurgeons and orthopedic spine surgeons to manage outpatient surgical facilities with interventional pain care, imaging and stereotactic radiosurgery services.
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