joimax® CEO & Founder talking to Global Spine Conference Chairman Jeffery Wang, MD, PhD in an 1:1 interview

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!

Watch more interesting videos on our YouTube Channel!

joimax® Launches NAVENTO® Navigation Endoscopic Tower at NASS and EUROSPINE

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.

joimax endoscopic tower NAVENTO

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:

  1. Vitegra®, the brain of NAVENTO®, offers complete documentation and data management.
  2. Camsource® LED provides optimal clarity up to 4K resolution.
  3. Intracs®, the newest device from joimax®, delivers electromagnetic navigation at the instrument’s tip.
  4. Shrill®, the shaver drill system, with the newest generation recently launched, provides optimal RPMs and torque management.
  5. Endovapor® 2 poses electrosurgical offerings for monopolar and bipolar settings.
  6. 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.

joimax® Recieves FDA Clearance to Market EndoLIF® Delta-Cage and DoubleWedge-Cage in the USA

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.

joimax cage family EndoLIF

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-insertiony
  • 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”.

joimax® Launches New Generation of Shrill® Shaver Drill System

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.”

joimax drill and resection system shrill

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”.

joimax® Enters the Vietnamese Market, Partners with Trang Thi Medical Company Limited

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”.

joimax Partnership with Trangthimedical, 2021

“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.

joimax® Announces Partnership with Southeast Asia Distributor, Transmedic Group

Karlsruhe (GER) – 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 partnership with Transmedic Group, a top medical device distributor headquartered in Singapore. In this exclusive deal, Transmedic will represent joimax® in Singapore, Hong Kong, Philippines and Indonesia. 

The long-term partnership will provide a broader surgical choice for patients considering endoscopic minimally invasive spinal surgery in these markets. With recent advances in the field of endoscopic discectomy (ED), the procedure has potential to supersedemicrodiscectomy (MD) as the gold standard of care in management of lumbar disc disease, as the latest literature suggests. 

“joimax® is very much looking forward to working with Transmedic Group,” says joimax® Founder and CEO Wolfgang Ries. “With the rising popularity of endoscopic approaches in the management of spinal diseases, we’re able to deliver the highest standard of patient care, strengthen our sales activities, and enter into another important partnership across APAC.” 

Teo Kee Meng, managing director of Transmedic Group commented, “We’re very pleased to partner with joimax®. With their technological advancements and use of new spinal access corridors, a major prevention of spinal structure collateral damage is assured, allowing for significantly reduced complications and improved postoperative recovery times.”

Joimax® Announces Partnership with Southeast Asia Distributor, Transmedic Group

About Transmedic Group
Transmedic Group was founded in 1980 with the aim of becoming the top specialist in the advanced medical technology area in Southeast Asia. Headquartered in Singapore, the privately held company has since grown its presence in seven countries with more than 500 employees, and is well-renowned as the leading provider of latest technologies in healthcare.

FDA Approves joimax® Intracs®em Electromagnetic Navigation System for Endoscopic Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

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 that Intracs® em, its electromagnetic navigation tracking and control system, has been approved by the FDA.

The Intracs® em Navigation System allows for spinal procedures to be carried out with minimal X-ray control, drastically reducing radiation exposure, access time, and the entire length of the surgical procedure. In fact, all joimax® instruments and scopes can be tracked and accurately navigated through the appropriate sensors, which improves safety, expands endoscopic indications, and flattens the learning curve.

Intracs®em is a multiyear development. Its first cadaveric trials were made with a group of surgeons at the ESPINEA® Labs in Karlsruhe, Germany and Irvine, CA.

FDA Approval , joimax endoscopic navigation system Intracs em

According to Prof. Dr. med. Michael Kraus of ORTHIX Zentrum in Augsburg, Germany, who headed the preliminary trials: “Using Intracs® em Navigation System in the full endoscopic spine surgery is safe and easily applicable. The technology helps master precise access to the spine, and the clinical trials have confirmed the technique’s multiple advantages.”

