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Spinal Kinetics Wins in Synthes Patent Suit (press release)
Spinal Kinetics, the designer and manufacturer of the innovative M6(R) Artificial Disc, today announced that a jury in the United States District Court, Northern District of California, has found that the M6 does not infringe on Synthes’ U.S. Patent No. 7,429,270. The jury found the Synthes ‘270 patent invalid.
The M6-C cervical and M6-L lumbar artificial discs help patients suffering from degenerative disc disease of the spine; a common cause of chronic and severe back and neck pain. The M6 technology provides an alternative to spinal fusion and is designed to preserve motion and reduce the chances of subsequent degeneration of adjacent discs. Introduced internationally in 2006, M6 has quickly become a market leader in Europe and is available in over 17 countries worldwide. With over 13,500 implants to date, the M6 continues to generate enthusiasm among both patients and surgeons searching for a more physiologic disc replacement technology.
“We are very pleased with the jury’s verdict in this case,” said Tom Afzal, Spinal Kinetics’ President and CEO. “The interest in the M6 disc is accelerating around the world, and the positive verdict allows us to focus our resources and efforts on making the M6 available to more patients in more countries, including future clinical trials in the U.S.”
The M6 is the only artificial disc that replicates the anatomic structure and biomechanics of a natural disc by incorporating both an artificial nucleus and annulus. In the U.S., Spinal Kinetics has successfully completed an FDA IDE Pilot Study of the M6-C in patients with both single and two level disease, and has received approval from the FDA to initiate an IDE Pivotal Study.
About Degenerative Disc Disease Between each vertebra throughout the spine is an intervertebral disc; a shock-absorbing pillow that helps maintain proper spacing, stability, and motion within the spine. Each disc has a fibrous outer band called the annulus fibrosus that encases a central, gel-like substance called the nucleus pulposus. The nucleus and annulus work together to absorb shock, help stabilize the spine, and provide a controlled range of motion between each vertebra. Degenerative disc disease is a condition caused by the breakdown of the intervertebral discs. Often brought on by age, the spine begins to show signs of wear and tear as the discs dry out and shrink. These age-related changes can put pressure on the spinal cord and nerves and may cause back pain and other spinal conditions such as spinal stenosis or a herniated disc.
About Spinal Kinetics Founded in 2003, Spinal Kinetics is a privately held medical device company focused on partnering with spine surgeons to develop innovative and practical motion preservation systems for treating degenerative diseases of the spine. The M6-C cervical and M6-L lumbar artificial discs have rapidly established themselves among the leading artificial discs available due to their unique biomechanical properties that mimic natural discs. The company is located in Sunnyvale, California.
For more information on Spinal Kinetics or the M6 Artificial Disc, please visit www.spinalkinetics.com