Stryker buys startup to bolster safety in minimally invasive spine surgery (Fierce Medical Devices)
Orthopedics implant and spine player Stryker has acquired Florida-based startup SafeWire in order to add to its minimally invasive spinal surgery products. Stryker has been on an M&A tear of late--this deal follows the closure of three acquisitions earlier this month.
Of SafeWire's four products, Stryker highlighted two as of particular use to its Spine division: the Y-Wire guidewire and Tiger Jamshidi Needle Family. Y-Wire is designed to mitigate potential wire-based complications in minimally invasive spine surgery such as inadvertent advancement of the guidewire through bone, accidental pullout, kinking or wire migration.
Guidewires are standard in minimally invasive spine surgery, with almost all pedicle screw systems from these procedures requiring them to deliver screws and ensure their proper anatomical placement. SafeWire received a CE mark for Y-Wire in October 2014. It's intended to enable fewer surgical steps as well as reduced exposure to fluoroscopy.
As for the Tiger needles, they are used for posterior fixation in minimally invasive spinal surgery. These, in particu...
