joimax® at the early summer congresses: SpineWeek Amsterdam and DGNC Leipzig

Karlsruhe, 20 March 2012. Right on time with the start into a new decade of the joimax® history, the Karlsruhe-based medical technology company specializing in endoscopic resp. micro-invasive spine surgery will be present at two renowned congresses in March: ISASS from 20 to 23 March 2012 in Barcelona und EndoVienna from 29 March to 1 April 2012 in Vienna.

For the 12th Annual Meeting of ISASS (International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery) joimax® will take part in the exhibition and offer an industry workshop with the motto „Endoscopic Spine Surgery – Following New Paths in Barcelona“. Speakers at this event on 21 March 2012 will be Dr. Choll Kim, San Diego, focussing on the outstanding advantages of endoscopic access techniques especially in the area of the lumbar spine. Followed by Dr. Michael Schubert, Munich, with a presentation of complex cases, extending procedures from the lumbar to the thoracic spine, and varying the access path from the transforaminal to the interlaminar surgery method with the joimax® instrument systems TESSYS® und iLESSYS®.

joimax® displays the complete product range for endoscopic spinal surgery: Instrument sets for the treatment of disc herniations – with CESSYS® now being available for the cervical spine –, the novel pain therapy product “Multiuse” for endoscopic facet joint denervation and the iLESSYS® system for 360° decompression. Further special blades for the Shrill® shaver-drill resection and ablation system and namely the Shrill® Deflector Blades for resections „around the corner“, eagerly anticipated by the market, will now be launched.

Preluding the 5th World Congress for Endoscopic Surgery EndoVienna, joimax® has invited internationally renowned specialists to join a User Meeting with presentations of the joimax® Faculty members and a workshop to be held at the Institute of Anatomy of the Vienna University. The User Meeting will be dedicated to an intense exchange of knowledge and ideas of the most experienced users of the joimax® technologies. It will be followed by the keynote lecture of Prof. Dr. G.J. Groen, Utrecht, „High-Resolution Imaging of the Spine: Key to a Better Insight in 3D Relations Within the Spine“, at the opening session of the EndoVienna congress. The program of the „EndoVienna Spine Session“ on 30 March 2012 offers a whole bunch of scientific presentations on the most recent joimax® products. Members of the international joimax® faculty team will present their experiences when applying the joimax® access and resection systems. This session will be chaired by Univ. Doz. Dr. Sandro Eustacchio from the University Hospital Graz.

joimax® is currently planning its attendance to the upcoming congresses: The 80th Annual Meeting of the AANS in Miami in April at the first place. The BASS Britspine in early May. End of May Spine Week in Amsterdam. To be followed by SFCR in Strasbourg in June – it is the first time that joimax® will participate in this congress of the Society of French Spine Surgeons with an exhibition stand and a workshop. Subsequently the company will promote its technologies at the DGNC congress to be held in Leipzig this time. All events focus on industry exhibitions displaying novel product developments and on scientific presence within the conference programs.

FDA Approves joimax® Intracs®em Electromagnetic Navigation System for Endoscopic Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

IRVINE, CA – joimax®, the German-based market leader in technologies and training methods for full-endoscopic and minimally invasive spinal surgery, is pleased to announce that Intracs® em, its electromagnetic navigation tracking and control system, has been approved by the FDA.

The Intracs® em Navigation System allows for spinal procedures to be carried out with minimal X-ray control, drastically reducing radiation exposure, access time, and the entire length of the surgical procedure. In fact, all joimax® instruments and scopes can be tracked and accurately navigated through the appropriate sensors, which improves safety, expands endoscopic indications, and flattens the learning curve.

Intracs®em is a multiyear development. Its first cadaveric trials were made with a group of surgeons at the ESPINEA® Labs in Karlsruhe, Germany and Irvine, CA.

According to Prof. Dr. med. Michael Kraus of ORTHIX Zentrum in Augsburg, Germany, who headed the preliminary trials: “Using Intracs® em Navigation System in the full endoscopic spine surgery is safe and easily applicable. The technology helps master precise access to the spine, and the clinical trials have confirmed the technique’s multiple advantages.”

