NASS, 2015: joimax® launches its new EndoLIF® On-Cage and new iLESSYS® Delta interlaminar endoscopy system

Chicago, Illinois – October 14, 2015 (BUSINESS WIRE) – joimax®, the global German developer and marketer of technologies and training methods for minimally invasive endoscopic spinal surgery, launches its two newest products – the EndoLIF® On-Cage and iLESSYS® Delta interlaminar system, during the 30th annual North American Spine Society (NASS) meeting in Chicago.

“With the new EndoLIF® program, combined with the TESSYS® technology, and now the iLESSYS® Delta, joimax® offers complete endoscopic solutions for spinal decompression, stabilization and fusion.”

The EndoLIF® On-Cage is a 3D-printed titanium alloy, manufactured utilizing a special electron beam melting (EBM) technology. The cage displays a porous surface with a diamond cell structure, which provides an optimal base for cell proliferation and bone growth. Two large implant graft windows, which are filled with autogenous bone, allow for bridging bone to further support fusion. The EndoLIF® On-Cage implant allows surgeons to utilize a mini-open or an inter-muscular approach, similar to a mini-transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) approach, into the intervertebral disc space facilitating endoscopic-assisted fusion.

Dr. Ralf Wagner, LIGAMENTA Spine Center, Frankfurt, and Dr. Bernd Illerhaus, ONZ Spine Center, Recklinghausen, are two German spine specialists who have already performed more than 200 of the 800 EndoLIF® On-Cage procedures in Europe. “The access is dura and nerve-gentle, preserves better dorsal bony structures and limits scar tissue formation because of the stepwise tissue dilation,” said Dr. Wagner.

iLESSYS® Delta, an advanced development of the joimax iLESSYS® standard technology, is suitable for dorsal and dorso-lateral treatment of central spinal canal stenosis. The iLESSYS® Delta system enables a large area to be decompressed by means of a more widened interlaminar approach, guided by a full endoscopic direct visualization technique. The new and specific instrument set includes specially developed tools that permit an extensive, yet gentle, tissue-sparing decompression. A new endoscope with a 6 mm working channel allows the use of large shaver blades designed for bone and tissue resection, along with a range of instruments to be applied under full endoscopic view.

“We are impressed by the new endoscope which delivers outstanding image quality. With the specialized instrument set, it is finally possible to achieve decompression of central spinal canal stenosis,” said Albert E. Telfeian, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Neurosurgery, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI. Jian Shen, MD, PhD, of Mohawk Valley Orthopedics, P.C., NY, concurs. The two surgeons gained experience with the new system during a meeting at the Anatomy Department of the University of Mainz, Germany, earlier this year, and during the cadaveric training course at Vitruvian lab in Baltimore, MD, held last week.

“Albert Telfeian and Jian Shen will be the first spinal surgeons in the USA to perform surgeries with the new iLESSYS® Delta endoscopic technology and the EndoLIF® On-Cage implants,” says Wolfgang Ries, CEO and founder of joimax®. He adds, “With the new EndoLIF® program, combined with the TESSYS® technology, and now the iLESSYS® Delta, joimax® offers complete endoscopic solutions for spinal decompression, stabilization and fusion.”

With the FDA approval of Percusys® percutaneous screw-rod-system earlier this year, and the FDA approval of EndoLIF® On-Cage in July, joimax® is positioning itself as a clear leader in minimally invasive endoscopic spinal surgery, providing a full spectrum of product technologies, now fully available in the U.S. market.

User Meeting Heidelberg

joimax® sets the second highlight in its anniversary year: The TESSYS®/iLESSYS® User Meeting in Heidelberg

Karlsruhe/Heidelberg, 20 June 2011. After the success of the User Meeting in scope of the AANS Annual Scientific Meeting in Denver, Colorado in April, joimax® invited customers and users of their systems to attend the User Meeting in Heidelberg.

