Champions of Health: Spotlight On Leaders Shaping Germany’s Healthcare
We are delighted to inform that an interview with the CEO and Founder of joimax®, Mr. Wolfgang Ries, has been published in the Champions of Health magazine.
The Interview
In this insightful interview, Mr. Ries shares the inspiring story behind the founding of joimax® and provides an in-depth look at our cutting-edge products and innovations that are shaping the future of minimally invasive endoscopic spine surgery.
I believe in fostering a culture of collaboration and teamwork as well as empowerment within the organization. By encouraging open communication and valueing diverse perspectives, I ensure that decisions are well-informed and reflective of the collective wisdom of the team.
Mr. Wolfgang Ries
CEO and Founder of joimax®
This publication serves as an opportunity to showcase the dedication of joimax® to advancing endoscopic minimally invasive spine spine surgery technology and improving patient care.
KARLSRUHE, Germany – (BUSINESS WIRE) – joimax®, the German-based market leader in technologies and training methods for full-endoscopic and minimally invasive spinal surgery, has appointed Mr. Maximilian Ries and Mr. Anthony Troncale to new executive positions, effective January 1. The announcement comes among record-breaking sales across Europe, Asia, and the United States in 2022.
Maximilian Ries
Ries took on the newly created role of Executive Vice President, Business Development and Operations at joimax®. In this position, based in Germany, he will be responsible for scaling global operations to ensure joimax® continues its exponential growth. Formerly the General Manager, for the past six of his 13-year tenure with joimax®, Ries built out the United States and Latin American markets.
Tony Troncale
Troncale was promoted to General Manager; he was formerly Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at joimax® Inc. Over the past two years, Troncale, in addition to increasing his responsibilities, successfully capitalized on the significant interest in endoscopic techniques to expand US sales operations. He joined joimax® in 2021 bringing 20-years of experience in the spinal device industry where he served in sales and marketing leadership roles at Stryker, K2M, and Synthes Spine. Contributing to the global organization’s continuous strong sales growth was the launch of a new surgical access system, “Tessys® Trans SAP” and the global expansion of the ESPINEA® Education Academy.
Wolfgang Ries
“I am extremely pleased with our 2022 global performance and the significant interest in endoscopic spine surgery,” stated joimax® Founder and CEO Wolfgang Ries. “With Max and Tony in their new roles, our market-leading endoscopic spine technologies, and our anticipated launch of two more new surgical access systems later in 2023, we are well positioned for another very successful year.”
KARLSRUHE, Germany – (BUSINESS WIRE) – joimax®is continuing its year-over-year double digit growth. Over the past 9 months, joimax® has grown more than 25% globally and in the United States alone, more than 35%. Among this major spurt, the market leader in technologies and training methods for full-endoscopic and minimally invasive spinal surgery is launching a new endoscopic surgical system, TESSYS® TransSAP.
“This allows for more extensive foraminal decompression and provides an optimal basis for transforaminal endoscopic fusion”
The company attributes strong growth to their popular workshop and educational program, which is now offered worldwide under the ESPINEA® training academy. To keep momentum, joimax® is releasing the TESSYS® TransSAP — the fourth addition to the TESSYS® family encompassing the standard TESSYS® Std, TESSYS® XT featuring longer reach instruments, and TESSYS® Thx, the optimized version for the thoracic spine.
The system is based on the proven TESSYS® method introduced in 2004. Since then, the technology has been enhanced and can be used for more complex indications, widening the spectrum of disease and vertebral level applications.
joimax® faculty surgeon masters, Dr. Christof Hofstetter and Dr. Ralf Wagner, demonstrate TESSYS® and iLESSYS® to an at capacity crowd during NASS 2022 in Chicago. (Photo: Business Wire)
“The TransSAP method follows an adopted access path to the spine, directly targeting the Superior Articulating Process,” says Dr. Christoph Hofstetter, associate professor in the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Washington. “This allows for more extensive foraminal decompression and provides an optimal basis for transforaminal endoscopic fusion,” adds Dr. Ralf Wagner, a longstanding joimax® ESPINEA® Faculty orthopedic surgeon based in Frankfurt.
