Author: Antonio Berlen

joimax® Showcases New Electromagnetic Navigation System Intracs® em at Global Spine Congress (GSC), Toronto and at German Society of Neurosurgery (DGNC), Wurzburg Clinical Trials Start in Europe and Asia

Posted on by Antonio Berlen

IRVINE, CA – May 13, 2019 – joimax®,, the Germany-based market leader of technologies and training methods for full-endoscopic, minimally-invasive spinal surgery, is showcasing its Integrated Navigation Tracking & Control System, Intracs®em, at this year’s Global Spine Congress (GSC), which is currently being held in Toronto, Canada. The company is also promoting the system at the annual meeting of the German Society of Neurosurgery (DGNC), being held concurrently in Wurzburg, Germany.

The Intracs®em electromagnetic navigation system is simple to set up, very user-friendly, and seamlessly integrates into the joimax® endoscopic tower. It allows for navigation during any endoscopic procedure performed with the joimax® endoscopic surgical systems, TESSYS® (transforaminal) and iLESSYS® (interlaminar). Beyond that, it can serve as a stand-alone device.

The system relies on electromagnetic tracking, affording simultaneous navigation of multiple instruments such as needles, guiding rods, reamers and endoscopes. It was developed by joimax®  for easy planning of endoscopic approaches to the spine, as well as other minimally invasive procedures, like percutaneous fusions.

Various Intracs®em sensors guarantee the highest accuracy. Plus, for the patients’ benefit, the procedure can be carried out without further X-ray control –  only starting X-rays are required. As a result, access, intervention time, and radiation exposure, are reduced to a minimum.

The system is CE-Marked. Currently, clinical trials and applications are running in Europe and Asia, where the product has already launched. In specific Asian countries, like Taiwan, the first systems have been sold and shipped.

Users are very impressed with the usability of the system. “I didn’t expect that navigation for both transforaminal and interlaminar procedures can be made so easy and that the set-up time can be so much streamlined,“ states Prof. Michael Kraus, spine specialist in Augsburg, Germany.  “And for the thoracic approach, it is so precise and a tremendous help,” continues Dr. Erik Traupe, spine specialist in Munich, Germany.

The Intracs®em electromagnetic navigation system is simple to set up, very user-friendly, and seamlessly integrates into the joimax® endoscopic tower. It allows for navigation during any endoscopic procedure performed with the joimax® endoscopic surgical systems, TESSYS® (transforaminal) and iLESSYS® (interlaminar). Beyond that, it can serve as a stand-alone device.

The launch of Intracs®em is a key milestone for joimax®. As part of its global strategy, joimax®  is providing surgeons, worldwide, with the devices they need for safe, easy and gentle spinal therapies, with US-FDA submission planned for Q2, 2019. “We are committed to overcoming any obstacles and concerns related to minimally invasive, endoscopic spine surgery,” states joimax® CEO and Founder Wolfgang Ries. “Our success lies with our innovative, user-friendly devices and instruments, and our ability to provide both doctor and patient with outstanding safety built into our systems.” Moreover, a well established and targeted clinical training program for the spinal surgical community, named CM3, rounds out the joimax® educational offering. Earlier this year, joimax® launched ESPINEA®, an Endoscopic Spine Academy focused on a complete endoscopic spine curriculum. Designed as a full training program to elevate surgeons to the next level of expertise, ESPINEA® offers professional and high-quality education for endoscopic spine treatment specialists, worldwide. The ESPINEA® Training and Education Centers are located in Karlsruhe, Germany in the newly opened joimax® building, and in Irvine, CA, where joimax® opened new labs and training rooms last November.

joimax® Celebrates 25 Years of Advancing Endoscopic Spine Surgery

Posted on by Antonio Berlen

Karlsruhe, Germany — [April 2026] — joimax®, Inc., a global leader in technologies and training for endoscopic spine surgery, proudly marks its 25th anniversary, celebrating a quarter century of innovation dedicated to advancing minimally invasive spine care and improving outcomes for patients worldwide.

