Centerpulse Spine-Tech Inc has entered an exclusive North American marketing and distribution agreement with U&I Corporation of Korea for its Optima Spinal System. The Optima product line expands Spine-Tech's current pedicle screw offerings of Silhouette and ST360.

"We at Centerpulse Spine-Tech are very excited to enter the inner- set screw portion of the vast $950 million pedicle screw market." said Mike McCormick President of Centerpulse Spine-Tech USA, headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. McCormick went on to say "The Optima system will allow us to provide a new pedicle screw fixation option to our customers."

Ja Kyo Koo, U&I's President and Chief Executive Officer, stated "We are very pleased to enter into a partnership with Centerpulse Spine-Tech for the Optima system. We believe that Centerpulse Spine-Tech's strong and well established customer base and spine trained sales representatives represent an opportunity for U&I to gain incremental sales beyond our current customer base and distribution channel."

Spinal fusions are a common treatment for instability or spinal correction due to degenerative disc disease, trauma, deformity and tumor amongst others.