Lanx®, Inc. Announces 17,000 Aspen™ Spinous Process Fixation Devices Implanted

BROOMFIELD, Colo., April 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Lanx®, Inc., a privately held medical device company focused on developing and commercializing innovative devices for spinal surgery, today announced it has reached 17,000 implantations of its flagship product, the Aspen™ Spinous Process Fixation System (Aspen), at the 2011 American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) Annual Meeting, Denver, CO.

"This significant implant milestone is evidence that the Aspen system is gaining mainstream industry acceptance and solidifies Lanx's leadership position in the spinous process fixation market," said Dan Gladney, Chief Executive Officer, Lanx. "As the core product in our comprehensive fusion portfolio, the success of the Aspen system is a significant accomplishment for Lanx. We plan to leverage its momentum and expand the platform to include enhancements that will better fit patient anatomies, further simplify the procedure and address new clinical applications."

Over 700 spine surgeons have used the Aspen system to provide spinous process fixation as a less invasive alternative to pedicle screws. The system includes a proprietary spiked fixation plate designed to be rigidly affixed to the spinous process with the use of customized surgical instrumentation. The unique central barrel allows the device to share significant weight load required in the lumbar and thoracic spine, while its hollow and fenestrated design serves as a bone graft containment chamber to promote fusion.

"I began using the Aspen device almost three years ago and have been pleased with the fixation and, most importantly, patient outcomes compared to that of pedicle screws," said Ronald Sabbagh, M.D., fellowship-trained spine surgeon at Beebe Medical Center in Lewes, DE. "I have also realized a significant reduction in tissue trauma, bone disruption and noticeably less blood loss when using the Aspen system compared to pedicle screws, which I believe is translating to shorter hospital stays, quicker recovery times and less post-operative pain for my fusion patients."

The Aspen system is intended for single level use in the thoracic or lumbar spine (T1-S1) for the treatment of degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis, spinal trauma or spinal tumor. The Aspen system is currently being used in a wide range of surgical applications including posterior fusions and interbody fusions (TLIF, ALIF and Lateral).

Lanx markets a full line of spine technologies that will be on display at the Lanx AANS booth #1016.

For more information about the Aspen system or Lanx, please visit www.lanx.com.

About Lanx, Inc.

Lanx is one of the largest and fastest growing privately held global spine companies. The Company was founded by a team of experienced medical device professionals and engineers in 2003 to improve the quality of spine care and provide surgeons with innovative products. Lanx develops and markets a full line of fusion technologies with a focus on minimally invasive and biologics products. The Company is headquartered in Broomfield, CO. More information on Lanx and its spinal surgery products can be found at www.lanx.com.

SOURCE Lanx, Inc.