Teilnehmer Anwendertreffen Heidelberg 2011

 

The meeting provided an ideal discussion forum for the TESSYS® users, orthopedic and neurosurgeons with scientific lectures, experience reports and an extensive practical session at the Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology of the Heidelberg University. joimax® placed the focus on their new products with the shaver/drill system SHRILL® and the iLESSYS® instrument kits, that represent the consistent further development of the well-known and proven joimax® platform for endoscopic spine surgery. Dr. med. Carl Hans Fu?rstenberg, Senior Consultant and Deputy Head of Spinal Cord Injury and Head of Operative Spinal Cord Injury Department of Orthopaedics, Trauma Surgery and Spinal Cord Injury at the University Hospital Heidelberg, was impressed with the, now comprehensive, access technique: „The circle has been literally closed now. With TESSYS® and iLESSYS® we have the 360 degrees access to the spinal canal.“ „With the complement of iLESSYS® for interlaminar access, the complete range of endoscopic access techniques to the spinal canal is now available, providing us a lot more options to help patients efficiently and fast “, stated University Lecturer Dr. Sandro Eustacchio from the Neurosurgery Department of the University Hospital in Graz, Austria, who has been practicing the interlaminar access method for quite a while and demonstrated it to the audience.

Another core theme was the application of the shaver/drill system SHRILL®, impressively presented by Dr. med. Guntram Krzok, Friedrichroda, who cannot imagine specifically stenosis therapy without this „fantastic instrument“ any more, as he stated. According to his experience, this instrument perfectly completes the indication array of endoscopic spinal surgery.

All participants praised the format of the meeting with being the right mix of theory and practice as well as the ideal forum for an extensive exchange of experiences between the experts. During the relevant congresses and exhibitions of the second half of 2011, joimax® will present and launch further product novelties starting at EuroSpine in Milan, Italy, and SMISS in Las Vegas in October, NASS in Chicago in November and later at the 6th German Spine Congress to be held in Hamburg in December 2011.

joimax® celebrates 10 years of TESSYS®

Karlsruhe – Since 2004 more than 100,000 patients in 30 countries (up to August 2014) have undergone surgery with the TESSYS® method and its later developments. The latest studies reveal a shorter recovery time, a quicker return to work and normal quality of life, and an associated reduction in the impact on welfare systems.

joimax® looks back on 10 years of successful application of the TESSYS® procedure for minimally invasive endoscopic removal of herniated discs – a particularly gentle surgical technique using the naturally occurring transforaminal opening to the spinal canal. TESSYS® was the first product that joimax® launched onto the market and it helped the company make its breakthrough. Since then, joimax® has greatly diversified its product portfolio for 360° surgery in virtually all areas of the spinal column, including endoscopic and percutaneous stabilization.

joimax® Announces Partnership with Southeast Asia Distributor, Transmedic Group

Karlsruhe (GER) – joimax®, the German-based market leader in technologies and training methods for full-endoscopic and minimally invasive spinal surgery, is pleased to announce a new partnership with Transmedic Group, a top medical device distributor headquartered in Singapore. In this exclusive deal, Transmedic will represent joimax® in Singapore, Hong Kong, Philippines and Indonesia.

The long-term partnership will provide a broader surgical choice for patients considering endoscopic minimally invasive spinal surgery in these markets. With recent advances in the field of endoscopic discectomy (ED), the procedure has potential to supersedemicrodiscectomy (MD) as the gold standard of care in management of lumbar disc disease, as the latest literature suggests.

“joimax® is very much looking forward to working with Transmedic Group,” says joimax® Founder and CEO Wolfgang Ries. “With the rising popularity of endoscopic approaches in the management of spinal diseases, we’re able to deliver the highest standard of patient care, strengthen our sales activities, and enter into another important partnership across APAC.” 

Cooperation joimax and transmedic

Teo Kee Meng, managing director of Transmedic Group commented, “We’re very pleased to partner with joimax®. With their technological advancements and use of new spinal access corridors, a major prevention of spinal structure collateral damage is assured, allowing for significantly reduced complications and improved postoperative recovery times.”

