Spinal Kinetics Surpasses 50,000 Implants of Its M6 Artificial Disc

Spinal Kinetics Inc., the designer and manufacturer of the M6 artificial disc, announced total implantations of the company’s M6-C Cervical and M6-L Lumbar discs have now exceeded 50,000 throughout the international markets where the M6 is commercially available. Since the launch of the M6-C in 2006 and the M6-L in 2010, this “natural,” artificial disc design has consistently established itself as a technology of choice among spine surgeons for both cervical and lumbar disc replacement. With this strong surgeon preference, as well as patient demand for the next generation artificial disc technology, the M6 has become an industry leader in the rapidly growing artificial disc market. Additionally, the company is preparing its Pre-Market Approval (PMA) application to the FDA to obtain United States approval to treat single level cervical degenerative disc disease with the M6-C. The M6-C IDE study enrollment has been completed, and the PMA application is scheduled to be submitted to the FDA later this year.
 
The M6 artificial disc is designed to help patients suffering from degenerative disc disease of the spine; a common cause of chronic neck and back pain. The M6 technology provides an alternative to spinal fusion and is designed to restore natural and physiologic motion to the spine. Preserving motion with the M6 artificial disc provides an opportunity to restore biomechanical function at the treated level after native disc removal, as well as the possibility to reduce subsequent degeneration of adjacent segments. The M6 is the only physiologically designed artificial disc that mimics the anatomic structure of a natural disc by incorporating an artificial visco-elastic nucleus and fiber annulus in its design. Like a natural disc, this unique construct of the M6 allows for shock absorption at the implanted level, as well as provides a controlled range of motion when the spine transitions in its combined complex movements. Extensive biomechanical studies at world renowned institutions have continuously confirmed the M6’s ability to replicate natural physiologic motion.
 
“We are extremely proud as an organization to reach the 50,000 implant level and are appreciative of the spine surgeon community in adopting the M6 technology,” stated Tom Afzal, president and CEO of Spinal Kinetics. “We believe this milestone continues to validate the market demand for more advanced artificial disc technologies that are designed to closely mimic a natural disc’s motion characteristics, ultimately benefiting patient outcomes. Disc replacement in the cervical and lumbar spine is not solely about how much motion an artificial disc provides, but more importantly, the quality of that motion and how that motion can affect other surrounding structures like facets and adjacent segments. The M6’s ability to replicate a natural disc’s quality of motion and biomechanics is what continues to differentiate it against all other artificial discs in the market.”