Vertera Spine’s COHERE cervical interbody fusion device is the first porous PEEK implant cleared by the FDA. Unlike conventional devices, which are typically porous metal or metal-coated PEEK implants, the COHERE is composed of Vereta Spine’s PEEK (polyetheretherketone) Scoria biomaterial, an interconnected micrometer-scale porous architecture. Designed for anterior cervical fusion, this unique technology allows for bony tissue ingrowth while retaining the mechanical and imaging properties of traditional PEEK implants. The increased ingrowth is due to the porous structure of the Scoria eliciting a stronger osteogenic cellular response over implants with micro- and nano-scale roughness. The increased integration may potentially allow for more stable implant bone interface.
Implant manufacturers have attempted to address this need with porous metal implants or PEEK implants with a titanium coating, however these implants interfere with imaging, making it difficult to accurately assess the extent of fusion and clinical performance. COHERE does not have any imaging artifacts, which allow the fusion and the bony ingrowth to be clearly visualized on radiographs, allowing for easy and accurate assessment of performance. Furthermore, because Scoria is grown from solid PEEK, it exhibits shear strength twice that of vertebral trabecular bone and preforms better under shear fatigue than titanium coating plasma-sprayed on PEEK.
Vertera Spine is reporting that over 400 COHERE implantations have been performed, many with known successful early outcomes. Dr. Robert McGuire, past chairman of AO Spine North America and from the University of Mississippi Medical Center, as well as one of the first surgeons to use COHERE said, “I have been very pleased with the early outcomes I am seeing with the COHERE device,” said Dr. McGuire. “There has been a clinical need for a porous PEEK fusion device that addresses the limited integration capabilities of traditional PEEK devices. I am excited to adopt COHERE into my practice.” Looking forward, Vertera Spine is developing further applications for their PEEK Scoria technology.
Product page: COHERE…
Technology info page: Scoria…
Via: Vertera Spine…