Newly awarded German Growth Champion joimax® presents new products at DWG Stuttgart, Germany, and broadens its education and congress activities

IRVINE, CA – November 30, 2017 – joimax®, recently awarded as German Growth Champion 2018, continues to share its expertise in endoscopic minimally invasive spine surgery. With the latest workshops in Krasnodar, RUS, Guadalajara, Mexico and at the Wooridul Hospital in Korea, the company strengthens its outstanding education program. During the workshops, surgeons are trained in endoscopic techniques and other minimally-invasive procedures. Since the start of the cooperation with the Korean Wooridul group, the world’s largest specialized MISS – Endoscopic Spine Hospital Network, in 2017, a series of four courses, provided at different levels, have now been performed.

“Heavily increasing user interest and fast growing patient demand for endoscopic spinal surgery is leading to major needs, which joimax® is addressing by broadening its training program and presence at international congresses,” says Wolfgang Ries, Founder and CEO of joimax®.

joimax® presence at COA Congress 2017
joimax® presence at COA Congress 2017

Hence, joimax® again had an outstanding presence at the 12th International Congress of the Chinese Orthopedic Association (COA), which took place in Zhuhai, China, from Nov 15 – 18, 2017. In Vietnam, the first cervical surgery with the joimax® CESSYS® system was successfully performed by joimax® faculty Dr. Jun Seok Bae together with Dr. Dinh Ngoc Son, on Nov 22, 2017 at the Viet-Duc Hospital, the largest surgical center of Vietnam in Hanoi.

At the upcoming congress of the German Spine Society (DWG), taking place Nov 30 – Dec 02, 2017, in Stuttgart, Germany, joimax® will introduce its newest camera system called Camsource® LED combined with its latest Vitegra® Docu and Command Visual Integration System offering the highest resolution imaging with CMOS sensor technology. Additionally, the company will present its extended EndoLIF® portfolio with the new EndoLIF® Double-Wedge Cage, usable for TLIF- and ELIF-fusion techniques. joimax® will host two lunch symposia and hold “Meet-the-Expert” presentations at its booth.

At the same time, the company will have a booth with 2 workshop stations at the KOMISS (Korean Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Society) International Symposium and Hands-on Cadaver Workshop for Endoscopic Spine Surgery, taking place from Dec 1 – 3 in Incheon, Korea. The year ends with another excellent workshop at the IRCAD Institute in Taiwan on Dec 22- 23, 2017.

joimax® reports another record in revenues globally in Q3/2017 and introduces new products at EUROSPINE in Dublin, Ireland and at NASS in Orlando, Florida

IRVINE, CA – October, 10, 2017 – Due to the fast growing user interest, but moreover the patient demand for endoscopic spinal surgery, joimax® sees another record in revenues in Q3/2017, with almost 60% of growth year over year, whereas joimax USA is almost doubling its revenues compared to 2016. “These results are also reflected in the huge interest at the SMISS Annual Forum which took place Sept 14- 16, 2017 in Las Vegas and the ISASS MIS Couse which took place Sept 22 – 23 in Long Beach, where joimax® as market leader supported the cadaveric lab sessions” explains Wolfgang Ries, Founder and CEO of joimax®. Key presenters at these meetings had been Albert Telfeian, MD, PhD, Brown Univ., RI and Jian Shen, MD, PhD, Nathan-Lattauer Hospital, NY, both excellent surgeons with great experience.

Now at EUROSPINE, taking place Oct 11 – 13 in Dublin, Ireland, joimax® will introduce its new Shrill® Deflector Blades for spinal decompression. By deflecting, the blades provide an outstanding work-around-the-corner technology. They are applicable for the various joimax® TESSYS® systems as well as for the fast adopting iLESSYS® Delta system.

Additionally, a range of new Vaporflex® bipolar forceps for TESSYS® and iLESSYS® applications will be introduced as well. Those instruments are available in two handle versions and equipped with three different electrodes. The product portfolio will be completed by new sets of bipolar tweezers for micro surgery. All these bipolar instruments can be used with the very successful globally launched Endovapor® RF/HF generator, which received FDA clearance in April 2017 as well. joimax® underlines its market leadership with a professional trade fair appearance with Meet-the-Expert sessions at the booth and by hosting a Faculty and DIstributor meeting prior to the conference in Dublin.