About Transmedic Group
Transmedic Group was founded in 1980 with the aim of becoming the top specialist in the advanced medical technology area in Southeast Asia. Headquartered in Singapore, the privately held company has since grown its presence in seven countries with more than 500 employees, and is well-renowned as the leading provider of latest technologies in healthcare.

Orthopedics This Week – October 2012

Anthony Yeung, M.D., receives the Parviz Kambin Award of the Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (SMISS) in cooperation with joimax® for his outstanding achievements in the field of minimally-invasive endoscopic spinal surgery.

Yeung Honored by SMISS

Anthony Yeung, M.D., known to his many friends and admirers as “Tony,” is the 2012 recipient of the Parviz Kambin Award, given by the Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (SMISS) to honor outstanding surgeons in the field of endoscopic spine surgery. The Society held the ceremony during its annual meeting, September 23, and Yeung’s son, Christopher Yeung, M.D., accepted the award for his father.

SMISS established the Kambin Award, in collaboration with joimax®, to recognize the surgeons who have successfully performed more than 1,000 cases of endoscopic spinal surgery, trained more than 100 surgeons in the procedure, (in both cases specifically transforaminal surgery), published in numerous scientific publications and professional journals and given presentations at leading congresses. Finally, the recipient must demonstrate a strong commitment to clinical research and training. Choll Kim, M.D. and executive director, Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, wrote, “Tony is my hero and certainly deserves such an award.”

The award is named for Parviz Kambin, M.D. to recognize and honor his pioneering work that paved the way for minimally invasive endoscopic spine surgery. Kambin identified the unique safe access point to the spinal canal now known as the “Kambin Triangle.” Previous awardees are Parviz Kambin, M.D., professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Drexel University; Michael Schubert, M.D., APEX Spine Center, Munich, Germany; and Menno Iprenburg, M.D., Veenhuizen, Netherlands.

SMISS is the only society dedicated solely to advancing minimally invasive spine surgery. Endoscopic spine surgery constitutes but a small portion of SMISS’ overall educational content regarding minimally invasive spine surgery. SMISS’ primary role is to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and information.

Orthopedics This Week – Yeung Honered by SMISS

Parviz Kambin Award 2012 ; minimally invasive spine surgery ; Joimax ; endoscopy
Yeung Honored by SMISS

FDA Clearance for joimax EndoLIF On-Cage: 3D-Printed Fusion Implant

Irvine, California – July 13, 2015 (BUSINESS WIRE) – The German company joimax®, developer of technologies and training methods for minimally invasive endoscopic spinal surgery, today announced it received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market its Endoscopic Lumbar Interbody Fusion, or EndoLIF® On-Cage.

The EndoLIF On-Cage® consists of titanium alloy, produced with Electron Beam Melt (EBM) technology. The cage displays a porous surface with diamond cell structure, providing an optimal base for cell proliferation and bone growth. Two large openings, which may be filled with autogenous bone, support the creation of a straight column for fusion.

The EndoLIF® implant allows surgeons to utilize an inter-muscular approach, similar to a mini transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF), into the intervertebral disc, enabling endoscopic-assisted fusion. Dr. Ralf Wagner, LIGAMENTA Spine Center, Frankfurt and Dr. Bernd Illerhaus, ONZ, Datteln/Recklinghausen, two German spine specialists, have already performed more than 200 out of 600 EndoLIF procedures in Europe. “The access is dura and nerve-gentle, preserves the dorsal bony structures and we can avoid scar tissue because of the stepwise tissue dilation,” said Dr. Illerhaus.

The EndoLIF® On-Cage is designed to be used with supplemental posterior fixation, such as the joimax Percusys® percutaneous pedicle screw-rod system. Cage implantation can be performed with a posterior or postero-lateral approach, either using an open or endoscopic-assisted method.

