Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Spinal Kinetics the Creme de la Creme of Cervical Disc

It was announced today that Spinal Kinetics the company behind the "M6" Artificial Cervical Disc raised $5.3 million of a $9.5 million dollar round from undisclosed investors. The "M6" is the most innovative "slick disc" that has been designed to date. The rationale behind the design was to reproduce the kinematics and biomechanics of the human disc.

The key components are the Polymer Nucleus and the Fiber Annulus. The Polymer Nucleus allows for axial compression, while the Fiber Annulus allows for controlled range of motion allowing 6 degrees of freedom.

As far as the Spine Blogger can see, this disc is the current winner in design. So listen up investors, if you are really looking for a solid investment, hear is your winner. And don't forget, when you cash out, don't forget the SpineBlogger. We want to know what our readers think?
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8 comments:

  1. UnknownSeptember 22, 2009 at 1:03 PM

    How about AxioMed? Their concept is similar, and the execution appears simpler, and thus more reliable.

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  2. JakSeptember 23, 2009 at 6:44 AM

    If Danek just got smashed with a $22M fine for violating Synthes keel design patent, what makes you think the M6, or any other keel-based design, will make it market within the next 5 years?

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  3. dynamoSeptember 23, 2009 at 9:08 AM

    M6 is on the market in Europe and doing very well.

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  4. Musculoskeletal ManSeptember 23, 2009 at 11:07 AM

    As per dynamo's comment I have also heard that the M6 is doing extremely well in the European market. If there is an IP issue with the keel design, this will not be an issue until Spinal Kinetics starts making waves in the US market. Until then its a moot point. PS: I will investigate the patents to address your concern. Thanks for your observations.

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  5. M SnyderSeptember 24, 2009 at 9:34 AM

    Re: your comment "If there is an IP issue with the keel design, this will not be an issue until Spinal Kinetics starts making waves in the US market. Until then its a moot point." The Maverick Disc is not launched in the US and the patent infrindgement litigation still went forward - Maverick is available on the market in the EU.

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  6. M SnyderSeptember 24, 2009 at 9:48 AM

    While the design is slick and the cushioning effect is nice, I'm not sure that having 6 degrees of freedom is the most 'kinematic' type motion, especially in light of the fact that a discectomy, ALL and PLL resection are game-changers for the motion at that segment. Since native structures are gone after disc replacement some would argue for a more "corrective" type of motion that truly mimics a normal spine. Things might be different if the M6 were implanted without removal of stabilizing ligaments. Just my thoughts...

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  7. Musculoskeletal ManSeptember 24, 2009 at 4:09 PM

    M Snyder, thanks for your incite. The purpose of the blog is to have our readers share their intelligence and knowledge so that our industry continues to identify the right designs and products. Once again, thank you, Cheers!

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  8. JakSeptember 25, 2009 at 9:52 AM

    Per Snyder's comment, it is irrelevant if the M6 is doing well in Europe. So is the Maverick, and it has yet to see daylight in the US outside of clinical testing. By the looks of things in regard to the patent lawsuit, it may never go on the US market, or any other disc with a "central keel fixation" design for that matter. Synthes appears to have a pretty tight patent.

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