Bovie Medical received FDA clearance for its J-Plasma handpiece with retractable cutting feature for coagulating soft tissue during surgeries. It is available for both open and laparoscopic procedures.

The device is powered by a previously approved Bovie GS electrosurgical generator.

Read More

Intra-operative imaging has been helping surgeons work on patients with greater confidence and increased precision.

We had a chance to ask Amy Boyle, Executive Vice President, Marketing at IMRIS, about the benefits of intra-operative imaging, and specifically about the company’s VISIUS Surgical Theatre that comes with either CT or MRI scanner that can quickly slide in and out of the OR to image the patient on the table as needed.

Read More

Suspension Orthopaedics just announced that their hybrid fixation plate for distal clavicle fractures has received FDA approval. Distal clavicle fractures are extremely difficult to fix surgically. Currently two methods are frequently used to approach this challenging problem. One method is to use a plate with screws to secure the fracture. However, this can be very difficult because there is usually very little to no bone to secure a plate to. Frequently a special hook plate must be used to achieve adequate fixation. Another method is to reconstruct the coracoclavicular ligaments, which are ligaments connecting the coracoid, a part of the scapula, to the clavicle. By reconstructing these ligaments the displaced clavicle is often brought into the appropriate position so the fracture can heal.

In order to better address these complicated  fractures, Suspension Othopaedics has designed a unique plating system that creates a hybrid of these two approaches. Their device allows for both fixation to the coracoid while also having the mechanical strength of plate fixation. Hopefully with these two methods joining forces we will begin to see better outcomes for these very difficult to treat fractures.

Read More

TeDan Surgical Innovations has launched the Phantom Series MIS Anterior Hip Retractor System, a hip retractor that enables surgeons to perform entire anterior approach hip replacements without a fracture table or a surgical assistant.

The anterior approach for hip replacements is gaining popularity because it minimizes muscle damage, expediting patient recovery time and reduces post-operative discomfort. The Phantom MIS obviates the need for a fracture table and additional surgical assistants for this procedure as is usually necessary. It utilizes a system of adjustable surgical arms with attachable retractors that were designed for increased visibility and help decrease wound size and minimize tissue trauma.

Read More

Metal-on-metal implants have been making headlines in publications such as The New York Times as a result of adverse events associated with them, which include bone and tissue damage. The debris produced by the implants is frequently linked to such problems.

Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham are working to limit such wear by investigating the use of nanodiamond coatings on metal implants. In an early study published in the journal Acta Biomaterialia, the researchers found that the “[n]anostructured diamond coatings improve smoothness and wear characteristics of the metallic component of total hip replacements and increase their longevity.”

Read More

Cardinal Health has made available its Smart-Seal surgical mask that improves both its fit and reduces interior fogging while providing a high level of filtration and resistance to liquids.

From the announcement:

Read More

Medtronic received FDA 510(k) clearance to market its Aquamantys SBS 5.0 Sheathed Bipolar Sealer for sealing soft tissue and epidural veins during spinal surgery.

The device delivers RF energy for cauterization and saline to keep the area clean and clear for easy access around sensitive tissue.

Read More

While joint arthroplasty has become impressively advanced over the past few decades, the essence of the procedure still ultimately boils down to trial and error. Using pre-operative X-rays and intra-operative sizing guides, joint surgeons pick from a pre-set list of joint replacement “sizes.” Then, once the bone cuts have been made, temporary implants called “trials” are used to see how the fit is, and the best fit is selected. Rarely are these pre-determined sizes a perfect fit, but they are usually more than sufficient and function quite well.

However, in the quest for perfection, patient-matched custom implants are beginning to increase in popularity. Stanmore Implants just announced the launch of their custom matched unicondylar knee replacement system dubbed “Savile Row,” after the famous Tailoring destination. Unicondylar knee replacements are used in patients with isolated arthritis in one part of their knee and only replace the damaged portion.

Read More

Medshape out of Atlanta, GA is bringing to market its ExoShape Soft Tissue Fastener for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructive surgery.

The device was offered to a limited number of sports medicine surgeons last year for evaluation and for refinement of the procedure.

Read More

Planmed (Helsinki, Finland) has received European CE Mark for the Planmed Verity, a mobile extremity CT scanner for orthopedic imaging. The Planmed Verity Extremity Scanner utilizes cone-beam CT (CBCT) technology that provides fast and accurate low-dose 3D imaging of peripheral skeletal fractures and disorders at the point-of-care. Volumetric imaging with multi-planar reconstruction and volume rendering can be performed with an isotropic resolution of up to 0.2mm (optional 0.1mm high resolution mode).

Scanning takes less than 20 seconds during which images are acquired using a short X-ray pulse instead of continuous radiation, resulting in a radiation dose of up to ten times lower compared to extremity imaging protocols with conventional CT. The compact, mobile device can be sited in any existing X-ray room, side-by-side with other imaging systems.

Read More