At NASS, for the first time ever, a full endoscopic spinal surgery session is included in the main program, held on October 26th in room WF3. The session is followed by an onsite cadaveric lab running from 5:10 PM – 8:00 PM with a full joimax® presence. In order to share the vast growing endoscopic user experience more widely, joimax® will hold a Meet-the-Expert presentations at the booth as well.

joimax® will wrap up its presence at NASS congress with an Expert meeting, including a wet lab, aiming to coordinate all training and education activities, specifically those which are related to US market needs.

joimax® , Inc. opens its first Education & Training Center in Irvine, California, posts record sales in the US and continues to make gains with endoscopic reimbursement

IRVINE, CA – August, 31, 2017– joimax® announces the grand opening of its new state-of-the-art Training and Education Center in Irvine, California. The company will be holding its first workshop at the Center on September 8-9th.

As the market leader in endoscopic spine surgery, joimax® is fully dedicated to outstanding physician education, training and services worldwide. Due to the newly released US CPT reimbursement code, valid since January 1st, 2017, the demand for joimax® endoscopic procedures are growing monthly in the USA among patients as well as the physician community. This fast growing demand creates major needs which joimax®, Inc. is addressing with fast expansion of its US organization.

“This new wet lab facility provides a major base for supporting our fast growing education needs for both our new sales and clinical associates, but moreover it’s a place for physicians to be trained,” states Bob Wolownik, National Director of Sales for joimax® Inc.

joimax® Inc. Training and Education Center

joimax® also announced that they are taking the lead in supporting this years’ workshops and educational sessions at:

SMISS Sept 14-16, 2017 – Las Vegas, NV – Sole Supporter of the Endoscopic Lab Session

ISASS Sept 22-23, 2017 – Long Beach, CA – Endoscopic Lab Supporter

NASS Oct. 25-28, 2017 – Orlando, FL – Endoscopic Spine Surgery Session Sponsor and Endoscopic Lab Supporter

joimax®  has also made significant strides in reimbursement support for endoscopic spine procedures via a new external coding support hotline that it manages along with a payor correspondence package. joimax® Inc.’s Vice President of Operations & Reimbursement, Brian Schneider, recently stated “We have seen a significant rise in interest from both payors and physicians asking to receive information and streamline communication regarding the new endoscopic spine code.”

“As we received a first CPT reimbursement code for endoscopic spine surgery earlier this year and now invest wisely for future growth, joimax® will continue to write a major success story in the US, similar to what it has accomplished in Europe and Asia, “ states Maximilian Ries, General Manager for joimax®, Inc. He announced that the company is continuing to post record sales by nearly doubling its year to date US revenues, which is in line with the companies’ budget plan.

Overall joimax® is very pleased with the great strides achieved in the US market and sees continued sustainable growth globally. “All this is an important step towards the full acceptance of endoscopic minimally invasive spine surgery techniques and their benefits to both the physician and their patients in the US now as well,” echoes Wolfgang Ries, Founder and CEO of joimax®.

The company’s European and Asian sales also show record numbers. Earlier this year, joimax® also received multiple new product registrations in Asia and recently in Brazil to fully access this new market.

joimax® elevates its presence across Europe and Asia

Irvine, CA – June 7, 2017 – Over the last few weeks, joimax® participated in numerous scientific meetings, held across Europe and Asia. During these meetings, the German-based company reiterated its position as market leader for endoscopic minimally invasive spine surgery.

Starting in early May, joimax® exhibited at this years’ Global Spine Congress (GSC) in Milan, Italy, including a Meet-the-Expert Session at its booth and at the Intermediate Meeting of the World Congress of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery and Techniques (WCMISST) in Paris, France. Numerous joimax® faculty members presented the latest results in endoscopic spine surgery.

joimax presence at GSC 2017

From May 11 to 14, joimax® participated in the 10th Conference of the Chinese Association of Orthopedic Surgeons, held in cooperation with the North American Spine Society (CAOS/NASS) in Guangzhou, China. The conference was combined with a highly attended workshop on principles and techniques of complex spine surgery. This session was video transmitted to 20,000 hubs.

During the annual meeting of the German Society of Neurosurgery (DGNC) in Magdeburg, Germany, from May 14 to 17, joimax® exhibited its complete product range. The lunch symposium, covering the treatment options in endoscopic decompression and pain therapy, was presented by the well-recognized joimax® faculty members Drs. Erik Traupe, Guntram Krzok and Ralf Wagner.

From May 18 to 20, joimax® participated in the first International Spine Conference at the KCM clinic in Jelenia Gora, Poland, highlighting the achievements of modern endoscopic minimally invasive spine surgery. In live surgeries various endoscopic techniques in cervical and lumbar cases were performed. The session was coupled with a simultaneous discussion between surgeons and participants.