The origins of joimax® trace back to early 2001, when Wolfgang Ries, Founder and Executive Chairman, first introduced the company concept in a presentation to potential partners and investors and developed the initial business plan later that year. Although the investment environment changed significantly following the events of September 11, 2001, joimax® was founded shortly afterward through strong personal commitment and a clear belief in the future of endoscopic spine surgery.

Despite the uncertainty at the time, we remained convinced of the potential of endoscopic techniques to transform spine surgery,” said Wolfgang Ries. “With a clear vision and strong dedication, we established joimax® near Karlsruhe and began partnering with surgeons to develop technologies designed to challenge conventional surgical approaches and support surgeons in delivering less invasive treatment options for patients. Seeing how both the field and the company have progressed over the past 25 years is extremely rewarding.

Mr. Wolfgang Ries
Founder and Executive Chairman of joimax® 
Wolfgang Ries Founder & Executive Chairman of joimax

Today, joimax® solutions support surgeons across the globe with comprehensive platforms designed for a wide range of endoscopic spinal procedures. Through its commitment to education and training, the company has helped thousands of surgeons develop and refine endoscopic techniques, contributing to the growing global momentum behind minimally invasive spine surgery.

Reaching this 25-year milestone is a testament to the dedication of our employees, the trust of our surgeon partners, and the shared vision that endoscopic techniques can transform spine care,” said Maximillian Ries, CEO of joimax®. “As we celebrate this milestone, we are equally focused on the future. The next chapter for joimax® will build on our legacy of continued innovation, deeper collaboration with surgeons, and a commitment to expanding access to endoscopic spine surgery around the world.

Mr. Maximilian Ries
CEO of joimax® 

For more information about joimax® and its 25-year legacy of endoscopic innovation, visit joimax.com/en/about-us.

Orthopedics This Week – October 2012

Posted on by Antonio Berlen

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.

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

Yeung Honored by SMISS

FDA Clearance for joimax® Vaporflex® and Legato® electrosurgical probes

Posted on by Antonio Berlen

Irvine, CA and Karlsruhe, Germany – November 9th, 2016 – joimax®, the global acting German developer and marketer of technologies and training methods for endoscopic minimally-invasive spinal surgery, today announced 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market its Vaporflex® and Legato® electrosurgical probes with radiowave technology for open and endoscopic spine surgery.

Those joimax® Electrosurgical Instruments are comprised of a series of instruments to facilitate the delivery of electrical energy from an RF generator to the patient tissue for use in cutting and/or coagulation of tissue. All Vaporflex® and Legato® probes use radio frequency which is generated by high oscillating electrical current received from a commercially available RF generator.

The new Vaporflex® system is optimized for versatile use due to different lengths, diameters and probe tips to allow endoscopic transforaminal and interlaminar procedures. It is both compatible and cleared also for the use with all Endovapor®/SurgiMax® and SurgiMax® Plus electrosurgical units and enables an easy swap of the Triggerflex® to the new Vaporflex® system. The bipolar Vaporflex® probes can easily be adopted to the complete range of joimax® systems. joimax® offers all its probes in a kit containing a sterilization tray, the hand piece as well as a shaft and a connection cable.

The monopolar and bipolar Legato® probes which support the rhizotomy procedures with the existing Multiuse and both newly launched products MultiZYTE® RT for Facet Joint Denervation and MultiZYTE® SI for SI Joint Therapy.

“Both the Vaporflex® and Legato® probes are ready for several generations of radiofrequency generators” says Wolfgang Ries, CEO and founder of joimax®. “Spinal surgeons are now enabled to perform the range of joimax® procedures with even more flexibility and ergonomics in the USA as well. This way we further enhance surgical interventions in endoscopic minimally-invasive spinal surgery” he continues.

Virtual Global Symposium on Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery Highlights Livestream Training Benefits

Posted on by Antonio Berlen

Karlsruhe, Germany — The Global Symposium of the ESPINEA® Academy in Karlsruhe, sponsored by joimax®, showcased how modern, advanced training for surgeons works. Earlier this month, over four days, more than 300 participants from around the world learned about the latest endoscopic surgical methods for spinal diseases. Via live demonstrations, twelve world-renowned spinal surgeons presented case studies, gave tips and tricks, and allowed people to look over their shoulders at endoscopic videos while operating on cadavers. The livestream made it possible for participating surgeons to understand exactly how endoscopic operations are carried out.