Prof. Dr. Chris Hofstetter of UW Medical Center in Seattle, Washington, USA, adds: “joimax® Intracs®em constitutes a highly precise image-guided navigation platform designed for the specific needs of full-endoscopic spine surgery. Using electromagnetic navigation technology allows to track the leading edge of endoscopic instruments in real time, and facilitates needle targeting and orientation during the surgery, while minimizing radiation exposure. No doubt, this technology will expand the indications for full-endoscopic spine surgery and pave the way for innovations in minimally invasive arthrodesis techniques.”

joimax® is also excited to announce its second joint Global Symposium being held in partnership with Integrity Implants, Inc., August 21 – 22. For details, visit www.joimax.com.

joimax® at CAOS in Beijing, China

The 8th Annual Congress of the Chinese Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (CAOS) was held at the Beijing International Convention Center, Beijing, China on May 7-10.

joimax® joined this important international event both as an exhibitor and as an education partner. CAOS, in collaboration with NASS, created the “Techniques in Complex Spine Surgery” program which featured six 1-hour live technique demonstrations, two 3-hour hands-on cadaver workshops, and five lectures with discussion. As expert support for this exciting program, CAOS invited two members of the joimax® Faculty Team: Dr. Guntram Krzok, Friedrichroda, Germany and Dr. Ralf Wagner, Frankfurt, Germany.
The two surgeons delivered well-visited lectures and demonstrated the joimax® TESSYS® technique. As a highlight of the event, the technique demonstrations were shared via webcast and more than 1000 surgeons viewed the program in the Beijing convention hall. More than 26,000 surgeons, surgical nurses and technicians viewed the demos online which enabled maximum visibility for joimax and its technologies.

The joimax® team members who supported the event on-site were deeply impressed by the strong interest in the latest spine surgery systems coming from many Chinese surgeons. Needless to say China is the largest medical market in the world and joimax® will continue to strengthen its relationship with local partners and training centers.

Live webcast during joimax® TESSYS® technique demonstration at CAOS 2015.

Champions of Health Interview with
Mr. Wolfgang Ries – CEO and Founder of joimax®

Champions of Health: Spotlight On Leaders Shaping Germany’s Healthcare

We are delighted to inform that an interview with the CEO and Founder of joimax®, Mr. Wolfgang Ries, has been published in the Champions of Health magazine.

The Interview

In this insightful interview, Mr. Ries shares the inspiring story behind the founding of joimax® and provides an in-depth look at our cutting-edge products and innovations that are shaping the future of minimally invasive endoscopic spine surgery. 

I believe in fostering a culture of collaboration and teamwork as well as empowerment within the organization. By encouraging open communication and valueing diverse perspectives, I ensure that decisions are well-informed and reflective of the collective wisdom of the team.

Mr. Wolfgang Ries
CEO and Founder of joimax® 

This publication serves as an opportunity to showcase the dedication of joimax® to advancing endoscopic minimally invasive spine spine surgery technology and improving patient care.

joimax® Hosts International Training Summit to Showcase Innovative Technologies Presents Kambin Award; Introduces Endoscopic Spine Academy

Karlsruhe, GER– March 12, 2019 – Earlier this month, at the international training summit dubbed, Faculty and User Meeting, joimax®, the Germany-based market leader of technologies and training methods for full-endoscopic minimally-invasive spinal surgery, presented its newest products and technologies. During the two-day event, joimax® also honored four surgeons with the Kambin Award and introduced the Endoscopic Spine Academy, ESPINEA.

The summit took place at the Paracelsus Medical University (PMU) in Salzburg, Austria, March 1-2, 2019 where more than 100 participants attended top-class presentations as well as well a human cadaver lab. The lab was equipped with ten hands-on training stations: six cadaveric stations with 4K image resolution equipment and within those stations, two Intracs® navigation systems where integrated; two stations with Real Spine simulation models; and two stations with the latest EndoTrainer® Plus virtual simulator, which can be used in any lab for training.

The Intracs® em electromagnetic navigation system for endoscopic minimally invasive spine surgery in lumbar and thoracic applications is very easy to set up, extremely user-friendly, and ready to serve as a stand-alone device. Specifically designed for simple and safe access to any spinal target, the system relies on electromagnetic tracking and allows for simultaneous navigation of multiple instruments such as needles, guiding rods, reamers, and endoscopes, also developed by joimax®.

Dr. Erik Traupe (Germering, GER) stated: “I am really surprised how precise and easy navigation can be.”

After multiple successful introductions in 2018, Intracs® em is available globally, except in the United States, where FDA submission is planned in spring 2019.

Another trendsetting innovation presented at the summit: the joimax® TESSYS® Thx, a derivative of the well-known TESSYS®. Designed for a comfortable and safe treatment of decompressions in the thoracic region, it combines a special endoscope for thoracic applications, a viewing angle with 45° adapted to a steeper access route, a reduced diameter and a big working channel.

