Here are eight things for spinal surgeons to know for July 7, 2016.
NuVasive to pay $45M to Medtronic in patent litigation settlement
San Diego-based NuVasive settled its patent litigation with Dublin, Ireland-based Medtronic. The two companies agreed on the settlement terms of patent infringement lawsuits stemming from 2008. NuVasive and Medtronic also agreed to halt patent litigation and instead, implement a dispute resolution process to deal with any patent infringement allegations in the future.
Dr. Marc Weinstein to lead FLXfit clinical study
Marc A. Weinstein, MD, of Tampa-based Florida Orthopaedic Institute's Spine Center, will serve as principal investigator for a clinical study on Expanding Orthopedics' FLXfit Lordotic Expandable Cage. He will head the study at Tampa (Fla.) General Hospital.
Yearlong investigation finds 2.4k+ physicians sanctioned for sexually abusing patients
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution conducted a yearlong investigation which found more than 2,400 U.S. physicians were sanctioned for sexually abusing their patients. AJC interviewed various disciplined physicians who had different responses to the sexual misconduct sanctions. While some felt their patients unfairly targeted them to receive money from a lawsuit, others argued their actions were "brief lapses in judgment."
Dr. James Manzanares performs Seaside Surgery Center's 1st outpatient spinal surgery
James B. Manzanares, MD, performed the first outpatient spinal surgery at Naples, Fla.-based Seaside Surgery Center. He performed the one-hour minimally invasive spine surgery with the iO-Flex system. The 79-year-old patient had spinal stenosis, and is recovering well.
Frailty proves an independent predictor of degenerative spine surgery outcomes
Researchers analyzed the association between frailty and postoperative outcomes following degenerative spine disease surgery, in a study published in The Spine Journal.
The study revealed frailty severity could independently predict major complications, including reoperations for infections. Frailty severity could also predict longer lengths of stay and 30-day mortality on unadjusted and adjusted analysis.
Mazor Robotics reports 11 Renaissance system orders in Q2
Caesarea, Israel-based Mazor Robotics received 11 orders for its Renaissance systems in the second quarter, ending June 30, 2016. The company received six orders in the United States, three orders in China, one order in Italy and one order in Australia.
Physicians, teaching hospitals receive $7B+ in payments, investment interests in 2015
CMS released Open Payments data for 2015, revealing healthcare industry manufacturers and companies reported $7.52 billion in payments as well as ownership and investment interests to physicians and teaching hospitals. The amount is comprised of 11.90 million total transaction records, which can be attributed to 618,931 physicians and 1,116 teaching hospitals.
Global orthopedic device market to reach $43.1B by 2024
The global orthopedic devices market is expected to see rapid growth through 2024, according to a Grand View Research report. The increasing adoption of advanced technologies and materials as well as the rising geriatric population are driving market growth. Major players in the orthopedic devices market include NuVasive, Medtronic, Zimmer-Biomet, DePuy Synthes and Stryker.