From NASS: Zimmer Unveils New Cervical Plate

Zimmer Holdings Inc. rolled out its inViZia anterior cervical plate system at the 26th North American Spine Society annual meeting.

The system features a larger graft window and narrow waist, which the company claims provides clinicians with improved visualization during implant placement. The plate also has a low profile (less than 2mm) which may reduce post-operative difficulty in swallowing, a condition called dysphagia—a well-known complication of anterior cervical spine surgery.

The inViZia system is designed for anterior screw fixation of the cervical spine and is intended for use in the temporary stabilization of the anterior spine during the development of cervical spinal fusions in patients with degenerative disc disease, trauma, tumors, deformity, pseudoarthrosis and failed previous fusions.

Building on the success of Zimmer Spine’s Trinica family of anterior cervical plates, the new system incorporates “self-drilling” screws that the company claims have been shown to eliminate the need for drilling, and the Secure-Twist locking mechanism, which offers visual and tactile confirmation of screw locking.

Zimmer is headquartered in Warsaw, Ind. Sales in 2010 were approximately $4.2 billion.