SeaSpine Holdings Corporation, a global medical technology company focused on surgical solutions for the treatment of spinal disorders, announced the limited commercial launch of and completion of initial cases for its Skipjack Expandable Interbody System.
 
Skipjack is an expandable interbody system based on patented technology acquired as part of the NLT transaction announced in August 2016. Skipjack is designed to provide continuous in-situ expansion in either height or lordosis for a tailored anatomical fit. Skipjack adds to SeaSpine’s portfolio of differentiated solutions within the interbody device market, which is estimated to be one of the fastest-growing segments of the U.S. spinal instrumentation market. Notably, Skipjack implants provide up to 20 degrees of lordotic correction from a posterior approach and are accompanied by integrated graft delivery instrumentation to post-pack the implant and surrounding disc space.
 
“The alpha launch of Skipjack reflects the culmination of our ability to identify and acquire novel technologies and combine it with our surgeon-focused development and marketing expertise to rapidly bring innovative new products to market,” said Keith Valentine, president and CEO of SeaSpine. “In surgeon-responsive and rapid fashion, SeaSpine has translated NLT’s intellectual property into what we believe will be high clinical-value products that contribute to improving patient lives.”
 
Skipjack provides surgeons the ability to place smaller implants that expand within the interbody space, potentially enabling smaller incisions and more limited nerve retraction without sacrificing the advantages of larger, but more disruptive, implants. This in-situ expansion is intended to reduce tissue disruption, minimize endplate damage and, thereby, improve patient outcomes.
 
“The parallel and lordotic options that Skipjack offers allow me to expand in-situ for a more patient-specific fit. The initial stability is excellent and being able to backfill the cage with the same set of instruments helps simplify the procedure,” stated Dr. James Brennan of Sentara Virginia Beach Hospital.
 
SeaSpine designs, develops, and commercializes surgical solutions for spinal disorder treatment. The company has a portfolio of orthobiologics and spinal instrumentation solutions to meet the varying combinations of products that neurosurgeons and orthopedic spine surgeons need to perform fusion procedures on the lumbar, thoracic and cervical spine. SeaSpine’s orthobiologics products consist of a range of advanced and traditional bone graft substitutes that are designed to improve bone fusion rates following a range of orthopedic surgeries, including spine, hip, and extremities procedures. SeaSpine’s spinal instrumentation portfolio consists of a line of products to facilitate spinal fusion in minimally invasive surgery, complex spine, deformity and degenerative procedures. Expertise in both orthobiologic sciences and spinal instrumentation product development allows SeaSpine to offer its surgeon customers a differentiated portfolio and a complete solution to meet their fusion requirements. SeaSpine currently markets its products in the United States and in more than 30 countries worldwide.