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Home/Company News/Marriage Made in Biomaterial Heaven: Amedica and Spinal Kinetics
Company News

Marriage Made in Biomaterial Heaven: Amedica and Spinal Kinetics

October 19, 2014 1 min read Premium comments

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Marriage Made in Biomaterial Heaven: Amedica and Spinal Kinetics
Source: Wikimedia Commons and danielclauzier
Secondary

Amedica Corporation, the leading developer of innovative forms of silicon nitride ceramics has entered into a multi-year private labeling agreement with Spinal Kinetics, Inc., one of the leading innovators of artificial spinal disc technology.

Amedica will now provide Spinal Kinetics with sterile packed silicon nitride spinal interbody fusion devices for sale in worldwide markets.

This is huge news.

Amedica’s spinal interbody fusion devices are made of a micro-composite silicon nitride biomaterial—a ceramic that has unmatched strength, durability and reliability. Its surface texture and hydrophilic nature attract both osteoblasts and physiologic proteins to ensure reliable osteointegration, while its surface biochemistry inhibits bacterial biofilm adhesion.

“The Spinal Kinetics team is very excited to add Amedica’s silicon nitride spinal fusion technology to our product portfolio, ” said Spinal Kinetics President and CEO Tom Afzal. “This agreement is a critical additional step in broadening the range of uniquely innovative technologies we bring to the spine surgery community.”

Located in Sunnyvale, California, Spinal Kinetics, a privately held medical device company that developed the M6-C cervical and M6-L lumbar artificial discs, was founded in 2003. The company reports that it has over 31, 000 implants to date.

Amedica Corporation, a public company based in Salt Lake City, Utah, recently added Sonny Bal, M.D., .J.D, MBA, as its new President and Chief Executive Officer. Just a week ago, the company lost its legendary chairman, Max Link, who unexpectedly passed away at 74 years of age.

For Amedica, this is a major announcement and, along with its new CEO, portends many more positive developments.

Author

BW
Biloine W. Young
React:

Discussion

14
DS
Dr. Sarah MitchellOrthopedic Surgeon · Mayo Clinic

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?

8
JT
James Thornton, MDSpine Fellow · HSS

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.

5
RP
R. PatelSports Medicine · Stanford

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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