Trinity Orthopedics LLC, based in San Diego, California, has acquired Expanding Concepts LLC’s patent portfolio.
Trinity Orthopedics Acquires Expanding Concepts Patents
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In a September 16, 2013 press release, Trinity CEO James Marino, M.D., said acquiring the Expanding Concepts patents is an essential step in completing the development of an expandable interbody technology offering. In addition to founding Trinity in 2004, Marino is a founder of NuVasive, Inc. No details of the patent portfolio or terms of the acquisition were provided.
The company statement said the U.S. market for spinal implants expects the interbody fusion market to remain in the low single digits through 2019. The expandable sub-segment will see CAGRs (compounded annual growth rate) approaching 30%. This surge in demand, according to the company, is largely attributed to the benefits of minimizing complications due to larger surgical sites and over distraction of involved nerves. In addition, time in the operating room and reducing postoperative pain for patients is sited as major contributors.
“We believe we have a very strong proprietary position in this area of intense industry interest, ” added Marino.
Trinity Products
Trinity’s products include the ReStor posterior fixation system and the Corex minimally invasive autograft bone harvester. According to the company, the ReStor system features the first and only sagittally stable, monoplanar polyaxial pedicle screw.
The ReStor implants were designed to minimize the risk of developing adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) following lumbar fusions. Recognizing postoperative hypolordosis as the primary “provocateur” of ASD, the company says the proprietary design of the implants eliminates the inherent weakness found in all polyaxial screws (universal joint yielding or slippage) when subjected to both static and dynamic flexion loads. In addition, the implants will not dampen lordotic contouring of the connecting rods, as is seen when polyaxial screws are articulated toward adjacent levels to facilitate connecting rod attachment. By eliminating “tulip” sagittal articulation and migration relative to the screw shaft axis, the implants enable surgeons to restore and maintain physiologic lordosis.
Seventeen U.S. patents have previously been granted to Trinity, and 17 patents are pending surrounding minimally invasive surgical technique, implantable devices, and supporting instrumentation.
Scientific Advisors
Trinity’s scientific clinical advisors include: Carl Lauryssen, M.D., director of spine research and development at the Olympia Medical Center in Los Angeles; Alpesh Patel, M.D., assistant professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Utah School of Medicine; Robert Eastlack, M.D., of the Scripps Clinical Medical Group; and, Steven Garfin, M.D., clinical professor and chairman, Department of Orthopedic Surgery at the University of California in San Diego.
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This is a fascinating development. In my practice we've seen similar outcomes with the revised protocol. The key differentiator seems to be patient selection criteria. Has anyone else noticed the correlation with BMI thresholds?
Great point. I'd push back slightly on the conclusion, the sample size in the cited study is too small to draw population-level inferences. That said, the directional signal is compelling and worth a larger RCT.
We implemented a similar approach last year. Early results are promising but we're still gathering 12-month follow-up data. Happy to share our protocol if anyone is interested.
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