“You can only get closer if you do it yourself,” said one participant.

joimax global symposium 2021

Endoscopic spinal surgery is developing into the gold standard for back problems that need surgery,” said Wolfgang Ries, the academy’s founder and chairman. “A large number of studies show it is superior to conventional methods of open spine surgery. Unfortunately, this technique is still not taught in most training centers around the world”.

ESPINEA® fills this gap with an extensive training program. Webinar formats are unavoidable in the Coronavirus period. With today’s livestream technologies, ESPINEA® was able to provide real-time, interactive surgical training, zooming in on how its surgical instruments can be used successfully.

“The participants’ enthusiasm is confirmation that we need to further develop online trainings,” said Ries. “While virtual events cannot replace face-to-face instruction — after all, it’s learning by doing — they provide an excellent alternative”.

ESPINEA® Academy was founded by joimax® in February 2019. A month later, joimax® CEO and Founder Wolfgang Ries held its first faculty and user meeting at the Paracelsus Medical University in Salzburg. Since then, ESPINEA® has been accredited by the oldest surgical college in the world, the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh. Participants at events such as the Global Symposium can earn medical training credits for Continuing Professional Development (CPD points). Points can be applied to medical license renewals.

Underscoring the importance of virtual learning, three ESPINEA® board members chaired the symposium: Menno Iprenburg from Iprenburg Spine Clinic in Veenhuizen, Netherlands; Sang-Ho Lee, president of Wooridul Spine Hospital, Korea; and J. N. Alistair Gibson, Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh. The participants concluded, “It was worth taking part just to hear these luminaries in person. But the best part was the opportunity to see the operation as if you were performing it yourself.”

Second international workshop incorporating live operations using the endoscopic spinal surgery method TESSYS® at the ATOS Private Clinic in Munich

Posted on by Antonio Berlen

Karlsruhe, 22nd June 2009: On 15th and 16th June the second international joimax® workshop on the endoscopic removal of disc hernias using the TESSYS® method took place in the ATOS Private Clinic in Munich. The highlight of this workshop was the live transmission of three operations, which the 15 workshop participants were able to follow from the comfort of the conference room in the neighbouring NH Hotel. Dr. med. Michael Schubert performed the operations on patients from Germany and Denmark, describing the individual steps and answering questions from the doctors in the auditorium during the operation. Two workshop participants were able to go into the operating theatre for each operation to observe the live procedure.
The live operations followed a day of intensive training on cadavers, allowing the doctors from Germany, Spain, Italy, USA, Jordan and Israel to get the most benefit from the live operations. Lectures by experts in the field of minimally invasive endoscopic spinal surgery completed the workshop.

joimax® presents the EndoLIF® system

Posted on by Antonio Berlen

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.

joimax® continues strong growth trend in 2017 with launch of its MultiZYTE® Facet and SI Joint treatment Set in the US and also obtains full approval of its Endovapor® 2 system in China

Posted on by Antonio Berlen

Karlsruhe, Germany – February 8, 2018 – the joimax® group announces very strong sales figures for 2017. The German based market leader of technologies and training methods for endoscopic minimally invasive spinal surgery shows a jump of almost 80% vs. 2016 in the U.S. Consolidated sales show a growth of nearly 30%, which reflects its CAGR of 35% since 2008.

“joimax® is in line with its top-line plans as well as with its EBIT growth projections”, states Rainer Schmitz, the long-standing CFO of the joimax® GmbH. “The company is now active in 50 countries and enjoys a strong reputation in Europe, Asia and the U.S.”

Based on the inclusion of the newly created AMA CPT code 62380 for endoscopic decompression of the lumbar spine as of January 1st, 2017, and the worldwide increasing adoption rate of the joimax® procedures in general, the company is gaining a strong foothold throughout the U.S.. The acceptance of endoscopic minimally invasive spine surgery techniques and their benefits to both the patients and the surgeons are steadily growing worldwide.

