Ireland based Medtronic plc, a medical device company announced the launch of titanium 3D printed platform – TiONIC Technology. The new technology enables more complex designs and integrated surface technologies for spine surgery implants.
The announcement was made at the recently concluded Annual Meeting of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) in New Orleans, USA. The AANS is a scientific and educational association focused on advancing the specialty of neurological surgery.
What is TiONIC?
TiONIC Technology is a 3D printed technique that creates enhanced surface textures by utilizing a differentiated laser method. Compared with smooth materials, surface texture has been shown to increase osteoconductivity or a surface that permits bone growth and promote bone response.
In comparison with traditional manufacturing, the 3D printing process offers more advantages. For example, 3D printing is ideal for creating more intricate implant designs such as the honeycomb shape on Medtronic’s recently launched ARTiC-L Spinal System. The ARTiC-L is Medtronic’s first implant manufactured using the TiONIC Technology 3D printing technique.
Made of titanium, the implant is designed for surgeons to use in transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) spine surgery. The implant’s 3D printed honeycomb design acts as an osteoconductive scaffold for bony growth into the implant. This feature of the implant also provides improved mechanical load distribution across the implant.
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Offering details about how the new technology is revolutionising interbody fusion implants, Dr. Colin C. Buchanan, neurosurgeon at the Colorado Brain and Spine Institute, said, “Surface advancements, like TiONIC Technology, have emerged as a paradigm shift in interbody fusion implants. Implants utilizing newer surface technology can help stimulate a cellular response and give me greater confidence that the patient will have a successful fusion.”
Doug King, senior vice president and president of Medtronic’s Spine division, which is part of the Restorative Therapies Group at Medtronic, said, “ARTiC-L is an important component of Medtronic’s portfolio of reproducible solutions for minimally invasive procedures.”
“Our 3D printed TiONIC Technology allows devices such as ARTiC-L – and our future interbody implant portfolio – to offer surgical advantages not traditionally possible,” King concluded.