In addition, joimax® provides a series of implants for fusion indications, such as the percutaneous pedicle screw system, Percusys® Plus, and a family of 3D-printed titanium cages within the EndoLIF® program. The EndoLIF® suite of products consists of the static implants O/On-Cage, Delta-Cage and DoubleWedge-Cage. “There are plans to add a new fully-expandable cage, as well as a navigated solution for endoscopic disc preparation and implant positioning to provide a full endoscopic assisted fusion platform,” says Wolfgang Ries, CEO and founder of joimax®.
All joimax® implants can be safely inserted using the “Over-the-Wire” technique for precise implantation, making them ideal for endoscopically-assisted fusion procedures established and protected by joimax®.
These new products have been exhibited at the following trade shows: SMISS in Las Vegas, CNS in San Francisco, and NASS in Chicago, and will be featured at EUROSPINE in Milan and at the German Spine Congress, DWG, in Berlin later this year.
Karlsruhe (GER) — German-based joimax®, the market leader in technologies and training methods for full-endoscopic and minimally invasive spinal surgery, is excited to announce a major spike in attendance at its Endoscopic Spine Academy (ESPINEA®) workshops, which contributes to sustainable growth after another year of record revenues in 2021.
The growing interest can be attributed to increased coverage in literature and publications as cited on PubMed®. Moreover, the joimax®-initiated workshop program, now under the umbrella of ESPINEA®, offers optimal training for a variety of applications and procedures, making it attractive to a broader audience.
joimax® established ESPINEA® three years ago. In Fall 2020, the Endoscopic Spine Academy was accredited by the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh (RCSEd). It is one of only four Accreditation Centers that meet its strict rigorous internal quality assurance processes. Together, with its growing team of faculty, joimax® developed the complete six-step curriculum to bridge the learning curve for spine surgeons. The curriculum, which was approved by the RCSEd, is developed as an educational program from beginners to masters alike.
J.N. Alastair Gibson DSc MD FRCSEd, a RCSEd and ESPINEA® Advisory Board Member sums it up: “The ESPINEA® mission is to serve endoscopic spine surgeons by providing a growing global network for lifelong learning to best benefit the patient. Our vision is to be the world’s leading interdisciplinary community in endoscopic spine surgery.”
In addition to holding ESPINEA® courses at the joimax®-owned premises in Karlsruhe (Germany) and Irvine (USA), they are also held at ORSI Academy (Belgium) and at other prestigious universities, such as Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg (Austria). Recently, ESPINEA® was rolled out in Thailand. Prior to the July PASMISS Meeting, the courses will be launched in Singapore for the APAC region, and following the October SMISS Meeting, launched widely in the U.S.
“Given the ongoing development of endoscopic spine surgery with more and more technological options, the benefits for the patients, along with the substantial publication, I am convinced that endoscopic spine surgery is now the gold standard,” states Iprenburg Spine Clinic Founder and ESPINEA® Advisory Board Member Dr. Menno Iprenburg.
With the ESPINEA® courses, surgeons can train on different procedures using the joimax® TESSYS®, iLESSYS®, CESSYS®, MultiZYTE®, EndoLIF®, Percusys® based on the latest NAVENTO® tower. Most of the courses are conducted in a hybrid mode — online and on-site presentations and lectures combined with in-person hands-on training using models, simulators and anatomical specimens.
ESPINEA® was established as an open education platform for other players in the field of spinal surgery as well. Therefore, further supporters have already joined and new entrants are welcomed.
Paris, France | November 2021 – During this years Global Spine Congress (GSC) joimax® CEO & Founder, Wolfgang Ries, sat down with GSC Chairman, Jeffery Wang, MD, PhD, to talk about the 20 years success of the company, education with the ESPINEA® Endoscopic Spine Academy and the future of endoscopic spine surgery!
