Blackstone Medical, Inc. Advances Spine Treatment with New Product Launches at NASS '06
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SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Sept. 22 -- Born of its well-established "Breakthrough Thinking" model and adding to an already impressive product lineup, Blackstone Medical, Inc. will launch four innovative new spinal fusion products, and will also reveal details about forthcoming products and future advancements, at the North American Spine Society (NASS) meeting being held next week in Seattle, WA.
Product launches and development are continuing at Blackstone during the acquisition process by Orthofix International N.V. Combining both companies' strengths into a synergistic powerhouse will bring greater innovation to orthopedics on a global level.
Augmenting the spinal fusion category, Blackstone will unveil the next generation in minimally invasive surgery, the ProView(TM) Minimal Access Portal (MAP) System. The ProView(TM) MAP System's advanced design utilizes a unique, 3-blade independently-controlled expandable retractor and an easy-handling percutaneous screw delivery system that is used in conjunction with the ICON(TM) Modular Spinal Fixation System, allowing surgeons optimal visual access to the fusion bed while allowing for a smaller incision.
Other significant product innovations include the newly designed Reliant(TM) Anterior Cervical Plating System, which incorporates the beneficial features of the company's 3 degree(TM) Anterior Cervical Plating System with the added advantage of a simpler, more advanced top-locking plate, which eliminates intraoperative adjustments and provides greater surgical efficiency.
The Unity LX(TM) Lumbar Fixation Plate, a new addition to the Unity(TM) Lumbosacral Fixation System, can be used independently or in tandem with the Unity 51(TM) Lumbosacral Fixation Plate, simplifying an anterior lumbosacral fusion approach.
The company will also further expand its wide array of interbody devices with the introduction of its PILLAR(TM) PEEK Partial Vertebral Body Replacement System, a system of modular, incrementally-sized implants offering optimal fit options for the variations in human anatomy.
"The various advancements in each of these spinal fusion products are direct answers to surgeons' real world intraoperative concerns," said Blackstone President, Matthew Lyons, adding, "Our alignment with our Medical Advisory Board members is integral to every aspect of our product development. Working with them allows us, as it has since 1996, to offer surgeons the most complete and the most advanced solutions in spine."
Revenues from Blackstone's biologics portfolio continue to increase, in part due to Trinity(TM) Multipotential Cellular Bone Matrix, its break-through human tissue product, which is the only "off the shelf" adult mesenchymal stem cell product for bone growth in the spine. Trinity(TM) Matrix represents a viable alternative to traditional autograft. During NASS, Blackstone will release preliminary clinical results that support the viability and effectiveness of Trinity(TM) Matrix. The future looks even brighter with the introduction of Origen(TM) DBM. Currently pending FDA 510(k) clearance, Origen(TM) is designed to be another alternative to autograft for spinal fusion.
What's next in breakthrough thinking is a revolutionary step for motion preservation. Blackstone's Advent(TM) Artificial Cervical Disc, which is designed to closely mimic the natural range of human motion, is slated for European Union release in the first quarter of 2007. And, as for the future of lumbar motion, Blackstone's planned future offering is designed to be both dynamic and stable, designed to allow for natural motion that is also able to withstand normal load and force.
The 21st Annual NASS Annual Meeting is to take place at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center in Seattle, WA, September 26-30, 2006. For more information about the North American Spine Society, please visit http://www.spine.org/
About Blackstone Medical, Inc.
Blackstone Medical, Inc., established in 1996, is a leading international spine product company dedicated to advancing techniques and technologies in the treatment of the human spine. Partnering with luminary spine surgeons to identify solutions and using a quality team approach with engineers, Blackstone creates breakthrough spinal implant and instrument products. Blackstone's achievement-driven focus results in rapid design, cooperative manufacturing and exceptional service to surgeons. For more information about Blackstone Medical, Inc., please visit http://blackstonemedical.com/
About Orthofix International, N.V.
Orthofix International, N.V., a global diversified orthopedic products company, offers a broad line of minimally invasive surgical, as well as non-surgical, products for the spine, reconstruction, and trauma market sectors that address lifelong bone-and-joint health needs of patients of all ages, helping them achieve a more active and mobile lifestyle. Orthofix's products are widely distributed around the world to orthopedic surgeons and patients via Orthofix's sales representatives and its subsidiaries including Breg, Inc., and via partnerships with other leading orthopedic product companies, including Kendall Healthcare. In addition, Orthofix is collaborating in R&D partnerships with leading medical institutions such as the Orthopedic Research and Education Foundation, Rutgers University, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, and National Osteoporosis Institute. For more information about Orthofix, please visit http://www.orthofix.com/
Source: Blackstone Medical, Inc.
CONTACT:
Terry Zielinski
Blackstone Medical, Inc.
+1-888-298-5400
tzielinski@blackstonemedical.com
Web site: http://blackstonemedical.com/
