Top Ten Spine Technologies for 2019
A-Line Orthopaedics Corp
Winning Technology: Edge Upper Cervical System™
Inventors and Engineers: Timothy Lasswell, MASc, Parham Rasoulinejad, M.D., and John Medley, Ph.D.
Tim Lasswell, MASc, CEO and Robin Young
Technology Description: The Edge Upper Cervical System (UCS) is a novel C1 posterior arch clamp, and associated instruments/hardware, that replaces C1 lateral mass screws in posterior fusion procedures that require fixation at the C1 vertebrae. The implant was designed to integrate with any posterior cervical system that uses 3.5mm rods.
Edge UCS has two stationary inferior jaws and two independent polyaxial superior jaws. To achieve fixation on the posterior arch, tighten the jaw locking screws that progressively close and form fit (due to the polyaxial mobility) the superior jaws around the posterior arch.
Edge UCS is a 3D printed titanium alloy. 3D printing allows the ball and socket joint of the polyaxial jaws to be manufactured in a single step—which cuts costs. Further, minimizing components in the implant assembly reduces unnecessary stress concentrations and risk of device failure.
Finally, Edge’s instrumentation is very simple due to the inserter tool being a 3-in-1 device that also acts as an anti-torque and fracture reduction tool.
Camber Spine
Winning Technology: ENZA-C™
Inventor and Engineer: David Rathbun
Seth Anderson, David Rathbun, Robin Young, Jason Cianfrani, Dan Pontecorvo, and Joe Paone
Technology Description: ENZA-C is the first self-contained cervical implant that deploys its own internal fixation blades. There are no additional screws or other implants required for fixation.
ENZA-C deploys two nested fixation blades, which penetrate the endplates and firmly keep the implant in place, resisting migration.
Additionally, ENZA-C is manufactured using Direct Metal Laser Sintering of Implantable Titanium alloy. As a result, ENZA-C has an intricate surface structure that presents an osteo-conductive surface to the vertebral endplates.
