In short
Covidien has announced the launch of the AS Meniscal™ Repair Device which the company says enables orthopedic surgeons to perform “all-inside,” minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus in the knee using what it calls the gold standard “all-suture” method of fixation.
Background
A torn meniscus is one of the most common injuries to the knee with reportedly more than 840,000 injury-related procedures performed annually in the United States, albeit most of these will be meniscectomies rather than repairs. Nonetheless the meniscal repair market, which dates back a long way, but probably started in anger with the Acufex system of the early nineties, continues to grow. And the devices used to fix these repairable tears continue to evolve. Covidien’s system is in essence a throwback to the all-suture, twin needle Acufex device, the company clearly nailing its colours to the mast by avoiding the hard plastic implants that have characterised many systems in the interim.
The new device, designed for intuitive use, works with only one thumb slide actuation and no complex components. It also features clear, laser-etched depth markings on the specially coated needles, allowing for precision in depth of penetration. Needles are available in two configurations, curved and straight, to meet surgeons’ diverse repair needs.
Physician comments
“Any meniscal repair system needs to deliver high-strength fixation in order to optimize the biologic healing potential,” said Bryan M. Huber, MD, Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon at Mansfield Orthopaedics in Stowe, Vermont. “The AS Meniscal Repair Device enables surgeons to leverage the value of using the gold standard all-suture approach in a less invasive arthroscopic fashion.”
Dr. Huber added, “In my practice, I have experienced a consistently high rate of firing success when using the AS Meniscal Repair Device, in stark comparison to other products on the market where I’ve experienced a significant misfire rate. With an all-suture method of fixation, the AS Meniscal Repair Device eliminates any migration risk of broken tacks or anchors which could cause damage inside the knee and may lead to increased operative time during removal. The AS Meniscal Repair Device has improved my operative efficiency by delivering a high level of reliability and success.”
Company comments
“Covidien is setting new standards for consistency and reliability with this innovative, new design,” said Peter Marshall, Director of R&D, Covidien. “The innovation seen in the design of the AS Meniscal Repair Device provides orthopedic surgeons with the confidence and security of an all-suture repair without the concern of rigid implant placement in soft tissue. Using feedback from our surgeon customers, we designed the AS Meniscal Repair Device to deliver optimal performance to address one of the fastest-growing orthopedic procedures performed today.”
Source: Covidien, Business Wire
published: December 4, 2012 in: Arthroscopy, Covidien, Launches / Withdrawals, Sports