TOPS Versalink Spinal System to treat moderate to severe lumbar stenosis

Oct 9 2009

Impliant, Inc., a developer of novel motion-sparing alternatives to traditional spinal fusion surgery, announced today that it conducted the first two implantations of its TOPS VersaLink System, the newest addition to its product portfolio.

The system is comprised of the company's flagship TOPS(TM) Total Posterior Arthroplasty device, a motion-sparing posterior implant designed to treat moderate to severe lumbar stenosis with or without spondylolisthesis and facet arthrosis, attached to the company's recently-developed VersaLink Fixation System(TM). By combining the two devices, the TOPS VersaLink System allows the surgeon to treat different stages of spinal degeneration at two or more adjacent vertebral segments. Surgical treatment of patients with advanced multi-level spinal degeneration has traditionally consisted of a fusion device that spans all of the diseased segments following decompression of the patient's pain generators. However, the TOPS(TM) portion of the TOPS VersaLink System restores near-normal motion to its segment and may thereby reduce the potential for adjacent segment degeneration that may accompany conventional fusion-only constructs.

The first case was conducted by Mr. John Sutcliffe at the London Clinic Medical Center in London, England. "I was impressed with the simplicity of the system. Implantation was very easy and straightforward," commented Mr. Sutcliffe. "VersaLink is a logical next step in the evolution of the TOPS(TM) System. It gives me the ability to address a larger array of patients in my practice, and I fully expect to achieve similar clinical results that I have enjoyed thus far with Impliant's original TOPS(TM) device."

Mr. Sutcliffe's comments were echoed by Dr. Robert Hes and Dr. Bart Conix, who together performed the second surgery at the Middelheim Hospital in Antwerp, Belgium. "It is a very elegant system. We are excited by the flexibility that VersaLink gives us in treating our patients," remarked Dr. Hes.

"We are pleased to add the VersaLink System to our product line," said Todd Potokar, President and CEO of Impliant. "It allows us to expand beyond treating single-level spinal stenosis and opens the door for us to help patients with a much wider range of spinal pathology. The versatility of the system will even allow us to compete in the fusion market as a unique stand-alone fusion device."