Medtronic Offers Instruments to Accompany Cervical Disc Implant

Medtronic Inc. has begun to commercialize an instrument set that can be used to insert the Bryan cervical disc, an implant approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2009 for the treatment of single-level cervical disc disease (radiculopathy, where the nerves are affected, and/or myelopathy, where the spinal cord is affected), one of the most common diagnoses for neck and arm pain.

“The new ACD Instrument Set allows surgeons to implant the Bryan disc using the same basic surgical steps taught in anterior cervical surgery for over 50 years with excellent success rates,” said Rick Sasso, M.D., of the Indiana Spine Group (ISG). “The original instrument set for the Bryan disc requires specialized instruments that must be assembled and mounted to the operating room table during surgery, a much different technique than I learned in my fellowship training.”

Medtronic has two clinically proven cervical discs in its arsenal, one of which is the Bryan implant. The first surgery using the Bryan disc was performed 12 years ago in Europe; since then, according to the company, more than 20,000 of the implants have been sold. The first implantation of the device in the United States was performed by Sasso and Kenneth L. Renkens, M.D., also of the ISG, in 2002. The Bryan disc was developed by Vincent Bryan, M.D., a Seattle, Wash.-based neurosurgeon, with technology developed by Gary K. Michelson, M.D.

“We are very excited to provide this enhanced instrument set and motion device to physicians seeking to offer their patients an alternative to fusion,” said Doug King, senior vice president and president of Medtronic’s spinal business.

Medtronic’s spinal business, headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., develops technologies for neurological, orthopedic and spinal conditions.

Photo of the Byran cervical disc courtesy of Medtronic Inc.