“With the EndoLIF® program, joimax offers a complete endoscopic-assisted solution for spinal stabilization and fusion. In the future, we will be able to treat patients with even more gentle techniques,” comments Wolfgang Ries, CEO and founder of joimax®. “Our next development will be an EndoLIF® Cage on the basis of our iLESSYS® Delta system for posterior lumbar inter-body fusion (PLIF).”

joimax® for the first time awards the Parviz Kambin prize in cooperation with SMISS in the frame of the first US TESSYS® User Meeting in Denver, Colorado.

[29.04.2011] – Karlsruhe/Denver, Colorado, April 2011. After a very successful advanced cadaver workshop on Saturday, April 9, 2011, joimax® held its first US TESSYS® User Meeting on Sunday, April 10th in Denver, Colorado, the site of the Scientific Annual Meeting for AANS, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.

In cooperation with SMISS, Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, joimax®, for the first time, presented the Parviz Kambin award to Dr. Parviz Kambin. Dr. Kambin is one of the most important pioneers who paved the way for the minimally invasive endoscopic spine surgery industry. The award was founded to honor outstanding surgeons in the field of endoscopic spine surgery. Dr. Parviz Kambin identified the unique safe access point to the spinal canal now known as the ‘Kambin triangle.’ Additionally, two experienced spinal surgeons, Dr. Michael Schubert, Munich, Germany and Dr. Menno Iprenburg, Veenhuizen, the Netherlands, were honored with the Parviz Kambin Award, each having performed more than 1.000 procedures of this kind, trained hundreds of doctors using the TESSYS® technique and each publishing scientific presentations held at renowned international congresses.

Winner_Kambin_Award_2011

Dr. Choll Kim, Executive Director of SMISS and Associate Clinical Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of California – San Diego, “We, at SMISS, consider endoscopy of the spine to be a progressive technique with huge potential for the future of minimally invasive spine surgery. Aside from their operative work, we recognize the accomplishments of the recipients, who are large contributors to the advancement of the TESSYS® procedure on a global level.”

Besides the highlight of the award presentation ceremony, the User Meeting offered a robust program of scientific presentations, reports and discussions with internationally renowned spine specialists in the field of orthopaedic and neuro surgery. Additionally, joimax® started its celebrating event program 2011: 5 years joimax® Inc. in the USA and 10 years joimax® GmbH in Germany.

joimax® presents the EndoLIF® system

Karlsruhe – As its latest development, joimax® presents the EndoLIF® system for endoscopic stabilization of the lumbar spine. The EndoLIF® system includes an O-cage
(oblique cage) in addition to fully endoscopic access technology to the intervertebral disc space with the proven TESSYS® or iLESSYS® technique. In addition, there is Percusys®, a screw and rod system for posterior percutaneous stabilization.

The advantages of this procedure are clear:

• Smooth, atraumatic access due to dilation of tissue
• Dura and nerves are protected by the working tubes
• Dorsal bone structures are unaffected
• O-cage made from titanium with honeycomb structure as optimal subsurface for cell growth
• Percutaneous stabilization with a screw and rod system, so minimally invasive too Both new systems are CE approved, not yet FDA cleared.

Cominco

joimax® Celebrates Resounding Success at the German Spine Society (DWG) Convention 2019

Karlsruhe (GER) / Irvine, CA – December 3, 2019 – joimax®, the Germany-based market leader of technologies and training methods for full-endoscopic minimally-invasive spinal surgery, celebrated resounding success at this year’s German Spine Society (DWG), held November 28 to 30 in Munich, Germany. joimax® presented its newest product innovations and hosted several informative sessions to rave reviews, exceeding expectations.