Jun Seok Bae, MD of the Wooridul Spine Hospital Group in South Korea is very excited about the advantages: “… just great, I want it a.s.a.p. and am ready in my hospital for daily usage!”

Moreover, joimax® showcased its EndoLIF® product line: the well-known 3D-printed EndoLIF® O/On-Cage, the EndoLIF® Delta Cage, and the latest EndoLIF® Double Wedge Cage, where approval is expected shortly.

Both Dr. Ralf Wagner (Frankfurt, GER) and Dr. Paul Houle (Cape Cod, MA, USA) are convinced of this solution for spinal fusion: “With the gentle and atraumatic access via gradual tissue dilatation, muscles remain intact and infection risk is reduced. Using

3D-printing technology, an open diamond cell structure, and a rough and porous surface, the implant ensures optimal bone ingrowth, stability and finally fusion.”

During the summit, the Parviz Kambin-Award was presented under the patronage of the PMU, ESPINEA and joimax® in recognition and honor of outstanding scientific and educational dedication to transforaminal surgery to Christoph P. Hofstetter (Seattle, WA, USA), Jian Shen (Amsterdam, NY, USA), Albert Telfeian (Providence, RI, USA) and Dinh Ngoc Son (Hanoi, Vietnam).

“I am thrilled about the Kambin Award, the most prestigious award in endoscopic spine surgery,” said Jian Shen.

Additionally, joimax® announced the recently founded and globally acting Endoscopic Spine Academy (ESPINEA). Backed by a scientific advisory board, ESPINEA offers professional and high-quality educational programs, specialty workshops and courses, and an opportunity to share knowledge and experiences. The goal of the academy is to elevate surgeons to the next level of expertise in endoscopic spinal treatment modalities.

The first two ESPINEA Board Members are Dr. Menno Iprenburg, NL, longstanding endoscopic surgeon and twice Kambin Award recipient, and Kambin Award recipient Prof. Alastair Gibson, UK, whose been performing endoscopic spine surgery since 2005, using almost all system applications.

joimax® celebrates 10 successful years on the market with TESSYS® at the WCMISST in Paris

Karlsruhe, 11.06.2014. joimax® looks back on 10 years of success with the surgical application of TESSYS® for the minimally invasive, endoscopic removal of herniated discs; a particularly gentle surgical technique which utilizes the natural transforaminal access to the spinal canal. TESSYS® was the first product that brought joimax® to market and was a breakthrough for the company. Today, joimax® offers a highly diversified product portfolio for 360° surgery in almost all areas of the spine including endoscopic and percutaneous stabilization.

During the award ceremony in Paris, two TESSYS® pioneers will be awarded with the “Parviz Kambin Honorary Award”: Dr. Florian Maria Alfen of Würzburg, who bought the very first TESSYS® system in 2004 and has successfully operated on more than 2,500 patients. As a member of the joimax® Faculty Team, Dr. Alfen has trained a large number of surgeons. The second award winner is Dr. Daniel Laich of Chicago. He is the very first TESSYS® user in the U.S. and has been a faculty member since 2009. Since 2013, he has also been operating as a scientific advisor for the company.

Since 2004, more than 100,000 patients in 30 countries were surgically treated with the TESSYS® method and its subsequent surgical developments. Follow-up studies show a significantly shorter recovery time, faster return to work and normal activities with improved quality of life and ultimately, lower costs to the social system.

At the WCMISST, the 4th World Congress of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery and Techniques, joimax® presents its latest development- the EndoLIF® system for endoscopic stabilization of the lumbar spine. Aside from fully endoscopic access via the proven TESSYS® and iLESSYS® methods, the EndoLIF® system contains an O-Cage for oblique interbody fusion. In addition, joimax® presents its new Percusys® System- a posterior, percutaneous screw and rod system. The advantages of these products and procedures are apparent:

– Smooth, atraumatic access due to gentle dilation of tissue
– Dura and nerves are protected by the working tubes
– Dorsal bone structures are generally not affected and remain intact
– O-Cage with an osteo-conductive surface provides the optimum substrate for cellular growth
– Posterior, percutaneous stabilization via the minimally invasive screw and rod system

Both of these systems are CE marked and FDA clearance is in progress.

Visit us at WCMISST, booth #15 at the Marriott Rive Gauche Hotel and discover for yourself the many advantages of our newest systems.

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