Integra LifeSciences Announces First Surgery With Coral Spinal System for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
PLAINSBORO, N.J., Jan. 22, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Integra LifeSciences (Nasdaq:IART) announced today that the first clinical application of the Coralâ„¢ Spinal System for minimally invasive spine surgery was performed by Dr. Morteza Farr from Santa Cruz, California. Dr. Farr is the surgeon designer of this new percutaneous tube instrument set that extends the application of the Coralâ„¢ Spinal System to minimally invasive surgical procedures of the lumbar spine.
In the U.S. in 2009, an estimated 450,000 thoraco-lumbar fusions were performed to treat spinal disorders. Spine surgeons typically perform these procedures using highly invasive open techniques. The Coral™ system now gives surgeons a minimally invasive option to place the pedicle screws through a percutaneous tube. Patient benefits may include faster procedures, reduced blood loss, less tissue trauma, reduced postoperative pain and a shorter hospital stay.
Dr. Farr began working with Integra Spine on the concept for the tubes in June 2009 and performed the first surgery approximately six months later. “The patient underwent a one level procedure to correct degenerative disc disease at L4-L5. The system was ideal for this case; it limited the size of the incision and helped minimize trauma to the posterior musculature. As part of this case, I also used the Integra Spine Vu e-PODâ„¢ Intervertebral Body Fusion Device in order to restore the intervertebral disc height,” said Dr. Farr. “The surgery went smoothly and the patient is doing well.”
The simplicity of the Coralâ„¢ system’s percutaneous tubes can help reduce the number of required steps for the surgeon. The tubes easily snap on to the screw head, eliminating the need to twist the tube or tighten a set screw. “Working with the engineering team at Integra Spine was a great experience. They were extremely responsive to the percutaneous tube concept and applied it to the Coralâ„¢ system,” said Dr. Farr.
“We pride ourselves on our engineers’ ability to work directly with the surgeon to design and develop products in-house,” said Randy Theken, President of Integra Spine.
The Coral™ Spinal System is distributed through the Integra Spine independent distributor network. Integra Spine is a leading provider of fusion implants and orthobiologics used in spinal surgery. Visit www.integraspine.com for more information.
Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation, a world leader in regenerative medicine, is a global medical device company dedicated to improving the quality of life for millions of patients every year. The company’s products are used primarily in orthopedics, neurosurgery and general surgery. Headquartered in Plainsboro, New Jersey, Integra has research and manufacturing facilities throughout the world. For more information visit www.integra-ls.com. Â
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the future use of the Coralâ„¢ Spine System and the Vu e-PODâ„¢ device. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from predicted or expected results. Among other things, the willingness of physicians to use these products may affect the prospects for their use in clinical procedures.  In addition, the economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors identified under the heading “Risk Factors” included in Item IA of Integra’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 and information contained in subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission could affect actual results.
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CONTACT: Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation
Gianna Sabella, Director of Corporate Communications
(609) 936-2389
gsabella@integra-LS.com
