Depuy Mitek Launches OMNISPAN™ Meniscal Repair System For All-inside Repairs Of Meniscus Tears

Main Category: Sports Medicine / Fitness
Also Included In: Bones / Orthopedics;  Medical Devices / Diagnostics
Article Date: 10 Aug 2010 - 3:00 PDT

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DePuy Mitek, Inc. has announced the launch of its OMNISPAN™ Meniscal Repair System for all-inside repairs of meniscus tears. The announcement was made here at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) 2010 Annual Meeting.

The System features a low-profile needle pre-loaded with two PEEK backstops and proprietary ORTHOCORD® suture for enhanced strength. Testing has shown the OMNISPAN System provides superior strength compared to leading all-inside devices.(1)(2)

Meniscus tears are among the most common knee injuries, especially in athletes, leading to an estimated 850,000 surgeries every year in the U.S.(3) The arthroscopic all-inside technique is less invasive than inside-out or outside-in approaches, allowing surgeons to make fewer incisions during repair and reduce the risk of trauma to surrounding tissue.

"The OMNISPAN System offers strength and precision through a minimally invasive approach," said Andrew Chen, MD,* of The Alpine Clinic in Franconia, NH. "Its active backstop deployment, low-profile repair and innovative suture allow surgeons to perform a precise meniscal repair."

The ORTHOCORD Suture, made from Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene and PDS™ (Polydioxanone) minimizes tissue abrasion and the PDS component is resorbable, resulting in less suture mass on the meniscus surface over time. In addition, the suture knot is made in the backside of the meniscus to avoid contact with the femoral condyles.

The OMNISPAN System includes a disposable applier and needles available in three angle options for repair in horizontal, vertical or oblique configurations. With the active deployment provided by the applier, surgeons can release backstops with accuracy. Rather than plunging to the back of the meniscus to deploy, this System barely penetrates the back of the meniscus, minimizing needle exposure.

"DePuy Mitek offers a broad range of solutions for meniscal repair so surgeons can choose their preferred option based on the patient's anatomy. OMNISPAN will expand this range of solutions by providing a strong, low profile, suture-based option for all-inside repair," said Ian Lawson, Worldwide President of DePuy Mitek.

Source: DePuy Mitek, Inc.

(1) A. Barber, Arthroscopy, September 2009
(2) Testing by A. Barber, MD. Data on file at DePuy Mitek.
(3) University of Washington, Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine. (Link)

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