12.02.13
Salt Lake City, Utah-based Amedica Corporation has entered into a collaboration agreement with ceramics company Kyocera Industrial Ceramics Corporation to develop medical devices from Amedica’s silicon nitride biomaterial at Kyocera’s Vancouver, Wash. facility. This collaboration includes the manufacture of Amedica’s U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved silicon nitride spinal interbody devices and is hoped to broaden Amedica’s ability to meet market demand.
According to Amedica, as a biomaterial, silicon nitride has been shown to help promote bone growth and has anti-infective properties. Devices made from silicon nitride are semi-radiolucent with clearly visible boundaries enabling an exact view of intraoperative placement and postoperative fusion assessment via common imaging modalities. Amedica has reportedly sold over 14,000 of these devices worldwide.
“There is an unmet need for advanced biomaterials in orthopedics and spine,” said Eric Olson, president and CEO of Amedica. “We are seeing an increasing interest for our silicon nitride interbody devices and increased interest in this material for use in other applications and want to ensure a consistent supply for surgeons and more importantly patients … Kyocera is the ideal partner to help broaden availability of our novel biomaterial devices.”
Amedica makes spinal fusion products and is developing product candidates for use in total hip and knee joint replacements.
Hendersonville, N.C.-based Kyocera provides advanced ceramic materials and components. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kyocera International Inc. of San Diego, Calif., the North American holding company for Kyocera Corporation.
According to Amedica, as a biomaterial, silicon nitride has been shown to help promote bone growth and has anti-infective properties. Devices made from silicon nitride are semi-radiolucent with clearly visible boundaries enabling an exact view of intraoperative placement and postoperative fusion assessment via common imaging modalities. Amedica has reportedly sold over 14,000 of these devices worldwide.
“There is an unmet need for advanced biomaterials in orthopedics and spine,” said Eric Olson, president and CEO of Amedica. “We are seeing an increasing interest for our silicon nitride interbody devices and increased interest in this material for use in other applications and want to ensure a consistent supply for surgeons and more importantly patients … Kyocera is the ideal partner to help broaden availability of our novel biomaterial devices.”
Amedica makes spinal fusion products and is developing product candidates for use in total hip and knee joint replacements.
Hendersonville, N.C.-based Kyocera provides advanced ceramic materials and components. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kyocera International Inc. of San Diego, Calif., the North American holding company for Kyocera Corporation.