Spinal Concepts, Inc., an Abbott Laboratories company, announced the launch of the InFix Anterior Lumbar Spacer System.

InFix is the only anterior lumbar spacer available that is assembled in the patient during the surgical procedure, enabling the surgeon to closely restore the patient's anatomy and provide stability to the lower spine for improved patient outcomes. The innovative, patented design of the InFix device protects the patient's bone during the healing process.

"The advantages of the InFix system are that it has a large surface area for bone graft and the components fit anatomically within the disc space," said Richard Guyer, M.D, of the Texas Back Institute. "The system's modularity enables the surgeon to restore the correct height and lordosis, or curvature, of the patient's spine," he added.

"InFix demonstrates engineering elegance through simplicity, which benefits the patient because it restores the patient's anatomy, and benefits the surgeon because it is easy to implant," said Dr. Reginald Davis, M.D, Baltimore Neurological Associates and a key figure behind the ongoing InFix clinical study.

Four out of five adult Americans will suffer significant lower back pain at some point in life. It is estimated that more than 300,000 spinal fusion procedures are performed in the United States each year. Unlike the current anterior lumbar spacer designs on the market today, the InFix System enables surgeons to customize the implant to match the natural contours of individual patient's vertebrae and disc space.

"For 2004, the US metal device fusion market is estimated at $315 million and continues to be a growing market segment," said Jeff Binder, president of Spinal Concepts. "The patented design of our InFix system is just one more example of Spinal Concepts' commitment to providing implant technology that can improve patient outcomes, reduce surgery time and costs, and simplify surgical procedures," he said.