Among the products showcased was a new member of the joimax® TESSYS® family, TESSYS® Thx, a system specifically developed for the symptomatic thoracic deherniation and decompression treatment. Surgeries utilizing TESSYS® Thx can avoid complications often associated with traditional open and microsurgical approaches, such as significant muscle damage, bony resection, and morbidities.

joimax® also presented Intracs®em, the first electromagnetic system for endoscopic spine applications that can navigate instruments directly at the tip, if required. This navigation system combines side and AP images of the C-arm with the CT axial scan, providing surgeons with meaningful views of the target region. Intracs® em received its CE mark earlier this year and has been successful throughout Europe and Asia. FDA approval is pending; expected by year’s end.

Moreover, joimax® presented its Endoscopic Spine Academy ESPINEA®. This modular training program, divided into a Pre-Clinical Training with anatomical models, endoscopic tools, and simulators, and a Clinical Training, part of the joimax® CM3 program consisting of visitation, hands-on workshops, and the first surgery, offers surgeons specific support to optimize and significantly shorten the individual learning curve.

Additional highlights included, the daily Meet the Expert Sessions, a Needle Placement Challenge with attractive prizes, and a lunch symposium on “Endoscopy in the Course of Time”.

joimax® CEO and Founder Wolfgang Ries states, “Our unmatched attention to the needs of surgeons enables us to be one step ahead. The reception of our products at this convention reinforced our commitment to endoscopy and underscored the importance of showcasing innovative products such as Intracs®em.  By participating in national and international spine congresses, we are able to achieve broad market penetration for the benefit of the patient”.

joimax®, EndoSphere Spine, LLC and the University of Toledo, Ohio, have signed a license agreement on endoscopic cage technologies

Karlsruhe, 23 October 2012. joimax® as the recognized pioneer in endoscopic spine surgery has launched the transforaminal access to the spinal canal under the brand name TESSYS® in 2004. Since then the company has consistently extended its product range and covers the complete array of therapies for spinal disorders with its systems today.

TESSYS® and iLESSYS® are applied especially for the treatment of disc herniations and stenosis utilizing the transforaminal or interlaminar access to the spinal canal, aiming for a long lasting decompression. In the area of pain therapy the company offers the products of the Multiuse series for endoscopic rhizotomy and PeNuts® for percutaneous nucleus therapy. The product range is completed by systems and products in the field of VBA management.

Consequently the next step in the evolution of the joimax® product portfolio is the stabilization and restoration of the spinal column. With the joimax® EndoLIF® programme – the term stands for Endoscopic Lumbar Interbody Fusion – various cage technologies are brought into the intervertebral foramen step by step under endoscopic view. The cage is then being filled with autologous bone or a substitute material under endoscopic control also, the intervertebral disc space and hence the whole spine segment is raised and stabilized. This will be the world’s first interbody fusion device which can be inserted under direct vision.

EndoSphere Spine’s founding members Professors Vijay Goel, PhD and Anand Agarwal, MD at the University of Toledo are among the world leading researchers in the development of biomedical device for the spine. With the assistance of a team at the University of Toledo, they have developed the cage technology, in particular a novel ring cage that is being licensed to joimax® on an exclusive worldwide basis. Prof. Goel is enthusiastic with the idea to position the cage technology using the joimax® minimally invasive access technique: “The combination of our know how with the joimax® expertise leads us to a unique concept that will dramatically push endoscopic spinal surgery forward.” His colleague Prof. Agarwal considers it even a “quantum leap forward”. “In the team at the University of Toledo and the co-founders of EndoSphere Spine, LLC (Profs Goel and Agarwal) we have found a brilliant partner to provide the spine surgeons with state-of-the-art implants for most atraumatic interventions”, adds Wolfgang Ries, CEO and Founder of joimax®.

Both parties share the vision and mission of creating pioneering technologies in order to quickly bring back patients to their usual quality of life in the long run.

About The University of Toledo
Established in 1872, The University of Toledo is home to nearly 22,500 students across 13 colleges and six Ohio campuses. The University offers more than 230 doctoral, professional, graduate and undergraduate programs. UT has earned national and international acclaim for its expertise in medical bioengineering, solar and advanced renewable energy, environmental sciences, astronomical research, translational research and biomarkers.