Amedica Expands Patent Portfolio with Proprietary Silicon Nitride Total Disc Implant to Treat Neck and Back Pain

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 28, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Amedica Corporation, a spinal and reconstructive medical device manufacturer, announced today that the company received a new patent for an artificial spinal disc implant based on its proprietary Silicon Nitride (Si₃N₄) ceramic material.

Amedica's artificial spinal disc implant is unique in its design, material and construction. This is a distinct differentiation from existing metal-on-plastic or metal-on-metal designs. By leveraging Silicon Nitride, Amedica's artificial spine disc implant has the potential to provide patients with increased longevity of the implant due to lower wear, better osteointegration and reduced infection rates.

"The purpose of this artificial disc is to increase the likelihood that a patient will have longer lasting neck or back pain relief," said Bryan J. McEntire, Chief Technology Officer, Amedica. "Over time existing designs wear and create metal or plastic debris that can cause osteolysis resulting in revisions. By using Silicon Nitride we can significantly reduce wear rates thus improving the longevity of the pain relief."

Amedica is the only company in the world that has the technology and state-of-the-art manufacturing facility to produce FDA-cleared and CE-marked Silicon Nitride implants for the spinal arena. The company's proprietary Silicon Nitride material demonstrates superior new bone formation and resistance to bacterial infection compared to other products used for spinal fusion such as poly-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK) and titanium (Ti).

Amedica is currently looking to expand Silicon Nitride beyond spinal fusion for different types of surgical implant devices such as hip and knee replacements, dental implants and suture anchors. The company recently received 510(k) clearance for a second generation design of its Valeo Interbody Fusion Devices, and is pursuing clearance of an interbody fusion device featuring a Cancellous Structure Ceramic (CSC) core. CSC closely mimics the pore size of cancellous bone and is an ideal osteoconductive matrix that should allow bone to grow though the material.

Additional information about the Company's complete portfolio may be found at www.amedica.com.

About Amedica Corporation:
Amedica is an innovative spine and orthopaedic implant and device marketing, manufacturing, and distribution company that provides advanced implants made from its silicon nitride ceramic technology. The company's platform technology represents a new standard for implants based on superior performance, safety and efficacy. Amedica is a privately held, private equity backed company founded in 1996 by internationally recognized orthopaedic surgeons and ceramicists. The company is ISO 13485 certified, its spine products are FDA cleared, CE marked, and sold in ten countries. Amedica Corporation is based in Salt Lake City, UT.

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SOURCE Amedica Corporation