“The International Spine Conference in Poland marks the successful kick-off for the cooperation with our new partner to start extensive market activities in this country”, says Wolfgang Ries, Founder and CEO of joimax®. “Both, training and education, which also started in Poland, now are the key to success to further deepen the endoscopic knowledge of spine surgeons.”

In early June, the annual meeting of the International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine (ISSLS) took place in Athens, Greece, followed by the annual congress of the French Society of Spinal Surgery (Societé Francaise de Chirurgie Rachidienne, SFCR) in Lille, France. Both meetings attracted many spine specialists and generated good traffic at the joimax® booths.

Since its inception, joimax® participates in the European Course for Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery (EUCMISS, http://www.eucmiss.com). This years’ 5th Course in Madrid, Spain, was held on June 1 and 2. It was a special course of globally leading experts in minimally invasive spine, exchanging the practical and scientific experience in presentation and multidisciplinary cadaver courses.

joimax® will continue its activities by exhibiting at the NSpine Main Conference in London, UK, from June 12 to 15 and then they head back to Asia to attend the 6th Asian Conference of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Techniques (ACMISST) in Bangkok, Thailand between June 29 and July 2 with a faculty presentation and a booth presence.

joimax® announces 510(k) clearance for its Endovapor® 2 Multi Radio Frequency System with its first presentation at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) 2017, in Los Angeles

Irvine, CA – April 26, 2017 – joimax®, the German based market leader of technologies and training methods for endoscopic minimally invasive spinal surgery, today announced it has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market its Endovapor® 2 Multi Radio Frequency System.

The patented device generates electrical power for monopolar and bipolar cutting and coagulation of tissue structures in surgical operations. The joimax® Endovapor® 2 is an all-in-one generator with specially integrated programs for spinal surgery with interdisciplinary application. The device is equipped with two monopolar and two bipolar sockets and an easy and intuitive touchpad technology. With arc control for safe application and easy neutral electrode monitoring, it combines a variety of different electro-surgical modes and effects.

“After receiving the FDA clearance for the joimax® Vaporflex® and Legato® electrosurgical probes in early  November 2016, this is another milestone in strengthening the joimax® position as an expert in endoscopic minimally invasive spine surgery,” states Wolfgang Ries, Founder and CEO of joimax®.

During the AANS, joimax®  participated in the CME endoscopic cadaveric workshop with two stations and held a very successful US-expert meeting including topics such as training procedures, clinical Research and future technologies.

joimax RF Generator Endovapor 2

joimax® celebrates its 10th anniversary presence with 900 users in China and reports a jump in Q1-2017 sales

Karlsruhe, Germany – April 11th, 2017 – joimax®, the German based market leader of technologies and training methods for endoscopic minimally invasive spinal surgery, just celebrated its 10 years’ birthday in China with an outstanding 3 days event in Chongqing. More than 900 surgeons out of 2,000 users in China only took part in live surgeries, workshops and a scientific program on endoscopic spinal technologies including MISS fusion techniques. Besides, joimax® organized the presentation of its latest systems like the TESSYS® ISeeU and iLESSYS® Delta in product trainings as well as newest tools for endoscopic treatment in an exhibition hall. The program was supported by joimax® Faculty Members from Europe, USA and other countries. In the course of the meeting a Chinese Faculty Team with 13 members was inaugurated by Wolfgang Ries, Founder and CEO of joimax® and Qin-Guang You, President of joimax® China. ”Due to the growing education and training needs in the Asian region the time has come to form a local team for this important market”, explains Wolfgang Ries. “It is a great honor to lead this team and to support the further growth of joimax®”, says the head of the Faculty Team, Prof. Yue Zhou from the Third Military Medical University in Chongqing. He was awarded with the joimax® Handshake Award in Gold for his exceptional commitment and the members of the group received the joimax® Handshake Award in Silver.

After very satisfying growing sales figures in 2016 (31 % growth vs. 2015), joimax® is proud to announce a jump in sales in the first quarter 2017. Consolidated figures show an increase of 60 % compared to the same period of last year. “This is a very encouraging development, showing the continuing expansion and growth of the group”, states Wolfgang Ries, Founder and CEO of joimax®.

joimax® obtains full product registration in Thailand, and is now active in 10 Asian countries

Karlsruhe, Germany – February 27th, 2017 – joimax® further ensures its market access in Asia. The German based market leader of technologies and training methods for endoscopic minimally invasive spinal surgery is expanding its presence and recently has obtained full product registration from the Thai Food & Drug Administration (FDA). joimax® also has approvals in South Korea, China, Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Vietnam. For Malaysia, Taiwan and Japan, the certification for the product range is expected in 2017. “We are constantly pushing the registration process in Asia to extend the availability of joimax® products. Thus, joimax® is well prepared to further widen its market presence in Asia, demonstrating our commitment to the fastest growing region of the world,” states Wolfgang Ries, Founder and CEO of joimax®.

