DEPUY SPINE FIRST TO MARKET SINGLE SCREW SYSTEM FOR CERVICAL SPINAL FUSION

UNIPLATE™ Offers Simplicity, Stability and Cost Effectiveness

NEW ORLEANS, April 16, 2005 – DePuy Spine, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company, today announced the launch of the UNIPLATE™ Anterior Cervical Plate System, a new midline screw per vertebral body system on the market for one- or two-level cervical fusion procedures.

The announcement was made at the 73rd Annual Meeting of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS).

The UNIPLATE System consists of a semi-rigid plate only 10.5mm wide that provides the comparable stability to traditional cervical plates, but requires less screws resulting in fewer steps.  The single midline design improves visualization, is easy to place and requires minimal retraction. 

“The UNIPLATE System provides the same benefits of traditional one- and two-level cervical plates in an easier and less invasive procedure,” said Darrel Brodke, MD Associate Professor, Director of Spine Services Department of Orthopedics, University of Utah. 

The UNIPLATE System is the narrowest plate on the market, has a thickness of 2.3 mm and includes a patented locking mechanism (Tri-lobe CAM-LOC™) to secure the screws.  The System also includes the Universal Guide, an all-in-one tool that acts as a plate holder through which an awl, drill, tap, and screws can be inserted.

“We are constantly looking to bring the latest innovations to the cervical spine market to meet the needs of surgeons and their patients,” said Richard Toselli, MD, Vice President of Research and Development, DePuy Spine, Inc. 

DePuy Spine’s other anterior cervical plate systems include EAGLE™ Rigid, SWIFT™  Dynamic and SLIM-LOC™.

Anterior cervical fusion is performed to relieve debilitating pain caused by a damaged or degenerated disc.  Through a small incision in the front of the neck, the damaged disc is removed and is replaced with a bone graft that will join or fuse the vertebrae together over time.  Metal plates and screws may be necessary to support the neck while the vertebrae fuse. 

Approximately 180,000 anterior cervical fusions are performed each year in the U.S.  About 70 percent of these can be done using the UNIPLATE System.

The UNIPLATE System is used to treat, symptomatic cervical spondylosis, trauma, fracture, post-traumatic kyphosis or lordosis, tumor, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, re-operation for failed fusion, or instability following surgery for the above indications. 

About DePuy Spine

DePuy Spine, a Johnson & Johnson company, has worked and partnered with leading clinicians, researchers, and thought leaders to develop products to treat spine disorders for over 20 years.  Today, DePuy Spine stands in the forefront of the worldwide spine market, with a substantial sales organization in the U.S. and an expanding worldwide distribution network.  The company is committed to advancing the knowledge of all health care professionals and their patients in addressing spinal pathologies.