Spine News and Research

RSS

Bacterin International completes reverse merger transaction

Bacterin International, Inc., a Nevada company, today announced that it has completed a reverse merger transaction with Bacterin International Holdings, Inc. f/k/a K-Kitz, in which the Company caused its wholly-owned subsidiary to be merged with and into Bacterin, with Bacterin as the surviving company.

1 Jul 2010

Researchers to study interventional endovascular therapy on symptoms and progression of MS

Buffalo medical researchers led by a team from the University at Buffalo Department of Neurosurgery, will embark on a landmark prospective randomized double-blinded study to test the safety and efficacy of interventional endovascular therapy -- dubbed "liberation treatment" -- on the symptoms and progression of Multiple Sclerosis.

1 Jul 2010

Varian, Brainlab expand partnership to incorporate Novalis technology with TrueBeam STx system

Varian Medical Systems and Brainlab today announced the expansion of their partnership to incorporate Novalis technology and other Novalis Radiosurgery Program elements with the recently launched TrueBeam STx system. The expanded suite of products will be badged "Novalis powered by TrueBeam STx."

1 Jul 2010

CDC issues new guidelines on detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections

Today the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new and important guidelines on the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections, the causative agent of tuberculosis. In these landmark guidelines, CDC advises that Interferon Gamma Release Assay blood tests are now preferred over the 100+-year-old tuberculin skin test for diagnosing TB infection in certain populations, including people who typically do not return for the necessary reading of TST results, and those who have received Bacille Calmette-Guerin as a vaccine or for cancer therapy

1 Jul 2010

Cerapedics' i-FACTOR Flex bone graft product line receives CE Mark

Cerapedics, Inc., a medical device company focused on developing and commercializing novel osteobiologic products, announced today that it received the CE Mark for its i-FACTOR™ Flex bone graft product line. i-FACTOR Flex is the company's second product in the i-FACTOR product platform based on its proprietary small peptide attachment factor technology.

30 Jun 2010

Study highlights importance of individualized, patient-centered therapies

In an analysis from the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) trial, one of the largest studies of its kind to determine whether intensive blood glucose (sugar) control worked better than standard blood sugar control among diabetics, results show that the benefits of intensive therapy need to be balanced against the increase in total and cardiovascular disease-related death, increased weight gain, and high risk for severe low blood sugar.

30 Jun 2010

Herniated disk can cause low back and leg pain in adults

A literature review, led by Dr. Joseph Lee, published in the June 2010 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (JAAOS) suggests that a herniated disk is one of the most frequent causes of low back and leg pain in adults, but surgery is not for everyone. Between 60 and 80 percent of people will experience low back pain at some point in their lives.

30 Jun 2010

Literature review discusses herniated disks and treatment options for low back pain

29 Jun 2010

Biomet fourth-quarter worldwide net sales up 10% to $703 million

Biomet, Inc. announced today fourth quarter and fiscal year 2010 preliminary net sales results for the year ended May 31, 2010.

28 Jun 2010

Cartilage loss plays a role in development of OA, study says

A recent study determined that bone area predicted the development of medial (inner side) and lateral (outer side) knee cartilage damage and loss of medial cartilage volume. Subchondral bone mineral density (BMD) was associated with medial defect development but not cartilage loss. Researchers believe subchondral bone changes and loss of cartilage contribute to the development of osteoarthritis (OA).

28 Jun 2010

CMMC installs Toshiba's Vantage Titan MR system to accommodate bariatric patients

Obesity is a growing trend in the United States, requiring hospitals to provide medical imaging technology designed to accommodate bariatric patients without compromising diagnostic confidence or patient comfort. To accomplish this goal, Central Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Miss., a bariatric center of excellence, recently installed Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc.'s Vantage Titan MR system.

28 Jun 2010

SurgiSteer laparoscopic instruments released in the US

Steerable Technologix LLC announces the US release of its SurgiSteer laparoscopic instruments. Developed from licensed technology from OrthoDynamix LLC, the SurgiSteer product line will exploit single port laparoscopic surgery with its steerable 5mm instrumentation. The Lap Grasper, Maryland Dissector and Endo Scissors, available in both free and ratchet handle configurations are simplistic in use versus competitive devices.

28 Jun 2010

Merck challenges New York jury decision in federal FOSAMAX retrial

Merck & Co., Inc. today said it is challenging the decision returned by a New York jury in the retrial of a federal FOSAMAX case, Boles v. Merck. This case was the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee's top choice to take to trial and involved a Florida woman who blamed her dental and jaw problems on FOSAMAX. The first case to reach a verdict, Maley v. Merck, resulted in a defense verdict for Merck on May 5, 2010.

28 Jun 2010

EVISTA improves bone quality as measured by HRpQCT: IIT

Interim data from a prospective Investigator Initiated Trial presented today at the ECTS, the 37th European Symposium on Calcified Tissues, in Glasgow, demonstrates that EVISTA (raloxifene 60mg; once-daily, distributed in 34 countries by DAIICHI SANKYO), indicated for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, improves bone quality as measured by the high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography.

28 Jun 2010

Transposons create genomic instability and are implicated in cancer and other diseases: Research

Transposons, or "jumping genes," make up roughly half of the human genome. Geneticists previously estimated that they replicate and insert themselves into new locations roughly one in every 20 live births.

28 Jun 2010

Kensey Nash announces strategic agreement with Arthrex for ECM technology

Kensey Nash Corporation, a regenerative medicine company, and Arthrex, Inc., a worldwide leader in sports medicine product development and educational services for orthopaedic surgeons, today announced a strategic agreement regarding products developed from Kensey Nash's unique extracellular matrix technology.

24 Jun 2010

Merck's DULERA Inhalation Aerosol for asthma receives FDA approval

Merck today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved DULERA® (mometasone furoate and formoterol fumarate dihydrate) Inhalation Aerosol, a new fixed-dose combination asthma treatment for patients 12 years of age and older. DULERA is not indicated for the relief of acute bronchospasm. DULERA combines an inhaled corticosteroid (mometasone furoate) with a long-acting beta2-agonist (formoterol fumarate).

24 Jun 2010

Kensey Nash, St. Jude Medical sign two-year Supply Agreement

Kensey Nash Corporation, a regenerative medicine company, today announced that it entered into a new two-year Supply Agreement with St. Jude Medical, Inc. for the period from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2012. The agreement provides for Kensey Nash to be the exclusive outside supplier of collagen plugs, one of the key resorbable components of the Angio-Seal Vascular Closure Device, the leading arterial puncture closure product in the world.

24 Jun 2010

Aesculap Implant Systems introduces S4 MIS Cannulated Pedicle Screw Spine Fusion System

Aesculap Implant Systems, LLC is pleased to announce the launch of the S4® MIS (Minimally Invasive Solutions) Cannulated Pedicle Screw Spine Fusion System.

22 Jun 2010

Baxano closes $30M Series C round of venture funding

Baxano, Inc. today announced the closing of a $30 million Series C round of venture funding, led by new investor CMEA Capital. Funds were also contributed by new investors Kaiser Permanente Ventures and Affinity Capital Management and existing investors Prospect Venture Partners, Three Arch Partners, and Kearny Venture Partners.

22 Jun 2010