Medtronic Flexes Ortho Muscle in China and Beyond

In a growing sign of Medtronic plc flexing its non-spine orthopedics muscle, Shanghai-based Medtronic Kanghui Orthopedics has launched a VariLoc Locking Compression Plate System in China and nine other countries outside the U.S.

On July 25, 2016, the company said the angle locking technology allows surgeons to adapt screw angulation to “patient anatomy, capture fracture fragments, fine-tune screw trajectory after plate placement, and position screws precisely to avoid unnecessary penetration of the nearby joints.”

Alex Moussa, vice president and president of Medtronic Kanghui Orthopedics, which is part of Medtronic’s Restorative Therapies Group, said the system can be used to treat a wide range of bone fractures from simple to complex. “We are pleased to provide therapy solutions that may help tens of thousands of patients in need of better fracture treatment within China and in the global emerging markets. Medtronic Kanghui will continue to invest heavily in R&D to advance patient care.”

Jian Lu, M.D., from the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, said he believes Medtronic Kanghui will continue to develop “an increasing number of innovative therapies to enable us as physicians to better relieve patients` pain and allow for earlier patient recovery.”

The company said the technology is covered by multiple patents, and exhibits the following features & benefits:

• Anatomical shape, low profile and blunt edges
  • No need to bend the plate, easy insertion and prevention of soft tissue damage
• Variable angle locking screw
  • Variable angle feature allows optimal fragment fixation
  • The round locking holes accept both variable angle locking screw and standard locking screw
• Cannulated locking screw
  • For optimal compression of intra-articular fractures
• Color coding
  • Simplified for stock management and size identification

The company also simultaneously released comprehensive color coded instrument sets to go with the system and an additional screw removal kit is available upon request.

The system is being launched on a country-by-country basis in 2016, beginning with China, Chile, Kenya, Pakistan, Lithuania, Greece, Poland, Turkey, Thailand, and Vietnam. Launches in additional markets are expected in the coming months, pending local approvals. The VariLoc system is not available for sale in the U.S.

Medtronic Kanghui Orthopedics

Kanghui Orthopedics is, according to the company, a global orthopedic industry leader, “offering economic value to healthcare providers through innovative products and solutions.” In November 2012, Medtronic, Inc., announced that it had completed its acquisition of Kanghui Holding, making it the first Medtronic business unit headquartered outside the U.S. Kanghui Orthopedics consists of two manufacturing sites in China, including Changzhou Kanghui Medical Innovation Co., Ltd. and Beijing Libeier Bio-engineering Institute Co., Ltd. There are 1200+ employees in the division, and its business covers China and more than 40 countries outside of China.

“Leveraging the Medtronic branding publicity and sound business network, the division is expanding its business rapidly across global emerging market with strong product portfolio and reliable product quality, ” stated the company announcement.