Autor: christine.stump@joimax.com

Karlsruhe – At a ceremony in Paris two TESSYS® pioneers received the Parviz Kambin Honorary Award: Dr. Florian Maria Alfen from Würzburg, Germany, who in 2003 acquired the first TESSYS® complete system and has successfully performed more than 2,500 procedures. As a member of the joimax® Faculty, Dr. Alfen has trained many doctors. The second award winner is Dr. Daniel Laich from Chicago, U.S.A. He is the first TESSYS® user in the United States and has been a Faculty member since 2009, as well as a scientific adviser for the company with his extensive experience of TESSYS®.

Since 2004 more than 100,000 patients in 30 countries (up to August 2014) have undergone surgery with the TESSYS® method and its later developments. The latest studies reveal a shorter recovery time, a quicker return to work and normal quality of life, and an associated reduction in the impact on welfare systems.

Karlsruhe, 11.06.2014. joimax® looks back on 10 years of success with the surgical application of TESSYS® for the minimally invasive, endoscopic removal of herniated discs; a particularly gentle surgical technique which utilizes the natural transforaminal access to the spinal canal. TESSYS® was the first product that brought joimax® to market and was a breakthrough for the company. Today, joimax® offers a highly diversified product portfolio for 360° surgery in almost all areas of the spine including endoscopic and percutaneous stabilization.

During the award ceremony in Paris, two TESSYS® pioneers will be awarded with the “Parviz Kambin Honorary Award”: Dr. Florian Maria Alfen of Würzburg, who bought the very first TESSYS® system in 2004 and has successfully operated on more than 2,500 patients. As a member of the joimax® Faculty Team, Dr. Alfen has trained a large number of surgeons. The second award winner is Dr. Daniel Laich of Chicago. He is the very first TESSYS® user in the U.S. and has been a faculty member since 2009. Since 2013, he has also been operating as a scientific advisor for the company.

Since 2004, more than 100,000 patients in 30 countries were surgically treated with the TESSYS® method and its subsequent surgical developments. Follow-up studies show a significantly shorter recovery time, faster return to work and normal activities with improved quality of life and ultimately, lower costs to the social system.

At the WCMISST, the 4th World Congress of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery and Techniques, joimax® presents its latest development- the EndoLIF® system for endoscopic stabilization of the lumbar spine. Aside from fully endoscopic access via the proven TESSYS® and iLESSYS® methods, the EndoLIF® system contains an O-Cage for oblique interbody fusion. In addition, joimax® presents its new Percusys® System- a posterior, percutaneous screw and rod system. The advantages of these products and procedures are apparent:

– Smooth, atraumatic access due to gentle dilation of tissue
– Dura and nerves are protected by the working tubes
– Dorsal bone structures are generally not affected and remain intact
– O-Cage with an osteo-conductive surface provides the optimum substrate for cellular growth
– Posterior, percutaneous stabilization via the minimally invasive screw and rod system

Both of these systems are CE marked and FDA clearance is in progress.

Visit us at WCMISST, booth #15 at the Marriott Rive Gauche Hotel and discover for yourself the many advantages of our newest systems.

Dr. Menno Iprenburg has previously been stationed in Tanzania and Zambia as well as in many countries in Asia. As a young physician, he went wherever he was needed. Today the world comes to him. “Apart from Australia – no idea why – we have already had people from all known nations here.” By here, the orthopedist means a spot around 20 miles south of Assen. In the middle of the green expanse of North Holland, by a canal that goes on for miles, lies Veenhuizen. A few pretty, well-kept little houses; that’s all there is. At the end of the village, however, a collection of brick buildings emerges. “It is the remains of an old state jail, renovated a few years ago,” the physician explains. In one of the buildings, which used to be the quaran-tine station, the ‘Rugkliniek Veenhuizen’, also known as ‘Spineclinic Iprenburg’, set up home three years ago. Today, in a place previously used to prevent infection, intervertebral disk surgery is performed.

TESSYS uses a natural keyhole

Patients who are plagued by pain after an inter vertebral disk prolapse undergo a special method of surgery with Dr. Iprenburg. “In Holland, we call it PTED (Percutaneous Trans-foraminal Endoscopic Discectomy),” explains the physician, “Internationally it is known as TESSYS (Transforaminal Endoscopic Surgical System).”This refers to an endoscopic procedure for removing the intervertebral disk prolapse with minimal surgical inter-vention. The special feature of TESSYS is that the surgeon can reach through the inter-vertebral foramen, a “natural keyhole,” with his smallest instruments to the location of the prolapse, where he can remove the press-ing tissue and free the trapped nerve. The patient lies on their side, the incision is only a few millimeters long, and there are few side effects as a result. Patients who come into the Rugkliniek stooping usually leave it a few hours later walking upright.

“I have my life back!”