For years, joimax® has been working with the Korean Wooridul group, the world’s largest Specialized Spine Hospital Network. Starting in 2017, joimax®, together with the Wooridul Hospital in Seoul, will offer International courses for Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery (MISS). In a series of four courses, provided in basic and advanced level, the education of international spine surgeons is ensured. The first one, chaired by joimax® faculty Dr. Sang-Ho Lee, South Korea, recently took place. The one-week training programs offer surgeons the opportunity to learn percutaneous endoscopic techniques and other minimally-invasive procedures with lectures, operation observation and hands-on-workshops. Since 2004, more than 600 spine surgeons and specialists from 41 countries have participated in these courses at Wooridul.

Participants of the National Minimal Invasive Spinal Summit Forum & 4th joimax User Meeting, held in Zhenghou City, China from Dec. 23rd until 25th, 2016

After the National Minimal Invasive Spinal Summit Forum, together with the 4th joimax® User Meeting in December, joimax® China, headquartered in Chengdu, will celebrate its 10th birthday in April 2017. On this occasion, numerous internationally well-known faculties will meet in Chongqing, China to share experience and expertise. Lectures and live surgeries are planned to be held in two hospitals and to be broadcasted via Internet.

DWG 2016 in Hannover, Germany: joimax® shows major presence with daily lunch symposia and Meet the Expert Sessions at its booth

Karlsruhe, Germany – December 8th, 2016 – from Dec 1st to 3rd, 2016 the most important German spine congress has taken place at the Hannover Congress Centre. joimax® as global acting German developer and marketer of technologies and training methods for endoscopic minimally invasive spinal surgery again exhibited at the 11th congress of the German Spine Society (DWG). The congress attracted an increasing number of attendees who gathered for the latest news on spinal surgery as well as to learn about the techniques and results of endoscopic spine surgery and the benefits of these techniques for both the surgeon and their patients.

joimax® presence at DWG 2016

joimax® presented its complete product range including the newly launched MultiZYTE® RT (e.g. for rhizotomy) as well as MultiZYTE® SI for Sacroiliac Joint therapy and the Intracs® Interaoperative Navigation Tracking & Control System. With Intracs®, a fully endoscopic integrated electromagnetic based system, the joimax® instruments can be navigated directly at the tip which allows tracking of instruments with a diameter in the 1mm range. In the course of the congress joimax® also held two well attended lunch symposia covering the whole scope of surgical indications and also the field of pain therapy up to decompression. Furthermore joimax® offered daily “Meet the Expert”-Sessions at its booth where spine surgeons were given the possibility to participate on the extensive experience of well-known German spine specialists.

“The endoscopic minimally invasive techniques are becoming more and more the first choice in spinal surgery. This is also reflected in the steadily and now fast growing number of studies showing the benefits on this treatment modalities”, says Wolfgang Ries, CEO and founder of joimax®. The most recent study by Alastair Gibson, MD from Edinburgh, Scotland called “A randomized controlled trial of TED vs Microdiscectomy” has recently been published online in the European Spine Journal.  During his long-time use of joimax® endoscopic systems and educational work Dr. Gibson published a huge number of studies on endoscopic minimally invasive spinal surgery. Lately in October 2016 joimax®, together with the Paracelsus Medical University (PMU), had the honor of conferring him with the Parviz Kambin Award for his excellence in endoscopic spinal surgery. This event took place during the CME-certified workshop course held at the PMU in Salzburg, Austria. The Award is presented to pioneers in the field of endoscopic minimally invasive spine surgery, to which group of Awardees Alastair Gibson was elected there.

From left to right: Dr. Menno Iprenburg, NL; Awardee Alastair Gibson, MD, Scotland; Dr. Ralf Wagner, Germany; Wolfgang Ries, Founder & CEO joimax® GmbH

Eurospine 2016: joimax® launches its new MultiZYTE® SI-Joint Endoscopic Therapy Set and its new Intracs® Intraoperative Navigation Tracking & Control System

Karlsruhe – October 05, 2016 – joimax®, the global acting German developer and marketer of technologies and training methods for endoscopic minimally invasive spinal surgery, will again exhibit at Eurospine 2016 taking place from October 5 – 7 in Berlin. During the conference, joimax®will launch two new products – the MultiZYTE® SI Endoscopic Sacroiliac Joint Therapy Set and its new Intracs® Intraoperative Navigation Tracking & Control System.

