Titan Spine Recognized With Research Award

Shortly after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared Titan Spine’s Endoskeleton TL system, the company has been granted a Whitecloud Award for Best Basic Science Research. The award, given by the Scoliosis Research Society, was in recognition for a research paper that evaluated Titan’s surface technology. The study results further demonstrate that the company’s line of Endoskeleton interbody devices promote osteoblastic differentiation and enhanced bone-forming environment compared to devices made from polyetheretherketone (PEEK).

The paper, titled “Implant Materials Generate Different Peri-Implant Inflammatory Factors: PEEK Promotes Fibrosis and Micro-textured Titanium Promotes Osteogenic Factors,” was presented by Paul Slosar, M.D., of Spine Care Medical Group in San Francisco, Calif., and chief medical officer of Titan Spine, at the International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques (IMAST) held July 16–19 in Valencia, Spain.

“We are honored to have our research recognized with IMAST’s prestigious Whitecloud Award for Best Basic Research,” Slosar said. “Our findings further establish that the combination of interbody device material and design is essential. The results of this study have great importance to spine surgeons. We now know conclusively that the materials we implant in our patients can stimulate stem cells to behave differently either promoting bone formation or creating inflammation and fibrosis. Titan Spine is committed to developing implants based on strong science pioneering efforts to optimize surface technology for the benefit of patients undergoing spinal fusion procedures.”

“Through this research we are better able to understand how implant surface properties influence specific inflammatory micro-environment factors,” commented Barbara Boyan, Ph.D., dean of the School of Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University and lead author of the study. “We found that the titanium alloy surface with a complex micron scale and submicron scale roughness promotes a cellular response that favors bone formation. Conversely PEEK created an inflammation response that will more likely to lead to fibrous tissue formation.”

According to the company, previous in-vitro research on Titan Spine’s current proprietary surface technology demonstrated a significantly enhanced osteogenic environment when compared to smooth titanium or PEEK. This surface technology which contains unique topographies at the macro micro and sub-micron levels is featured on the company’s line of Endoskeleton interbody devices for the cervical and lumbar spine including the company’s recently-launched Endoskeleton TL lateral interbody fusion device. Titan’s product line is commercially available in the United States and portions of Europe and recently gained market approval in Australia and New Zealand.

Titan Spine LLC is based in Mequon, Wis.