Axis Spine Technologies
The Future of Anterior Spinal Fusion

Historically, orthopaedic surgeons performed pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO) on adults and some children to treat deformities of the spine. The procedure corrected a patient’s loss or absence of lordosis (inward curvature or swayback). Over the last five years, as the MedTech arena witnessed more disruptive advancements, the PSO-driven approach to spinal correction has been overshadowed by the emergence of advances in interbody fusion implants. And with their ability to be placed in patient spines at specific angles based on unique correction requirements, interbody fusion implants have become mainstays in the realm of spinal correction. However, hyperlordotic and expandable cages—the earlier iterations of interbody spinal correction products—came with their own set of challenges such as the rigorous implantation procedure causing structural damage to a patient’s bone endplate, limited space to introduce bone grafts, and more.

Having been in the spinal correction space for 25 years, Jon Arcos observed the impacts of these challenges first-hand, which led him to develop compact interbody fusion implants and access systems for anterior, oblique, and lateral lumbar spinal correction procedures. This innovation, combined with a vision to create novel and highly differentiated technology focused on spinal corrections led Arcos to establish Axis Spine Technologies in 2017. “Since our inception, we have been focused on developing implant offerings that enable superior intra-op spinal corrections and post-op maintenance while improving the efficacy and reproducibility of spinal surgery,” says Arcos, founder and CEO at Axis Spine Technologies. Currently, the company is perfectly poised to fulfil its vision with the first of its products—ALIF—gaining FDA clearance in May 2020 with the OLIF and lateral systems well on their way to gain regulatory approvals.

Unlike conventional hyperlordotic spinal cages that are large in size, Axis Spine Technologies’ ALIF offering uses multiple components to create a compact device that ensures a seamless and quick implantation procedure. “With our ALIF system, surgeons can skip the step where they pound interbody implants with a mallet, which allows them to better protect the bone of an endplate,” adds Arcos. Furthermore, the company’s solution provides surgeons more choice intra-operatively, allowing them to insert the right device, delicately and providing for an uncoupling of posterior height from angle of lordosis. This is one of the important aspects that set Axis Spine Technologies apart from expandable spinal cage implants that offer limited corrective angles due to their constrained motion. Apart from these devices, the company’s ALIF is better than one piece spinal cages as well, as it offers superior endplate fit, a greater range of correction possibilities, and a huge aperture for bone grafting.

Discussing the core competencies of his product, Arcos elaborates, “Our modularity not only allows us to offer more sagittal angles and affordable pricing than our contemporaries but also allows surgeons to correct the coronal plane of a patient’s spine.” And as spinal procedures often cause the patient’s coronal plane to be off due to complications such as leg length discrepancies, history of mild scoliosis, and more, Axis Spine Technologies’ ALIF product eliminates surgeons from having to deal with these issues. Another key facet that guarantees Axis Spine Technologies’ success is its unique product design team that consists of innovative professionals hailing from varied backgrounds. “Our unconventional choice of designers has helped us choose bright individuals that have expanded the vision of our portfolio and unlocked newer treatment applications,” states Arcos.

Currently, after receiving resoundingly positive feedback from surgeons, the company is all set to start delivering is ALIF offering across the U.S. and collect real, in-field, post-op information. Axis Spine Technologies’ plan in its first quarter is to help U.S. surgeons recognise its ALIF device’s value in both, the mechanical correction and its post-op maintenance. The company also aims to develop devices that include anatomic endplates that will allow surgeons to choose different dome heights for superior and inferior endplates. Alternatively, Arcos is aiming to leverage leading strategic and innovation firm—Seymour Powell’s AR/VR-powered collaboration platform to boost customer support and in-house communication among partner surgeons, designers, and engineers. “Having a VR platform that allows teams to communicate and collaborate in a virtual environment as if they were face-to-face without having to fly during the current pandemic is great for speed, efficiency, and most importantly, safety,” explains Arcos.

In conclusion, Axis Spine Technologies current roadmap will put the company on the path to become the preferred organisation for spinal correction implantations across the U.S. with future developments expanding the company’s success across the globe.