USPTO Grants Two Patents to NLT Spine’s Lumbar Interbody Fusion Technology

NLT Spine, an Israel-based developer of less-invasive spine procedures, was granted two patents by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, covering the company’s conduit straight design and implant beveled tip, used as part of the Prow Fusion (lumbar interbody fusion) procedure.

The first issued patent (U.S. 8,486,109) covers the deployable implant design with its beveled tip for smooth deployment. NLT Spind also has been granted this patent by the European Patent Office.
An additional patent (U.S. 8,597,330) covers the close fit created by the rectangular, close-fit shape of the conduit utilized for delivering instruments (such as the eSPiN discectomy device) and interbody implants into the disc, enhancing delivery path orientation and optimizing the size of the implant. The company has been granted this patent by the Japanese Patent Office as well.

The additional two patents, recently issued, join the wide patent portfolio of nearly 120 issued and pending patents worldwide, covering a large variety of products and procedures for deployable and deflectable implants, the company reported.

NLT Spine has developed “non-linear” technology platform enabling implantation of large spinal implants and instruments through small incisions for the treatment of degenerative conditions of the spine. With the non-linear technology platform, which is applicable to a wide variety of surgical spine procedures, implant and instrument size is not limited by the incision size.

“We believe the future of spine surgery lies in deployable and deflectable implants, as these allow for a small incision size and offer a good anatomical fit. As we continuously strive to innovate in the area of less-invasive spine procedures, these two granted patents assert our position as technology leaders in this industry,” said Didier Toubia, NLT Spine’s CEO.

Oded Loebl, vice president of technology for the company, added: “The conduit’s rectangular shape and close-fit design and the beveled tip design of the implant complement each other, contributing to the smooth performance and deployment of an implant, offering predictable implant positioning within the patient, for a safe and reproducible procedure. It also serves to demonstrate the way we build our platform tools, with a complete procedure in mind and a ‘solution’ approach.”

The company was recently selected as a candidate for Red Herring magazine’s 2013 Top 100 Global award. The magazine’s editorial team selected the companies demonstrating the most innovative technologies and business models from more than 1,000 companies in more than 40 countries. The companies are judged on a range of qualitative and quantitative metrics, including but not limited to, technology innovation, financial performance, growth criterion, management’s execution standards, potential globalization of the strategy and market share improvement.

NLT Spine develops spine surgery instrumentation and implants for treating degenerative spinal conditions through small surgical incisions. The company’s goal is to improve patient care and reduce total treatment costs by ultimately shifting from traditional open surgical routines to minimally invasive, employing new methods and technologies to enhance usability and outcomes.