Thomas Zdeblick, MD, a spine surgeon and chairman of the department of orthopedics and rehabilitation at the University of Wisconsin in Madison who co-authored three studies with Medtronic and received the highest-known physician payments from the company at $21 million, is defending his financial relationship and disclosure policy with Medtronic, according to a Wisconsin State Journal report.

Spine Surgical Innovation, global marketer and distributor of the Swivel Port System and full line of spine instruments, has added five new pedicle instruments to the company's portfolio.

A barrage of lawsuits regarding off-label use for Medtronic's Infuse bone morphogenic protein product may be right around the corner, according to various news sources.

Since June:

Medical device company ArthroCare sold its Parallax and Contour products, which are used during spine surgery, to NeuroTherm.

Sports medicine device company Cayenne Medical entered into a co-marketing partnership with Parametrics Medical to market Parametrics' allografts, which are designed to enhance knee ligament reconstruction options.

Both Salient Surgical Technologies and PEAK Surgical were acquired by Medtronic on the same day for a grand total of $645 million. Medtronic previously held ownership in both companies and is awaiting government and regulatory review.

Privately-held equity fund Altor Fund II acquired Orchid Orthopedic Solutions from Churchill Equity. Altor Fund II has agreed to support Orchid's continued growth and international expansion.

Orthopedic device company Shoulder Options has partnered again with Kapstone Medical to accelerate the commercialization of Shoulder Options' technologies. The companies previously collaborated on achieving FDA clearance for a rotator cuff repair plate.

Smith & Nephew signed a distribution agreement with Graftys, a company focused on producing injectable bone void filler products.

Stryker Joint Preservation partnered with RegenLab to distribute Stryker's RegenKit-THT for the preparation of autologous platelet-rich plasma, which is designed to reduce preparation steps and improve OR efficiency.

Synthes entered into an exclusive worldwide collaboration agreement with Eli Lilly and Company. The two companies will jointly develop site-specific osteoinductive products based on Synthes' biomaterials and Lilly's biologics or pharmaceuticals business.

This year:

Integra LifeSciences bought SeaSpine, a spinal fusion device company, for $89 million in cash. The combination of SeaSpine's portfolio with Integra LifeSciences' existing spine business will make its spine and orthobiologics portfolio the largest component of the company.

Interventional Spine and DSM Biomedical entered into a license and supply agreement which allows Interventional Spine to use DSM proprietary polymer Bionate PCU in its Percutaneous Dynamic Stabilization system. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed but contain a mix of royalties on devices sold and annual fees.

Medical device giant Johnson & Johnson acquired Synthes for $21.3 billion. The DePuy Family of Companies, a J&J subsidiary, will merge its orthopedics portfolio with Synthes' innovations in trauma, spine cranio-maxillofacial and power tools.

Kensey Nash recently acquired the assets of Synthes subsidiary Norian for $22 million. Kensey Nash will manufacture Norian produces and Synthes will exclusively distribute them.

Spine device company Premia Spine has acquired assets of Impliant, which includes 16 worldwide patents. Premia plans to commercially launch the TOPS System and its adjunct Versalink Fixation System during the third quarter of 2011.

Stryker entered into a merger agreement with Orthovita, acquiring the company's common stock for $316 million. Stryker will commence an all-cash tender offer to acquire Orthovita's outstanding common stock as well, and acquire the remaining outstanding shares through a second merger.

Related Articles on Device Companies:
29 Orthopedic and Spine Devices Receive FDA 510(k) Clearance in June
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Discounted Orthopedic Devices May Be the Future for Small Companies

InVivo Therapeutics appointed Jonathan R. Slotkin, MD, a neurosurgeon at Washington Brain & Spine Institute in Washington, DC, as the company's new medical director, according to a company news release.

Germany-based orthopedic device company IlluminOss Medical announced the first use of its minimally invasive ankle fracture repair system, according to a company news release.

Biomet reported net sales of $715.2 million during the fourth quarter of the 2011 fiscal year, which is an increase of 2 percent over the same period last year, according to a company news release.

Medtronic recently acquired two medical device companies, Salient Surgical Technologies and PEAK Surgical, for a total of $645 million, according to company news releases.

Ascension Orthopedics, an Austin, Texas-based orthopedic device company, has released the TITAN Inset Mini Glenoid, according to a company news release.

RSB Spine, a Cleveland-based spine device company, reported a 131 percent sales increase for the second quarter of 2011 over the same time period in 2010, according to a company news release.