ArthroCare announced at the North American Spine Society (NASS) meeting that its MD SpineWand is now available for use in some of the most common spinal surgeries. The MD SpineWand is designed to remove soft tissue – including disc material – through small incisions, which avoid damage to surrounding structures and anatomy. According to the company, lumbar microdiscectomy is the most commonly performed surgical procedure in which disc material is removed. Lumbar microdiscectomy is primarily performed to treat the symptoms associated with a herniated disc. Approximately 400,000 lumbar microdiscectomies are performed each year, and this procedure typically requires a large (approximate 6mm) annulotomy, or incision, made into the outer ring of the disc in order to gain access to the disc tissue. Clinical studies have that shown a large annulotomy weakens the disc and increases the risk of reherniation, requiring follow-up surgery. The device was developed in conjunction with Dr Kevin T Foley, a renowned minimally invasive spine surgeon and professor of neurosurgery at the University of Tennessee, Memphis, US. “The device effectively removes soft tissue, including disc material, and provides patients with the benefits of a less invasive approach,” said Foley. During the less invasive procedure, the MD SpineWand gently and safely removes tissue in a controlled manner using ArthroCare’s patented coblation technology. The SpineWand is designed to be inserted into a tiny 2.5mm access point. Once inserted, it breaks up molecular bonds of soft tissue, rapidly removing tissue volume while preserving the integrity of surrounding tissue. The MD SpineWand provides controlled tissue removal with coblation, a patented technology that uses electrical energy combined with a conductive medium, such as saline solution, to form a plasma that gently and precisely dissolves soft tissue, at relatively low temperatures, minimising damage to adjacent, healthy tissue. “The MD SpineWand is the latest application of ArthroCare’s coblation technology in the spine, providing surgeons with a more precise and less invasive way to remove material,” said David Applegate, vice president and general manager of ArthroCare Spine.
