Dec 23, 2009 (Datamonitor via COMTEX) — MDT — Medtronic, a medical technology company, has announced the US launch of the Sovereign spinal system.
The Sovereign spinal system is an intervertebral body fusion device used to treat patients who suffer from a degenerative condition that affects the lumbar spine.
When a lumbar disc is diseased, it can lose height, compressing nerve roots and the spinal cord, causing pain in the legs and lower back. The Sovereign spinal system is designed to stabilize the spine and promote bony fusion, which involves the joining of two bones together, such as adjacent vertebrae, said Medtronic.
The Sovereign spinal system incorporates a lens-shaped device with three holes for the placement of titanium screws, which protrude through the device and stabilize the adjacent vertebral bodies while preventing expulsion of the implant. The system also incorporates a cover plate that is designed to resist screw backout and that must be used in combination with the screws. Made of polyetheretherketone, the Sovereign device is radiolucent on x-rays, which allows the surgeon…
