Healthcare Industry News: kyphoplasty
News Release - April 10, 2008
ArthroCare Announces Parallax Contour, A New Device For Mechanical Void Creation
AUSTIN, Texas--(HSMN NewsFeed)--ArthroCare Corporation (Nasdaq: ARTC ), a leader in developing state-of-the-art, minimally invasive surgical products, announced today that it has expanded the Parallax product line with the addition of a new product designed to mechanically displace soft bone in fractured vertebrae. The Parallax product set includes a variety of products used for the minimally invasive stabilization of vertebral compression fractures (VCFs).The Contour utilizes a small access needle and is precisely advanced and rotated to prepare the space within the vertebral body. Conventional systems for enhanced vertebroplasty include high pressure injection systems such as balloon kyphoplasty, which take longer to perform and may be more costly.
"I am excited about the positive feedback we have received from the physicians who have used the Parallax Contour. The outcomes from these initial cases validate this device’s clinical value in the market," stated Jim Pacek, vice-president and general manager, ArthroCare Interventional Therapies. “Physicians report that the Contour is fast, easy to use and provides tactile feedback that is missing in some competitive systems. The bone can be displaced easily with precise control by the surgeon.”
More than 250,000 Americans each year undergo spine augmentation procedures to help provide relief for painful vertebral fractures. Spinal specialists look to create space in a fractured vertebrae prior to performing cement augmentation, which is used to strengthen and stabilize the vertebrae.
“As spinal surgeons, we are constantly looking for devices that are very easy to use to create a space in soft bone. After creating the space, I can complete the repair by placing bone cement exactly where I want it,” said Dr. J. Kevin McGraw, an Interventional Radiologist from Riverside Radiology Associates of Columbus OH who was the first physician to use Contour clinically.
The Parallax Contour device is available now through ArthroCare Interventional Sales representatives.
ABOUT ARTHROCARE
Founded in 1993, ArthroCare Corporation (www.arthrocare.com) is a highly innovative, multi-business medical device company that develops, manufactures and markets minimally invasive surgical products. With these products, ArthroCare targets a multi-billion dollar market opportunity across several medical specialties, significantly improving existing surgical procedures and enabling new, minimally invasive procedures. Many of ArthroCare's products are based on its patented Coblation® technology, which uses low-temperature radiofrequency energy to gently and precisely dissolve rather than burn soft tissue – minimizing damage to healthy tissue. Used in more than four million surgeries worldwide, Coblation®-based devices have been developed and marketed for sports medicine; spine/neurologic; ear, nose and throat (ENT); cosmetic; urologic and gynecologic procedures. ArthroCare also has added a number of novel technologies to its portfolio, including Opus Medical sports medicine, Parallax spine and Applied Therapeutics ENT products, to complement Coblation® within key indications.
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENTS
Except for historical information, this press release includes forward-looking statements. These statements include, but are not limited to, the company's stated business outlook for fiscal 2008, continued strength of the company's fundamental position, the strength of the company's technology, the company's belief that strategic moves will enhance achievement of the company's long term potential, the potential and expected rate of growth of new businesses, continued success of product diversification efforts, and other statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to the uncertainty of success of the company's non-arthroscopic products, competitive risk, uncertainty of the success of strategic business alliances, uncertainty over reimbursement, need for governmental clearances or approvals before selling products, the uncertainty of protecting the company's patent position, and any changes in financial results from completion of year-end audit activities. These and other risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including ArthroCare's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2007 and Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2007. Forward-looking statements are indicated by words or phrases such as "anticipates," "estimates," "projects," "believes," "intends," "expects," and similar words and phrases. Actual results may differ materially from management expectations.
Source: ArthroCare
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