OrtoWay earned a U.S. patent for the OrtoWell distractor system for spinal corpectomy, according to a Sept. 23 news release.
OrtoWell's patent was issued July 1 and has been used in more than 50 spine surgeries worldwide. The patent covers OrtoWell's application of hydraulically powered distractor for corpectomies.
The system was developed in Sweden and addresses challenges associated with handheld wedge distractors, clamps and retractors used in longer operations.
"Spinal surgeons today face immense pressure to work efficiently, safely, and avoid complications while achieving high efficacy," OrtoWay CEO Stan Mikulowski, said in the release. "During anterior surgeries, it’s not uncommon to encounter up to 100 kg (220 lbs) of axial pressure in the spine, which increases the risk of vertebral damage when using hammers or conventional clamps that may collapse under the strain."