Interventional Spine, Inc. announced the completion of another successful surgery with the unique PERPOS Percutaneous Cervical System for the treatment of neck pain. To the Company’s knowledge, the PERPOS Percutaneous Cervical System is the only product that can stabilize the posterior cervical spine with a truly percutaneous procedure. The company believes that its percutaneous approach to the cervical spine will minimize intra and post-operative patient morbidity and provide cost efficiencies to hospitals and surgeons alike.

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Spectrum Surgical Instruments Corp. introduces the P.O.I. Biopsy Forcep. With its 2mm bite, the P.O.I. Biopsy Forcep allows the health care provider to take multiple, virtually painless cervical biopsies and allows for better visualization of exact location of the biopsy. The P.O.I. Biopsy is consistently more sensitive in detecting the presence of high-grade disease or cancer than traditional colposcopy directed biopsy. The German-made instrument is available in 9-inch (23cm) or 11-inch (28cm lengths).

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Integra Lifesciences Holdings Corporation has added a tissue sparing retraction system, iPASSAGE Retractor for Minimally Invasive Surgery of the lumbar spine. The iPASSAGE system allows the surgeon to make smaller cuts, thereby reducing the time of recovery, tissue damage and blood loss. Integra distributes the iPASSAGE Retractor system through Integra Spine, a part of the Orthopedics segment. The company’s spine and orthobiologics product portfolio includes spinal fusion devices; supplemental fixation systems for cervical procedures.

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The University of Alabama in Birmingham has presented a new approach to achieving aesthetic balance to the aging face by combining soft tissue fillers and skin tightening techniques at the American Academy of Dermatology’s Summer Academy Meeting 2010 in Chicago. Another new technology that shows promise for skin tightening and moderate lifting of the lower face employs fractionated bipolar radiofrequency (RF) energy.

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A new published research by urologic surgeons at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center presents evidence that a new laser technology used with robotic prostate cancer surgery may reduce the risk of damaging the crucial nerves necessary for erections and urinary continence. Published in the July online issue of the Journal of Endourology, the pilot study is the first to evaluate the CO2 laser for prostate cancer.

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Elmbrook Memorial, which began offering robotic surgeries earlier this year, celebrated its 100th robotic surgery. Elmbrook Memorial offers many types of robotic surgeries including prostate, urologic, gynecologic, gastric bypass, and colorectal. Using the da Vinci Surgical System, the surgeon operates while seated comfortably at a console viewing a 3D image of the surgical field. The surgeon’s fingers grasp the master controls below the display, with hands and wrists naturally positioned relative to his eyes.

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SurgiVision, Inc. has announced that the first patient procedure using its ClearPoint(TM) Neuro Intervention System has been successfully performed by physicians at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Medical Center. SurgiVision’s ClearPoint system is an integrated system of reusable components, disposable components and menu-driven software. Using the ClearPoint system, a physician sees and selects a neurological target, aims SurgiVision’s targeting device and watches via MRI as the surgical instrument is advanced to the target.

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Sepsis and septic shock appear to be more common than heart attacks or pulmonary blood clots among patients having general surgery, and the death rate for patients with septic shock is approximately 34 percent within 30 days of operation, according to a report in the July issue of Archives of Surgery. In recent years, attention has been focused on prevention of venous thromboembolism, myocardial infarction (heart attack) and surgical site infections.

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An examination of hospital complication rates of bariatric surgery for more than 15,000 patients in Michigan finds that the frequency of serious complications is relatively low and is inversely associated with hospital and surgeon procedural volume, according to a study in the July 28 issue of JAMA. With rates of bariatric surgery increasing over the last decade, it has become the second most common abdominal operation in the United States.

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FDA reviewers expressed concern with the increased number of cancer cases seen in degenerative disc disease patients implanted with an investigational Medtronic spine device compared with patients who underwent spinal fusion. The Amplify device stabilizes lower back vertebrae in patients with degenerative disc disease by using a compression resistant matrix and a metallic posterior spinal instrument. Amplify contains rhBMP-2, a morphogenetic protein that is added to the device to spur the formation of new bone.

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