Zimmer Spine Adds First Lateral Plate System

Zimmer Holdings, Inc.’s spine division introduced the Zimmer V2F Anterior Fixation System on January 22, 2013.

The system, borrowing from a proprietary Zimmer trauma technology, is the company’s first lateral plate system for the spinal trauma segment.

The V2F System consists of a wide range of plates and screws designed to better match the varying anatomy of the thoracolumbar spine, according to a company press release. Incorporating variable-to-fixed locking cap technology, the system enables surgeons to place screws at variable angles and to lock screw trajectory to the plate rigidly, or semi-constrained. This flexibility to place screws with variability of up to 15 degrees in any direction allows surgeons to avoid critical anatomical structures and better fit the existing anatomical structure.

The company statement says the system is designed to facilitate efficiency without compromising control or strength by featuring All-Through-One Instrumentation to guide efficient screw placement and 6mm and 7mm dual-lead screws to provide enhanced insertion speed and bone screw fixation.

Steve Healy, president of Zimmer Spine said that tumor and trauma pathology of the spine can result in complex anatomical challenges for surgeons. He added: “By incorporating novel variable-to-fixed screw and cap technology, the Zimmer V2F Anterior Fixation System offers surgeons greater flexibility to address the unique anatomy of every patient through variable screw and plate placement and fixation.”

The Zimmer spine franchise has been struggling as sales have declined. Spine sales dropped 10% on a reported basis when the company filed its last quarterly report for the third quarter of 2012. The company has been introducing new products however, including the inViZia Anterior Cervical Plate System (launched November 2011), Pathfinder NXT, and the June 2012 expansion of its porous metal interbody implants with the TM Ardis System with Trabecular Metal technology.