J&J/DePuy Spine debuts vertebral compression fracture treatment
This article was originally published in The Gray Sheet
Executive Summary
Worldwide launch commences May 30 at SpineWeek in Geneva of the Johnson & Johnson subsidiary's Confidence spinal cement system for treating fractures that occur when vertebrae collapse due to osteoporosis, trauma or tumors. Cleared via 510(k) in the United States and CE marked in Europe, the hydraulic-based system uses a needle to deliver a polymethylmethacrylate cement which remains highly viscous for nine minutes. J&J notes that more than half a million people get vertebral compression fractures each year in the U.S. alone, although some respond to bed rest, medication or physical therapy. J&J bought the Confidence technology from Disc-O-Tech last year (1"The Gray Sheet" Nov. 12, 2007, p. 14)