Hi cposharky7-ga,
I was just going back through some unanswered questions and I came to
yours. I was surprised nobody tracked down the company or procedure
that you are looking for, but now I see why.
I could find nothing listed in any news releases about the procedure.
Nor could I find anything listed in the way of clinical trials. The
closest I got was this study in Kansas, but it is not what you are
referring to –
Summary: Degenerative Disc Disease of the Back
A clinical trial evaluating the effectiveness of an Allograft Spacer
(implant) to fuse together vertebra in lumbar degenerative disc
disease of the back.
http://www.centerwatch.com/patient/studies/stu28029.html
So, I went at this project the other way. Rather than try to track it
down via the news, I decided to research the technology you refer to;
that is, the injection of a “foam” or similar product between the
vertebra in order to replace the degenerated disc and act as a
cushion.
To this end I found that the operative terms we are looking for are:
Prosthetic Disc Nucleus
Disc nucleus replacement
These are apparently up-and-coming technologies that will be used in
treating degenerative back disease. Unfortunately, most of these are
not at a stage where they are available to the public. Also, because
the technology is new, some of the companies have come and gone
without leaving much of a mark
What I did was go through as many explanatory sites as I could find
and pull out the names of the active companies or products. Then I
researched those individually. As you will see there is very little
out there publicly on most of these companies because the testing is
still in the works.
Directly below is some background on the technology. This is followed
by all the information I could find on each of the companies
referenced.
================================
GENERAL BACKGROUND
================================
“ At least two nuclear replacements are being developed that consist
of polymers that are cured in situ. The ability to insert these
implants via a small anular window may be an attractive factor in
selected patients. Theoretically, this would allow for implantation in
a minimally invasive procedure with very little risk of
implant-related migration.”
Prosthetic Intervertebral Nucleus is an in situ curable polyurethane
that is injected into a polyurethane balloon through an attached
catheter. It polymerizes in the disc space in minutes, after which the
catheter is removed.
BioDisc is constructed with a protein hydrogel. This in situ curable
protein hydrogel is injected into the disc space and cures within
minutes.”
Spinal arthroplasty
VINCENT C. TRAYNELIS, M.D.
Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
http://www.neurosurgery.org/focus/aug02/13-2-10.pdf
--------------------------------------
“Disc Dynamics is testing a balloon-like implant made of polyurethane.
It is implanted through a cannula, and animal studies have been
initiated. Cryolife is testing the Biodisc, a protein hydrogel device
that is injected into the nuclear cavity in a fluid form, but it
rapidly hardens. Disc Augmentation Technologies has initiated
mechanical studies on a thermopolymer that also hardens inside the
disc after being injected as a fluid. Replication Medical's Aquacryl
is a hydrogel undergoing mechanical testing.”
TEXAS BACK - Current spine news
http://www.texasback.com/press/specificpress.cfm?PRID=97
-------------------------------------
“Advanced BioSurfaces (Minnetonka, MN) has developed a system that
features a
polymer formulation, a delivery balloon and balloon catheter, and a
polymer-injection gun.13 The polymer is a polyurethane that can be
cured in situ; it has strong mechanical properties comparable to those
of other industrially cured medical polyurethanes."
ARTIFICIAL DISC TECHNOLOGY
QI-BIN BAO, PH.D., AND HANSEN A. YUAN, M.D.
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, State University of New York Health
Science Center at Syracuse, Syracuse, New York
Neurosurg. Focus / Volume 9 / October, 2000
http://www.neurosurgery.org/focus/oct00/9-4-14.pdf
* notice that the author of this article is the patent-holder on the
HOWMEDICA biogel below.
---------------------------------
Disc Nucleus Replacement
"The disc nucleus replacement device is currently being investigated
in the United States. These devices only replace the inner portion of
the disc (the nucleus). A variety of disc nucleus replacement
technologies are currently being investigated, including metals and
ceramics, injectable fluids, hydrogels, inflatables, and elastic
coils."