“When you see the relief on the patient’s face it warms your heart.” Dr. Iprenburg puts on a video that shows himself and a patient immediately after surgery. Uncertain, but with astonishment in her eyes, the patient walks two or three steps. She stops in her tracks. Then she cries. “I have my life back”, she says, her voice breaking. Speechless. It is understandable, when faced with these kinds of images, that even the experienced physician concluded: “This is the best thing I’ve ever done.” Yet TESSYS has nothing to do with miracle cures à la Lourdes, as the physician made it sound. The procedure is internationally established and validated. In studies it has been described as “signifi­cantly ­superior” ­in­ comparison­ with ­the­ standard method (e.g. with the patient in a
prone position). Apparently, around 10,000 inter vertebral disk operations have been carried out to date across the world using the TESSYS method. Of those, and there is evidence to prove it, 1,700 had taken place in Veenhuizen alone as of the start of 2013. Surgery is only carried out in the Rugkliniek when the pain has not reduced six to eight weeks after the intervertebral disk prolapse. Dr. Iprenburg learnt the double keyhole procedure in Germany and practiced it as an orthopedist in Assen, before founding his own private clinic in Veenhuizen. “Although the procedure is more expensive than the
standard method, it is cheaper from a macro-economic perspective, because patients can start work again sooner,” said the physician.

For further information about Dr. Menno Iprenburg please visit www.herniaklinik.nl

Karlsruhe, 23 October 2012. joimax® as the recognized pioneer in endoscopic spine surgery has launched the transforaminal access to the spinal canal under the brand name TESSYS® in 2004. Since then the company has consistently extended its product range and covers the complete array of therapies for spinal disorders with its systems today.

TESSYS® and iLESSYS® are applied especially for the treatment of disc herniations and stenosis utilizing the transforaminal or interlaminar access to the spinal canal, aiming for a long lasting decompression. In the area of pain therapy the company offers the products of the Multiuse series for endoscopic rhizotomy and PeNuts® for percutaneous nucleus therapy. The product range is completed by systems and products in the field of VBA management.

Consequently the next step in the evolution of the joimax® product portfolio is the stabilization and restoration of the spinal column. With the joimax® EndoLIF® programme – the term stands for Endoscopic Lumbar Interbody Fusion – various cage technologies are brought into the intervertebral foramen step by step under endoscopic view. The cage is then being filled with autologous bone or a substitute material under endoscopic control also, the intervertebral disc space and hence the whole spine segment is raised and stabilized. This will be the world’s first interbody fusion device which can be inserted under direct vision.

EndoSphere Spine’s founding members Professors Vijay Goel, PhD and Anand Agarwal, MD at the University of Toledo are among the world leading researchers in the development of biomedical device for the spine. With the assistance of a team at the University of Toledo, they have developed the cage technology, in particular a novel ring cage that is being licensed to joimax® on an exclusive worldwide basis. Prof. Goel is enthusiastic with the idea to position the cage technology using the joimax® minimally invasive access technique: “The combination of our know how with the joimax® expertise leads us to a unique concept that will dramatically push endoscopic spinal surgery forward.” His colleague Prof. Agarwal considers it even a “quantum leap forward”. “In the team at the University of Toledo and the co-founders of EndoSphere Spine, LLC (Profs Goel and Agarwal) we have found a brilliant partner to provide the spine surgeons with state-of-the-art implants for most atraumatic interventions”, adds Wolfgang Ries, CEO and Founder of joimax®.

Both parties share the vision and mission of creating pioneering technologies in order to quickly bring back patients to their usual quality of life in the long run.

About The University of Toledo
Established in 1872, The University of Toledo is home to nearly 22,500 students across 13 colleges and six Ohio campuses. The University offers more than 230 doctoral, professional, graduate and undergraduate programs. UT has earned national and international acclaim for its expertise in medical bioengineering, solar and advanced renewable energy, environmental sciences, astronomical research, translational research and biomarkers.

Right on time with the soon expected registrations of the joimax^® products in Brazil – one of the most emerging BRIC economies – the German-based company showed a very successful presence at the third World Congress of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery and Techniques (WCMISST) in Salvador de Bahia. The congress was supported by the main International MISS Societies. Almost 2.000 interested participants attended the congress which focused especially on promoting and enhancing the interventional minimally invasive treatment of spine diseases. joimax^® is very proud of being part of this exciting development.

The eight largest emerging and developing economies by either nominal GDP or PPP are the BRIC nations (Brazil, Russia, India and China) as well as Mexico, Turkey, Indonesia, and South Korea. joimax^® is represented in more than 60% of these countries – namely China, Russia, India, South Korea, and Turkey – and observes a fast growing number of registered products in these areas. In Brazil and Mexico submissions with the Health Authorities were started several months ago. The completion is expected in the near future. Then nearly 90% of the growth-leading economies will be covered.

joimax^® provides the complete range of high-quality medical devices for minimally invasive endoscopic spine surgery “Made in Germany”. As a matter of course these devices are CE-marked and FDA-cleared and are sold throughout the European Union and the United States. The specific surgery methods they are used for, were developed by joimax^® together with international experts and opinion leaders for the benefit of the patients:

Less pain, less trauma, less hospitalization, gain back quality of life and be back to work in shorter time!

The advantages are evident. Therefore joimax^® has established a worldwide net of distribution partners allowing that as many patients as possible can get access to these progressive therapy methods.

Other important countries where joimax^® is already present are: South Africa, Israel and Australia. One of the company’s goals within the next few years is to achieve the approval for its devices with the Japanese Ministry of Health.

Emerging and growth-leading economies are the key markets that are expected to lead global growth in the next 10 years. “joimax^® is most pleased with its growing market penetration also in these countries, hence promoting these gentle, patient-friendly and economically beneficial surgery methods for the sake of the patients and of the health insurance systems at the same time”, states Wolfgang Ries, CEO and Founder of joimax®.