IRVINE, CA – joimax®, the German-based market leader in technologies and training methods for full-endoscopic and minimally invasive spinal surgery, is excited to announce the global launch of its new generation tower, NAVENTO® Navigation Endoscopic Tower. Optimized for endoscopic spine surgery with special settings for the safe treatment of sensitive structures, NAVENTO® will be featured at the North American Spine Society (NASS) meeting in Boston later this month and at EUROSPINE in Vienna this October.
NAVENTO®, the fully integrated fourth generation endo-tower, contains everything a surgeon needs to perform a successful procedure. The tower boasts updated design features for enhanced usability and is composed of six devices that work in unison to give the user the best possible surgical experience:
Vitegra®, the brain of NAVENTO®, offers complete documentation and data management.
Camsource® LED provides optimal clarity up to 4K resolution.
Intracs®, the newest device from joimax®, delivers electromagnetic navigation at the instrument’s tip.
Shrill®, the shaver drill system, with the newest generation recently launched, provides optimal RPMs and torque management.
Endovapor® 2 poses electrosurgical offerings for monopolar and bipolar settings.
Versicon®, delivers fluid and pressure regulation.
“joimax® continues to lead the endoscopic spine market through innovations in technologies aimed to increase the user experience and provide spinal patients with an ultra-minimally invasive treatment option,” stated Christoph Hofstetter, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Washington.
Wolfgang Ries, CEO and founder of the joimax® group, confirmed, “NAVENTO® pulls together the latest technologies forming one complete, seamlessly integrated spinal endoscopic package.”
NAVENTO®, along with the full suite of joimax® endoscopic technologies will be showcased at NASS, booth #3512, and at EUROSPINE, booth #04.
Karlsruhe (GER) — German-based joimax®, the market leader in technologies and training methods for full-endoscopic and minimally invasive spinal surgery, is excited to announce that it has received FDA clearance to market the EndoLIF® Delta-Cage and EndoLIF® DoubleWedge-Cage in the United States. Delta-Cages and DoubleWedge-Cages are intended for intervertebral body fusion procedures for various diseases of the lumbar spine, such as degenerative disc disease.
Now in its 20th anniversary year, joimax® sets another milestone by providing a family of 3D printed titanium cages. The complete EndoLIF® product portfolio consists of the Delta-Cage, the DoubleWedge-Cage, and the O/On-Cage. All three models are designed with special features:
3D printed titanium for excellent bone ingrowth, fillable with bone or bone substitute material, pre- or post-insertion
Anatomical shape and lordotic correction options for OLIF, TLIF, and PLIF procedures
“Over-the-wire” implantation for optimal targeted positioning in the intervertebral disc space
Endoscopic control of all surgical steps due to the EndoLIF® platform technology
“It is impressive how well these cages ensure primary stability, especially the DoubleWedge-Cage,” says Dr. Ralf Wagner, head surgeon and founder of the Ligamenta Spine Centre in Frankfurt.
Many other experts including, Dr. Florian Zentz, head surgeon of the spine center in Tutzing (Munich), Dr. Ricardo Casal Grau, orthospine surgeon from Madrid, and Dr. J. N. Alastair Gibson, spinal surgeon from Edinburgh, supported the development of the joimax® cages.
“With FDA clearance of two of our cages, our EndoLIF® platform gets more complete; the next major step in endoscopic spinal surgery is endoscopically-assisted fusion,” says joimax® Founder and CEO Wolfgang Ries. “More and more centers are proving the efficacy of these procedures in studies, demonstrating once again the major benefits of endoscopy in fusion. So far, our cages are well established in Europe and in selected centers in Asia, and now we are entering the USA, the biggest market for spinal fusion”.
Taps the market access professionals to oversee reimbursement strategy
IRVINE, CA –joimax®, the German-based market leader in technologies and training methods for full-endoscopic and minimally-invasive spinal surgery, is pleased to announce a new strategic partnership with NAMSA, the only full continuum Contract Research Organization (CRO) in the world focused exclusively on medical devices. Recognized as a leader in reimbursement strategies, with years of experience in collaborating with public and private payors, Namsa will assist joimax®’ customers with reimbursement support services, including prior authorization and appeals support, across the United States.
