Nexus Spine announced today that it initiated the full commercial launch of its PressON posterior lumbar fixation system.
Salt Lake City-based Nexus Spine designed PressOn — which is approximately a quarter of the size of traditional systems — with rods that press onto pedicle screws rather than attach using set screws.
The company said in a news release that PressON is faster to implant, biomechanically stronger, eliminates the possibility of set screw loosening and allows for intraoperative construction of patient-specific rods. It incorporates flexible bores stretched over pedicle screw heads during implantation, resulting in an elastic interference fit between screw and rod that does not use traditional set screws that have shown to loosen during implantation and post-operation.
Nexus Spine’s full market release follows last month’s launch of the Tranquil titanium interbody fusion devices as part of the company’s growing compliant mechanism-based portfolio.
Dr. Thomas Sweeney, the surgeon designer of the system, said in the release that PressON is “unlike anything else on the market” with regard to the way in which the components are connected. He added that, by eliminating the need for rod bending and the pain associated with improperly bent rods and rod creep, the fixation system is “uniquely poised” to disrupt the market.
“Our expertise in compliant mechanism engineering allows us to do some really unique things,” said David Hawkes, President of Nexus Spine. “The ability to secure PressON rods through elastic interference rather than using set screws is certainly a paradigm shift. We are in the process of shining a light on the incidence and harmful effects of set screw loosening through clinical and benchtop research. We look forward to sharing the results of these studies soon.”