Study shows HydroCision's fluidjet-based platform for removing spinal disc nucleus material and preparing disc endplates for spinal fusion requires 65 percent fewer passes.

BILLERICA, Mass. -- Company's 'cutting-with-water' SpineJet(R) XL instrument ushers in the era of HydroSurgery(TM) for the spine market

"Repetitive instrument passes are opportunities for injury to a patient's nerve roots and dura. The use of HydroCision's SpineJet XL device significantly reduces the number of instrument passes into, and out of, the disc space--which makes the procedure safe for the patient."

William Sukovich, M.D. Director of Spinal Surgery Associates Martha Jefferson Hospital Charlottesville, Virginia 

HydroCision(R) Inc. (www.hydrocision.com) announced today that a multi-center cadaveric study demonstrated that the Company's fluidjet-based platform for removing spinal disc material and preparing disc endplates for spinal fusion required 65 percent fewer passes into, and out of, the disc space than conventional surgical instruments.

HydroCision's HydroSurgery system, including SpineJet XL instruments, uses a high-velocity stream of water to simultaneously cut and aspirate tissue from the spinal disc space in preparation for fusion. The technique's advantages, illustrated by this study, include the safe removal of degenerated tissue and thorough endplate preparation that can lead to fewer instrument passes over vital structures.

"The biomechanical and biological advantages of lumbar interbody fusion depend on the ability to prepare the disc space for a solid intradiscal fusion," said William Sukovich, M.D., principal investigator and Director of Spinal Surgery Associates at Martha Jefferson Hospital, Charlottesville, Va. "Repetitive instrument passes are opportunities for injury to a patient's nerve roots and dura. Our evaluation of endplate preparation comparing use of HydroCision's SpineJet XL instrument to conventional surgical instruments demonstrated that the use of the SpineJet XL device significantly reduces the number of instrument passes into, and out of, the disc space--which makes the procedure safe. On average, the use of SpineJet XL allowed us to reduce the number of passes from 102 down to 36, a reduction of 65 percent."

"HydroSurgery--that is, using the power of water in surgery--facilitates a significant improvement in performance compared to conventional tools used in back surgery. This important study has shown that the SpineJet XL enhances back surgeons' ability to perform their PLIF (Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion) and TLIF (Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion) procedures with fewer instrument passes," added Douglas J. Daniels, President and CEO of HydroCision.

About HydroCision

HydroCision (www.hydrocision.com) is a leading developer, manufacturer, and marketer of fluidjet-based surgical tools. The Company believes its proprietary fluidjet technology is the basis of a new surgical modality, "HydroSurgery", because of its compelling features and versatility. The Company is developing a broad range of fluidjet-based products to meet the needs of spine physicians and their patients.

HydroDiscectomy and HydroSurgery are trademarks and HydroCision, The Leader in HydroSurgery, and SpineJet are registered trademarks of HydroCision, Inc.