The understanding and therapy of SI Joint is a rapidly growing new field worldwide. joimax® faces this growing area of unmet needs with its MultiZYTE® Facet and SI Joint Treatment Set in this market segment. The upcoming 3rd International Conference on Sacroiliac Joint Surgery (ICSJS), taking place in Tampa, FL from Feb. 21 to 24, 2018 gives attendees the opportunity to further enhance the level of understanding of the sacroiliac joint and to participate in a cadaver workshop at CAMLS learning center.

Further success in Asia is a result of the recent approval of the joimax® Endovapor® 2 Multi Radio Frequency System also in China, where joimax® has already been successfully in the market for 10 years.

“With this latest approval we now can market all our systems in this important country, which is a great step towards more targeted patient care” states Wolfgang Ries, Founder and CEO of joimax®.

The Endovapor® 2 generates electrical power for monopolar and bipolar cutting and coagulation of tissue structures in surgical operations. The device is an all-in-one generator with specially integrated programs for spinal surgery with interdisciplinary application. It is equipped with two monopolar and two bipolar sockets and an easy and intuitive touchpad technology.  With arc control for safe application and easy neutral electrode monitoring, it combines a variety of electro-surgical modes and effects.

joimax Endoscopic Tower

joimax® Updates ESPINEA® Training Facility

Posted on by Antonio Berlen

KARLSRUHE, Germany – (BUSINESS WIRE) – The newly renovated and expanded Endoscopic Spinal Academy (ESPINEA®) facilities, sponsored by joimax®, makes exceptionally, high-quality training accessible in an innovative and appealing environment. Every day, the Academy offers educational and hands-on workshops to surgery teams, customers and partners.

Ries took on the newly created role of Executive Vice President, Business Development and Operations at joimax®. In this position, based in Germany, he will be responsible for scaling global operations to ensure joimax® continues its exponential growth. Formerly the General Manager, for the past six of his 13-year tenure with joimax®, Ries built out the United States and Latin American markets.

“We are continuously developing and adapting our programs to meet customer demand”.

Courses and workshops at a pre-clinical and clinical level

For almost five years, ESPINEA®, which is accredited by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, has stood for excellence in training in the field of endoscopic spinal surgery. After the recent inauguration of ESPINEA® China, joimax® has refurbished and enlarged the existing Karlsruhe training facilities into a modern, state-of-the art center to support their growing educational and training programs. The showroom demonstrates solutions from joimax®, the market leader in endoscopic spinal surgery technologies, enabling visitors to experience this mastery daily.

Organized in sections, by product line, practitioners can try out each clinical model, simulating an operative environment, and learn firsthand about the positive ergonomics and streamlined workflow of these offerings. All labs are equipped with integrated joimax® surgery systems, including the latest generation endoscopic tower, NAVENTO®. The surgery stations are digitally connected to imaging and to the joimax® Intracs® electromagnetic navigation system so that the endoscopic spinal surgery methods and applications can be reproduced during training. Moreover, the furnishings have been fully optimized so that the rooms can be easily adapted to new products and solutions.

“As a leading innovator in spinal surgery techniques, it’s important that ESPINEA® offers a pioneering center to further education and training,” said Wolfgang Ries, CEO and founder of joimax® and chairman and founder of ESPINEA®. “The dynamic, holistic and needs-oriented program sets new standards.”

The main focus is on endoscopic spinal care solutions for pain therapy, decompression, deherniation, and spinal stabilization. All hands-on sections have an open lab design, and bring the concept to life on how the products work together.

Setting standards in training of endoscopic spinal surgery

Professional knowledge and well-practiced skills are the building blocks for successful endoscopic spinal surgery.

“We are continuously developing and adapting our programs to meet customer demand,” said Susanne Schmidinger, senior director, global marketing and education. “We are convinced that our holistic and target-oriented education puts surgery teams in the position to optimally implement our available technologies and solutions for their patients.“

At the facility, an experienced, dedicated global team of certified faculty share their expertise and know-how. Every trainee is individually accompanied along the entire learning journey.

“It’s important that surgeons be able to directly and efficiently apply joimax® systems and methods in their daily work,” said Ries. “That’s why we developed the ESPINEA® 3-step education program of visitation, hands-on workshop, and simulated live surgery.”

The program is available at ESPINEA® USA, Asia, China, and Europe.

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.

Posted on by Antonio Berlen

[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.

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.