MultiZYTE® SI Endoscopic Sacroiliac Joint Therapy is developed for the treatment of the Sacroiliac Joint Syndrome (SIJS), which has been rediscovered as a major back pain generator in recent years. This kind of pain is commonly felt in the lower back, the gluteal region, the hip and thigh and can even radiate into the leg and foot. Until the 1930s, SI-Joint was the main reason for low back pain, but since 1934 the focus has been on disc herniation. According to recent studies 15 to 25% of all low back pain is caused by the SI-Joint and up to 43% in patients having undergone lumbosacral fusion. MultiZYTE® SI joimax® now offers a well developed and lasting treatment option for this disease.

The Intracs® Intraoperative Navigation Tracking & Control System was developed in cooperation between joimax® GmbH Karlsruhe and fiagon GmbH in Berlin, both located in Germany. With the Intracs® system, joimax® instruments can be navigated directly at the tip using Fiagons “chip at the tip” technology which allows tracking of instruments with a diameter in the 1mm range. The Intracs ® Navigation and Monitor Unit is integrated in the joimax® Endoscopic Tower and all necessary tools are tailored for the TESSYS® (transforaminal) and iLESSYS® (interlaminar) procedures as well as for minimally invasive stabilization procedures, like EndoLIF® and Percusys®. The main features of the Intracs® system are needle navigation through Vector-Tip-Target processing tools, the merging of 2D X-Rays with 3D- images of a patient’s CT or MRI scans, and the constant orientation control of any endoscope used in joimax procedures.

“With these two new developments we are in the position to enhance our endoscopic minimally-invasive product portfolio, driving adoption rates to meet new heights. With the world unique Intracs® system, navigation is now faster, safer and more accurate than ever before using an electromagnetic (EM) field. Radiation exposure for both, patients and surgeons will be significantly reduced,” says Wolfgang Ries, CEO and founder of joimax®. “Additionally the learning curve for all spinal endoscopic procedures offered by joimax® will now be significantly reduced and the rapid expansion of all these techniques is now well layed-out,” he continues.

JOIMAX® ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF FIRST ENDOSCOPIC AMA CPT CODE Company also releases newly designed joimax® homepage

Irvine, CA – September 26, 2016 – The AMA (American Medical Association) released the CPT 2017 Codebook (Current Procedural Terminology), now containing the first endoscopic spinal surgery code no. 62380. This new code covers endoscopic decompression of the spinal cord, nerve root(s), including laminotomy, partial facetectomy, foraminotomy, discectomy and/or excision of herniated intervertebral disc, 1 interspace, lumbar, and will be enforced as of January 1st, 2017. Under this code the specific transforaminal (TESSYS®) and/or interlaminar (iLESSYS®) procedures are fully covered in the USA herewith, which are already marketed by joimax® in 45 countries.

“The definition of this new code in the CPT codebook 2017 is a major milestone towards the acceptance of endoscopic minimally invasive spine surgery techniques and its benefits to both the surgeon and their patients,” states Wolfgang Ries, Founder and CEO of joimax®. Since 2012 joimax®  had been driving this effort to obtain CPT codes as these procedures required submission to payors for reimbursement coverage which was granted only in single cases under temporary codes, so-called T-codes.

“joimax® has been instrumental in driving the effort to obtain full code coverage of endoscopic spinal surgery,” says Daniel Laich, DO, Swedish Convenant Hospital, Chicago, who had been participating and presenting in almost every AMA meeting over the last five years. Due to the high research and publication activities by key users like Albert Telfeian, MD, PhD, at Rhode Island Hospital at Brown University, and a group of users around him, strong evidence has been accepted by AMA authorities, justifying the release of this new CPT code.

Many papers and publications on joimax® products can now be downloaded from the newly released joimax® homepage. The completely redesigned website offers visitors richer insight into the company’s innovative products and systems. A quick and easy access to essential information and features is available, including the latest workshop and education activities, which are essential in endoscopic minimally-invasive spinal surgery.

Meanwhile joimax® offers basic and advanced workshop training courses mainly in the USA, Germany and Austria, and oversees a participation population of almost 3,000 physicians. Independent training courses are also performed in China and Korea to support the fast growing Asian markets. Detailed information about those courses are updated regularly at www.joimax.com.

The website uses the latest technology so the site is compatible with today’s browsers and mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets. Visitors can also use the new website to stay informed with the latest company news. The new website goes live today and is located at the same address: https://www.joimax.com.