First Allograft With Map3 Cellular Allogeneic Bone Graft Strips Completed

The first human implantation of RTI Surgical’s Map3 Cellular Allogeneic Bone Graft Strips was just completed in Detroit. The allograft took place during an anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) procedure last week.

The Map3 Strips Allograft implant contains three main element: a three-dimensional osteoconductive scaffold; demineralized bone matrix (DBM) that demonstrates verified osteoinductive potential; and multipotent adult progenitor (MAPC) class cells that provide osteogeneic and angiogeneic signals to support the bone healing process. According to the company, the implant, which is moldable, is ideal for filling bone voids in applications such as small joint repair, irregular defects or as an onlay in the posterolateral spine.

“Map3 Cellular Allogeneic Bone Graft is a promising biologic implant, and the strips configuration offers another option,” said Vittorio M. Morreale, M.D., the neurosurgeon at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit who performed the first implantation. “Not only does map3 have a three-dimensional osteoconductive scaffold but it also has DBM that demonstrates verified osteoinductive potential and viable MAPC-class cells that provide osteogeneic and angiogeneic signals. Both configurations provide excellent handling and surgical placement of the implant, and the addition of strips gives me options depending on what the case needs.”

“We anticipate a market release of the strips implant later this year, which will complement our current Map3 Chips Allograft offering,” said Brian K. Hutchison, RTI president and CEO.

Map3 incorporates MAPC-based technology with stem cells isolated from the same donor as the bone material. The MAPC technology, licensed from Athersys Inc. for this orthopedic application, represents a distinctive type of stem cell with recognized angiogenic and immuno-modulatory properties.

RTI Surgical Inc. is a surgical implant company based in Alachua, Fla.