SPINE HEALTH – RESEARCH UPDATE – ARTIFICIAL DISCS
http://www.spine-health.com/research/discupdate/artificial/artificial03.html
*******************************************
SPECIFIC COMPANIES & PRODUCTS
*******************************************
==================
CRYOLIFE
==================
“The CryoLife research proposed the use of protein hydrogel (BioDisc)
injected in fluid form into the denucleated disc space that sets up as
a pliable support solid to restore disc height and stability while
preserving motion. BioDisc employs a minimally invasive delivery
system incorporating a dual chamber applicator allowing the surgeon to
inject the biomaterial into the void created by the removal of disc
materials.”
CryoLife, Inc.: Key Developments
http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/ticker/sigdev.asp?Symbol=CRY
CRYOLIFE
http://www.cryolife.com/
=======================
DISC DYNAMICS
=======================
“Disc Dynamics is testing a balloon-like implant made of polyurethane.
It is implanted through a cannula, and animal studies have been
initiated.”
DISC DYNAMICS - * this website does not load
http://www.discdyn.com/
DISC DYNAMICS
http://mbbnet.umn.edu/company_folder/ddi.html
ST PAUL VENTURE CAPITAL – DISC DYNAMICS
http://www.spvc.com/public?ua=view_detail&company_id=322
MEDICAL SUDS
http://www.medicalsuds.com/eb/2002/october/
===================================
DISC AUGMENTATION TECHNOLOGIES
===================================
“Disc Augmentation Technologies has initiated mechanical studies on a
thermopolymer that also hardens inside the disc after being injected
as a fluid.”
No further references online –
://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&q=%22Disc+Augmentation+Technologies
===============
NEWCLEUS
===============
“ Newcleus is a spinal nuclear replacement device constructed with a
polycarbonate urethane elastomer. The material is biocompatible and
has been used in cardiovascular applications. Newcleus is manufactured
in a manner that aligns the molecular chains in a specific
configuration, which causes the device to curl up in a spiral in its
natural state. This property enables Newcleus to fill fully the
intervertebral space and exert tension on the anulus.
Postimplantation, the device absorbs water to approximately
35% of its net weight. Functionally, it acts as a spacer with some
shock-absorbing capabilities.”
SPINE HEALTH - Disc nucleus replacements
http://www.spine-health.com/research/discupdate/artificial/artificial03.html
=================================
STRYKER - HOWMEDICA - OSTEONIC
=================================
HOWMEDICA
http://www.howost.com/
“Hydrogel intervertebral disc nucleus with diminished lateral bulging”
“…a biologically compatible hydrogel material having, when fully
hydrated, a size and shape generally conforming to a natural nucleus
or to the shape of a cavity created after removal of the degenerated
or damaged nucleus;”
US PATENT -- US5534028
http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US06224630__
Other mentions online –
://www.google.com/search?q=HOWMEDICA+HYDROGEL&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&start=10&sa=N
===================================
ADVANCED BIOSURFACES
===================================
Jeffery Felt MD
Advanced BioSurfaces
5909 Baker Rd #550
Minnetonka , MN 55345
Ofc: 612-979-1800
Fax: 612-912-5410
Disciplines: Adult Rheumatology
Other mentions online—
://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&q=%22Advanced+BioSurfaces
=================================
REPLICATION MEDICAL - AQUACRYL
=================================
Few mentions online --
://www.google.com/search?q=Aquacryl+spine&hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1
=====================================
PROSTHETIC INTERVERTEBRAL NUCLEUS
=====================================
Few sources online –
://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&q=%22Prosthetic+Intervertebral+Nucleus
------------------------------------
So, as you can see there are a number of companies and products in the
works, but none yet in full production. In most cases I was at least
able to find you contact information for the company so that you can
follow-up.
I hope this gives you the information you were looking for. If
anything I’ve said isn’t clear, please feel free to ask for
clarification.
-K~
Search terms:
I started with:
BACK PAIN INJECTION FOAM DISC ARTHRITIS
That search got me to the terms:
PROSTHETIC DISC NUCLEUS
DISC NUCLEUS REPLACEMENT
Then I searched individual companies by name. |
,
0 Comments
)