What's New in the Computer Assisted Spine Market: SmartTRAK at NASS 2022

Spine enabling tech companies continue to report positive momentum moving into H222 despite limited hospital budgets, chip shortages and continued staffing issues. The North American Spine Society (NASS) 2022 annual meeting next week is sure to provide a preview of what is coming next for both spine robotics from players like Medtronic and Globus, as well as surgical guidance solution providers such as NuVasive and SeaSpine. We are also looking forward to new enabling tech solutions to be launched at the meeting.

Our spine experts will be roaming the floor, bringing our subscribers real-time news direct from the show. We'll also be on the show floor at booth #2341, ready to answer your questions, share insights on the latest in the CAS Spine Market and discuss how SmartTRAK can help you Be the Expert in your market.

To make sure you’re up to speed before the meeting, here is a sample of recent CAS Spine news collected and curated by the expert analysts at SmartTRAK. If you would like to book a meeting with us at NASS, please click the button below. New Products:

• Stryker*
  

  SYK announced the launch of its Q Guidance System for spine applications, which includes surgical planning and intra-op guidance for spine procedures in patients age 13 and older.

• This Startup is Building the Future of Surgical Navigation

  Illuminant, a navigation company that helps surgeons perform safer and more efficient surgeries by projecting visual guidance directly on the patient’s skin, launched in August. SmartTRAK noted it is actively looking for ortho spine surgeons to pilot its technology. Y Combinator.

• HOLO Portal* - Surgalign*

  SRGA announced the 3rd clinical site in the commercialization of HOLO Portal and that Beacon Orthopedics and Sports Medicine in Cincinnati, OH completed its first case with the platform.

Patents:

• Medtronic*
  

  Mazor Robotics’ was issued US Patent “System and method for positioning an imaging device” disclosing a navigation system with trackers on the imaging device to assist in accurate positioning of a C-arm, O-arm or G-arm. 11,452,492

• OnPoint Surgical*

  OnPoint Medical’s US Patent Application “AUGMENTED REALITY GUIDANCE FOR IMAGING SYSTEMS” was published describing an AR system with head mounted displays to track the position of the patient, OR table, C-arm, O-arm or surgical robot in spine and total joints. 20220287676

• NuVasive* 

  NUVA was issued US Patent “Systems, devices, and methods for designing and forming a surgical implant” disclosing a computer-aided system with a graphical user interface to determine bend parameters for spinal rods.11,453,041

Studies:

• Augmented Reality in Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

  A 164-patient prospective study of AR that projects intra-op 3D images directly onto the surgeon's retina for placement of percutaneous pedicle screws reported AR was safe and effective with an average 3 min 54 sec registration to final screw placement per screw. Spine J

• Skin Marker-based Optical Navigation for Spine

  A 39-patient study of pedicle screw placement using a skin marker-based optical surgical navigation system for minimal invasive thoraco-lumbar-sacral pedicle screw placement demonstrated an overall accuracy of 98.1% over 211 screws with none severely misplaced. Eur Spine J
  

• Mazor X Stealth* - Medtronic*

  A 70-patient single-center retro review of robotic-assisted pedicle screw placements with open procedures using the Mazor X Stealth Edition concluded that robotics is especially useful for surgeons with less experience in spinal deformity surgery. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol
  

Deals/Financing:

• Novarad*
  

  Novarad announced a strategic alliance with 5 specialty Neurosurgical and Spine distribution partners covering the Eastern US to Texas, with additional partners to be added across the US in Q422 to support the growth of VisAR and OpenSight*.

• SpineGuard* Partners with Omnia Medical*
  SpineGuard* and Omnia* Medical announced a strategic alliance for co-development and exclusive US distribution for a smart 1-step pedicle screw system and a smart drilling tool for SI joint fusion, both with SpineGuard’s DSG tech.

• SeaSpine* 
  SeaSpine announced an amendment to its credit facility with Wells Fargo Bank extending the maturity date by 3 years from July 27, 2022 to July 27, 2025 with option to increase the existing $30MM borrowing limit by up to an additional $10MM.
  

Clinical/Regulatory:

• Mazor X Stealth* - Medtronic*
  

  An Elsan-sponsored 300-patient study in France will compare the quality of the screw placement, clinical results and health economics of Mazor-assisted thoracolumbar surgery vs conventional techniques based on post-op CT scans. Est study completion is Oct 2026.clinicaltrials.gov

• 5G-based Telerobot-assisted Spine Surgery
  

  A 192-patient retro study in China has evaluated pedicle screw placement using a remote surgery service platform based on accuracy according to the Gertzbein and Robbins scale. Study completion was July 2022. clinicaltrials.gov

• Brainlab*
  Brainlab AG is awarded 510(k) clearance for Spine and Trauma Navigation, Spine Navigation, Navigation Software Spine and Trauma, Alignment System Spine, Alignment Software Spine, Cirq Arm System, which links a freehand probe to virtual computer image space on a patient's existing images.

Markets:

• ExcelsiusGPS* - Globus*
  

  NYU Langone currently has 3 ExcelsiusGPS robots in addition to its recently acquired Excelsius3D imaging system.

• Brainlab*
  Abrazo West Campus is the first hospital in AZ to acquire the Loop-X robot and BrainLab system and plans for it to be installed and operational by Nov.
  
  
• Stryker*
  SYK announced it has opened a R&D lab in Brisbane, AU, in partnership with Queensland Univ of Technology, The Univ of Queensland, Metro North Hospital and Health Service and Queensland Health. Some projects include the use of AI and machine learning for real-time decision support.

 Revenues:

• Globus*
  

  GMED reported its Enabling Technologies business had a record-breaking quarter in Q222, increasing 41.7% to $29.4MM, driven by strong robotic systems demand and the initial launch of the Excelsius3D imaging system. GMED Q222 Earnings Press Release

• NuVasive*
  

  NUVA reported Q222 US Surgical Support net sales of $71.8MM, up +6.2% YoY, noting the Company’s overall performance was driven by higher procedure volume and new product introductions. NUVA Q222 Earnings Presentation

• Stryker*
  For Q222, Stryker management states that the the US Spine business declined -3.6% organically, reflecting a slightly slower scoliosis season, partially offset by solid performance in enabling technology. SYK Q222 Earnings Transcript on Seeking Alpha

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