In an attempt to expand its product portfolio in the spinal business, Medtronic, Inc. (MDT) recently launched the KYPHON Express II Balloon Kyphoplasty Platform, which demonstrates the latest upgradation in its pioneering KYPHON Balloon Kyphoplasty technology. This new platform incorporates the next generation KYPHON Cement Delivery System and will be used to treat patients suffering from painful vertebral compression fractures (VCFs).
Following this news, Medtronic's share price inched up 0.5% to eventually close at $66.53 yesterday.
KYPHON Balloon Kyphoplasty
KYPHON Balloon Kyphoplasty (BKP) refers to a minimally invasive surgical procedure designed to treat VCFs caused by osteoporosis, cancer, or benign lesions. This therapy utilizes orthopedic balloons to reduce and stabilize spinal fractures and consequently offers instant and extended respite from pain.
KYPHON BKP is a percutaneous procedure with a proven low rate of complication, and the ability to facilitate long-run maintenance of height restoration as well as improved physical function and better quality of life in VCF patients.
KYPHON Cement Delivery System
Medtronic's KYPHON Cement Delivery System (CDS), launched in the U.S. in 2009, allows physicians to deliver highly viscous bone cement to the patient from up to 4 feet away from the radiation source while maintaining tactile feel.
The newly designed next-generation KYPHON CDS has the potential to improve the efficiency and precision of delivering bone cement in one's spine. The system also features a Quick Release Button that allows physicians to have precise control over the amount of bone cement supposed to flow in the spine. Moreover, the new improved KYPHON CDS now provides longer shelf life for enhanced usability, which makes it more desirable.
KYPHON Express II Balloon Kyphoplasty Platform
The recently released KYPHON Express II Balloon Kyphoplasty Platform possesses the attribute ofa maximum pressure rating of 700 psi. This allows physicians to reduce fractures at a more heightened level in VCF patients.
This new platform also permits physicians to use the cement resistant technique, which aids an orthopedic balloon to remain inflated during contra-lateral cement fill, thereby conserving fracture reduction objective. Moreover, an expanded tools portfolio incorporated in this new system makes it more adaptable, augmenting convenience when performing a surgical procedure on different levels of the spine.
Impact on Medtronic's Spinal Business
Medtronic's interventional spine business achieved growth of 4% in the last reported quarter, which primarily constitutes its balloon Kyphoplasty product lines. In the U.S. market, Medtronic experienced stabilizing trends in the use of BKP technology, which contributed to its interventional spinal growth.
Per management, with the release of the KYPHON Express II Platform along with the advanced next-generation KYPHON CDS, interventional physicians will now be able to treat more spine levels and provide better patient outcomes by individualizing treatment according to the patient's anatomy and fractures. Management expects this new system to be accretive to Medtronic's spine business in the forthcoming quarters.
Zacks Rank
Currently, Medtronic carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Better-ranked stocks in the medical products industry include ICU Medical, Inc. (ICUI), Abaxis, Inc. (ABAX) and Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc. (CNAT). While ICU Medical sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), both Abaxis and Conatus hold a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
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