USPTO issues five patents to VertiFlex Superion ISS

VertiFlex®, Inc., a leading innovator of advanced minimally invasive spinal surgery technologies, today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has awarded five additional key patents covering the design and implantation method for its unique interspinous spacer technology. The five U.S. patent numbers are 8,012,207, 8,123,807, 8,123,782, 8,128,662, and 8,152,837. These patents add to its previously issued patent 7,763,074 for a total of six. Several additional patents are also currently in review at the patent office which will even further add to VertiFlex's portfolio.

"These patents further demonstrate the uniqueness of not only our Superion® Interspinous Spacer, but our minimally invasive approach for spinal access," said Earl R. Fender, President and Chief Executive Officer of VertiFlex, Inc. "We are pleased with the claims allowed and believe these patents provide a great foundation for VertiFlex to build on as we continue to expand our Intellectual Property position. These patents, along with completion of enrollment in the Superion IDE trial, and several recent publications demonstrating the effectiveness of Superion, all provide significant supporting evidence that our Superion ISS is a unique and effective alternative to traditional treatments for spinal stenosis."

Spinal Stenosis is the degenerative narrowing of the spaces in the spine that can lead to spinal cord and/or nerve compression and is the cause of leg and back pain for over 1.5 million Americans each year. A significant portion of these patients are currently living with the limited pain relief received from existing non-surgical treatments, and are strong candidates for a minimally invasive, outpatient surgical option.

The Superion ISS was designed as an alternative to traditional spinal surgery. The Superion's minimally invasive surgical technique is performed through a single, half-inch skin incision. Once in place, the device is intended to act as a support column to open the passageways that contain the spinal cord and nerve roots. This may reduce the compression on the nerves, resulting in potential pain relief in the leg, groin and buttocks, and the return to a more active lifestyle.