Epidutech
Introducing a Revolutionary, Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery System

Over 100 million patients worldwide are diagnosed with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) each year. LSS is caused by the natural narrowing of the spinal canal in the lower back (five vertebrae between the ribs and pelvis) due to bone and ligament growth over many years. The narrowing causes pressure on the spinal cord or the spinal nerves resulting in pain, numbness, weakness, and a host of other debilitating conditions. LSS surgeries account for 60-70 percent of spine surgeries in the U.S. and cost the healthcare system around $5-10 billion per year. And with a rising geriatric population along with increasing incidence of obesity, the number of patients with LSS continues to grow.

Currently, the standard treatment for acute LSS is surgery to relieve the pressure. To reach the spinal canal, incisions are made on the back of the patient, and during this process, significant trauma is caused as muscles and bones are being severed, which takes a long time to heal. Moreover, in cases where LSS has spread over several vertebrae, multilevel surgery is required to stabilize the spine by fusing the treated vertebrae with rods, plates, and pedicle screws. Recovery and rehabilitation periods after complex LSS surgery require a significant amount of time and therefore patients are often reluctant to proceed with the treatment. Epidutech, an Israeli startup, is developing a revolutionary system to treat LSS using a minimally invasive surgical procedure that ensures patients do not require post-operation hospitalization.

The idea for this new approach was conceived by Dr. Rafi Lotan, a leading spine surgeon together with a team of engineers. He realized that the under-utilized caudal approach to the spinal canal—the sacral hiatus—was the perfect method to reach the designated area and treat LSS patients by an MIS spinal decompression procedure, without damaging the vertebra, bone, ligaments, or muscles.

Epidutech’s revolutionary minimally invasive procedure for LSS surgery utilizes a non-radiating, magnetic navigation system

Studies showed that 90 percent of these cases result in the treatment of the bottom two vertebrae, L5-S1 and L4-L5. “Epidutech’s unique procedure provides easy, low-trauma, access to the most prevalent LSS cases. This will convince many patients to go for spinal cord decompression surgery which is a long-term solution,” says Dr. Rafi Lotan MD, Co-Founder of Epidutech.

Epidutech’s technology enables the insertion of a guided and navigated catheter into the spinal cord, via the sacral hiatus, which is located above the tailbone. The tool’s movement is robotically controlled by the surgeon, allowing for both virtual navigations based on CT and MRI, as well as direct endoscopic vision. With magnetic navigation and sophisticated algorithms, precise 0.5mm accuracy is maintained throughout the procedure, giving surgeons perfect control. “We use the latest technology in deep learning and sensors technique, so we can navigate our tools without a line of sight restriction, and we can register the coordinates to a CT scan or MRI, so the surgeon can navigate safely and accurately without using fluoroscopy” explains Daniel Messinger, CTO, and Co-Founder of Epidutech.

Having successfully completed proof of concept, Epidutech is in the advanced development stage of its technology. Currently, the startup is conducting animal trials and intends to move on with human trials and gain FDA approval. The minimally invasive LSS surgery system is expected to be available for surgical treatments in 2023. Epidutech is also keen on partnering with investors who are interested in benefiting from a share of the growing spinal surgery devices market and also contribute to helping improve healthcare, specifically the treatment of LSS. Dr. Kornelis Poelstra, a leading spine surgeon from Sunnyvale CA, comments, “Epidutech’s system will be the preferred LSS minimally invasive surgical procedure by both surgeons and patients; the solution is transforming spine surgery into a simple ambulatory procedure while reducing costs and hospitalization and recovery time.”