Ellipse's MAGEC System can effectively treat children with Early Onset Scoliosis

Jul 15 2011

Ellipse Technologies (www.ellipse-tech.com) announced today that preliminary clinical data suggests children with Early Onset Scoliosis (EOS) can be treated safely and effectively without the conventional protocol of repeated surgeries to straighten their growing spine. Instead, children with EOS can be treated noninvasively with a new medical technology called the MAGEC System from Ellipse Technologies.

There is no other commercially available technology or product that provides for the noninvasive, remote lengthening of the spine delivered by the MAGEC System. Its adjustability allows a physician to modify the length of the rod and the force applied to the spine throughout the implanted period as the patient responds to therapy. The use of the MAGEC System is designed to result in reduced spinal curvature, improving appearance and posture. In addition, the MAGEC System is designed to eliminate the need for numerous repeat surgical procedures that are now standard of care with growing rod therapies for children with spinal deformities. The elimination of repeat surgical procedures is expected to result in significant reduction in complications and costs associated with the repeat of such surgeries.

"Ellipse has developed a truly remarkable technology that will dramatically advance the treatment of spinal deformity and significantly improve the otherwise traumatic experience these children currently endure. The MAGEC System has exceeded my expectations for what I had hoped to someday witness during my clinical research career," said Principal Investigator Dr. Behrooz Akbarnia, Past President of the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) and Medical Director at the San Diego Center for Spinal Disorders, La Jolla, Calif. He also is a Clinical Professor of Orthopaedics at the University of California San Diego. Dr. Akbarnia is the recipient of the prestigious 'Walter P. Blount Humanitarian Award' from the Scoliosis Research Society for his many important contributions to the field of spine surgery.

"The current 'gold standard' procedure for correcting spinal deformities in children requires repeated open surgeries over the course of many years. MAGEC is designed to be an effective alternative to repeat surgery when used by spine surgeons to treat Early Onset Scoliosis, or 'EOS,'" said Ed Roschak, COO of Ellipse Technologies.

Source: Ellipse Technologies