“We are excited for NAMSA to serve as an exclusive partner to help patients access joimax®’ endoscopic technologies,” stated joimax® General Manager
Maximilian Ries. “We’re optimistic that with NAMSA’s assistance, and the nearly 5,000 clinical papers on endoscopic spine surgery, we will continue to expand coverage of this important, minimally-invasive technology”.
Since the creation of American Medical Association medical procedural code, CPT® 62380, Endoscopic Decompression of Neural Elements and/or Excision of Herniated Intervertebral Discs, in 2017, utilization of endoscopic spinal procedures has grown.
Karlsruhe (GER) — German-based joimax®, the market leader in technologies and training methods for full-endoscopic and minimally invasive spinal surgery, is excited to announce the global launch of its new generation Shrill®, the Shaver Drill System. Developed for the removal of soft tissue and bone, the joimax® Shrill® system is also highly effective in treating stenosis, a degenerative spine condition.
Building off the success of the original model, this new iteration was retooled to provide better user control. The sleek new design comprises a glass touch panel for easy handling and cleaning, and features expanded benefits including: a new Shrill® console that provides up to 10,000-rpm with an essential amount of torque for controlled and effective ablation of tissue, an adjustable “acceleration ramp” which settings can be programmed based on individual needs, new diamond blades, and reworked bone resectors and barrel cutters. Plus, the device is equipped with handle and blade detection; it can automatically detect connected hand pieces and adjust them to the corresponding parameters.
“The Shrill® is the best endoscopic bone drill system on the market,” says Christoph Hofstetter, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Washington. “The high speed, in combination with the coarse diamond blades, has significantly reduced the time required for endoscopic laminectomy.”
The Shrill® system reflects the increasing demand for endoscopic applications and was updated in accordance with the latest device generation featured in the so called NAVENTO® tower, which is the new generation joimax® navigation endoscopic tower. The Shrill® system is compatible with the angulated Shrill® Deflector Shaver Blades and a whole range of Blades provided for all spinal applications.
“joimax® will continue to bring innovative products to market. On the basis of this technology, we are developing a unique disc preparation tool that can be used for any LIF (Lumbar Interbody Fusion) application, slated for release later this year,” said joimax® CEO and Founder Wolfgang Ries. “This will enable faster and more efficient preparation of the disc space for cage insertion for fusion procedures, and round out the whole product offering”.
Karlsruhe (GER) – joimax® and Trang Thi are pleased to announce their partnership in bringing the joimax® full-endoscopic and minimally invasive spinal surgery technology to the Southern Provinces of Vietnam including Da Nang market. joimax® a German-based company is a recognised market leader in these technologies and training methods with a history of innovation in endoscopic spine surgery since 2001.
Endoscopic Spine Surgery has been growing steadily in popularity since the late 1990’s and there has been exponential growth in the technique in the past 10 years. The distributor Trang Thi and joimax® are pursuing a long term corporation to provide a broader surgical choice for patients considering spinal surgery. “joimax® is looking forward to working with a partner as strong as Trang Thi, says joimax® Founder and CEO Wolfgang Ries and adds, “a company that has the necessary personnel, expertise, as well as the corresponding specialization and penetration of the market”.
“We’re very pleased to collaborate with joimax®,” comments Trang Thi Medical Co., Ltd Director Dieu Linh Nguyen. “Endoscopic spine surgery is a technique that enables patients to have access to truly minimally invasive surgical procedures of the spine.” Thus, joimax® strengthens its sales activities in Southern Provinces of Vietnam including Da Nang and enters into another important partnership across APAC.
About Trang Thi Medical Co. Ltd Trang Thi Medical Co., Ltd (TRANG THI) is one among key players in Vietnam market, providing complete solutions for neuro and spine surgery. During the nine years of operation, TRANG THI has cooperated with many well-known manufacturers, transfering advanced and innovative technology to hospitals and healthcare centers. With the mission of community health, Trang Thi always strive to make a real difference to people’s lives.
