Aperius PercLID System was the first Percutaneous stand-alone Lumbar Interspinous Decompression System. It is indicated for patients suffering from degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis with neurogenic intermittent claudication between the interspinous process spaces of L1 to L5.
Classification of Interspinous Devices :The interspinous devices currently in the market could be classified into two main groups: motion preservation devices and devices that fuse the interspinous space.
1.-Motion Preservation Devices.
They may be further subdivided into devices that oppose the extension in a rigid manner and devices that oppose it in a flexible manner. Rigid, or static, devices consist of noncompressible materials (metal, synthetic polymers, etc.). Although they display very different biomechanical properties, these devices have the same mechanism of action: they provide a wedge between the spinous processes to ensure a consistent level of distraction during extension. Although the biomechanical characteristics of flexible/dynamic devices are very different due to their material and to their shape, they offer a higher level of elasticity that allows their deformation during extension of the segment in which they have been implanted so they act as a rearshock absorber. While rigid devices may be compared to a stone preventing a door from opening, flexible devices may be compared to a rubber stopper.
2.- Fusion Devices.
This kind of devices ranges from paired plates with teeth to U-shaped devices with wings that are attached to the spinous process. They are intended to be an alternative to pedicle screws and rod constructs to aid in the stabilization of the spine with interbody fusion. For use in combination with other implants with the intent to fuse two adjacent spinal segments, it has been proposed that interspinous fixation systems are less invasive and present fewer risks than pedicle or facet screws.
About Interspinous Devices
Interspinous spacers sometimes also called as Interspinous process decompression systems, are the devices implanted between vertebral spinous processes. These spacers are made up of a very strong but lightweight metal (titanium) which is biocompatible in the human body. These devices are imbedded in body to confine painful motion else enabling normal motion and to treat lumbar spinal stenosis, discogenic low-back pain, facet syndrome, disc herniations, and non-traumatic instability. Lumbar spinal stenosis is a thinning of the spinal canal in the lower back which causes compression on nerves and it is developed gradually with age. Radiology tests are used to confirm a diagnosis of moderate degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis. People with lumbar spinal stenosis experience pain but may also have weakness in their leg, lower back and buttocks, numbness, tingling.
The Interspinous spacer are implanted between those vertebrae in such a way that it prevents the patient from bending too far backward which causes pain by surgical procedure. The procedure is very small and sometimes patient can go home within a day.The increasing prevalence of spinal stenosis due to aging, arthritis, heredity and increased demand of surgical procedures that improved lifestyle and comfort will drive the Interspinous spacer market. The adoption of spacers are increasing due to low complication rate as compared to decompression and spinal fusion. The Interspinous spacers are widely used in geriatric population as per Medicare data due to old age patient are not comfortable with surgery due to their health conditions. Source:Transparency Market Research (TMR)
About Medtronic
Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT), based in suburban Minneapolis, Minnesota, is theworld’s largest medical technology company and is a Fortune 500 company.Medtronic was founded in 1949 in a garage in northeast Minneapolis by Earl Bakken and his brother-in-law Palmer Hermundslie as a medical equipment repair shop. They originally wanted to sell basketball pumps due to a shortage in the Midwest in the 20th century. Bakken began as a graduate student in electrical engineering at the University of Minnesota before he gave up his studies to focus on Medtronic.Through their repair business, Bakken came to know C. Walton Lillehei, a pioneer in the field of heart surgery then at the University of Minnesota Medical School. Lillehei was frustrated with the pacemakers of the day, which were quite large, applied electrical current externally (requiring higher voltages), and had to be plugged in to a wall outlet to operate. The deficiencies of such pacemakers were made painfully obvious following a power outage over Halloween in 1957 which affected large sections of Minnesota and western Wisconsin.As a direct result of this blackout, a pediatric patient of Dr. Lillehei who was pacemaker-dependent died. The next day, Lillehei spoke with Bakken about developing some form of battery-powered pacemaker. Stemming from this need, Bakken modified a design for a transistorized metronome to create the first battery-powered external artificial pacemaker.