Medtronic releases new spinal product for international surgeons

Medtronic Inc.has released a new spinal product that will aid international physicians in surgeries to correct degenerative spinal conditions.
The company’s new CE Mark and CD Horizon BalanC Spinal System is designed to cause less stress after spinal fusion surgeries for conditions that include spinal stenosis and early stage degenerative disc disease.
While the product isn’t available in the United States, international sales comprised $621 million of the $1.8 billion in sales Medtronic’s restorative therapies division (which includes the Memphis-based spinal division) had during the fiscal third quarter of 2012, according to Medtronic’s latest earnings report.
The CD Horizon BalanC Rod uses a load-distributing rod and screws to cut down on surgery side effects, which include tissue or nerve damage if the implant breaks or moves out of place.
Earlier today, Fridley, Minn.-based Medtronic announced it is shutting down Netanya, Israel-based Ventor Technologies, which manufactures heart valves for the company. Medtronic is spreading operations from the company to different locations around the world. The company will eliminate 55 jobs at Ventor, which it acquired for $325 million in 2009. The shutdown is expected to be completed in two months.