Prof. Dr. Chris Hofstetter of UW Medical Center in Seattle, Washington, USA, adds: “joimax® Intracs®em constitutes a highly precise image-guided navigation platform designed for the specific needs of full-endoscopic spine surgery. Using electromagnetic navigation technology allows to track the leading edge of endoscopic instruments in real time, and facilitates needle targeting and orientation during the surgery, while minimizing radiation exposure. No doubt, this technology will expand the indications for full-endoscopic spine surgery and pave the way for innovations in minimally invasive arthrodesis techniques.”

joimax® is also excited to announce its second joint Global Symposium being held in partnership with Integrity Implants, Inc., August 21 – 22. For details, visit www.joimax.com.

New partnership: joimax® joins forces with JAPAN MEDICALNEXT CO., LTD.

Karlsruhe (GER), 16 June 2020
 joimax®, the German-based market leader in technologies and training methods for full-endoscopic and minimally invasive spinal surgery, is starting as of now a new partnership in Japan. The distributor JMC- JAPAN MEDICALNEXT CO., LTD. and joimax® are pursuing a long-term sales cooperation that will result in an extensive distribution agreement for the entire Japanese market.

joimax® joins forces with JAPAN MEDICALNEXT CO., LTD.

joimax® is looking forward to working with a partner strong as JMC, 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”. Masayuki Yoshimura, President and CEO of JMC, explains, “We are very excited to partner with joimax®. With our shared vision for advancing the field of minimum invasive spinal surgery, we are looking forward to introducing the globally recognized joimax® products in Japan”. Thus, joimax® strengthens its sales activities in Japan and enters into another important partnership in Asia.

JAPAN MEDICALNEXT CO., LTD. founded in 1992 is located in Osaka, Japan. With 314 employees at its locations and an Orthopedics Division that will focus on joimax® products, the company is a wholly-owned entity of MC Healthcare, Inc. (subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation) and prominent supplier of medical devices in Japan.

joimax® starts the official sale of its EndoLIF® Delta and DoubleWedge cages. All three members of EndoLIF® family CE approved.

Karlsruhe, GER– July 15, 2019 –joimax®, the Germany-based market leader of technologies and training methods for full-endoscopic minimally-invasive spinal surgery, announces the official sales launch of its complete EndoLIF® family. EndoLIF® is an instrument set for endoscopic-assisted minimally invasive lumbar interbody fusion. As already announced and showcased at earlier events, the EndoLIF® product line consists of three members now: the well-known EndoLIF® O/On-Cage, the EndoLIF® Delta Cage, and the latest EndoLIF® Double Wedge Cage. The complete EndoLIF® product family is now CE-approved and fully available. Moreover, the EndoLIF® O/On-Cage is FDA-approved.

All EndoLIF® Implants are manufactured using a 3D printing process, which ensures an open diamond cell structure. The cages are safely implanted via the guide wire and are fillable with bone or bone substitute material. With their rough and porous surface, the implants guarantee optimal bone ingrowth, stability and finally fusion.

The EndoLIF® Cage family provides the right implant for every patient and is the perfect solution for endoscopic spinal fusion. With the gentle and atraumatic access via gradual tissue dilatation, muscles remain intact leaving important biomechanical structures in place after surgery.

Like with any endoscopic procedure compared to open surgery, all advantages for fusion are now given with the EndoLIF® program also. With one EndoLIF® Instrument Set all three cages of the EndoLIF® family can be implemented.

Endoscopic spine surgery, spinal stabilization, endolif, endoscopic device, full endoscopic, systems for stabilization

Dr. Florian Zentz, (Munich, GER) emphasizes “the extraordinarily high primary stability of the EndoLIF® DoubleWedge-Cage”. He continues enthusiastically: “After insertion the cage sits very firmly in the intervertebral disc space and adjusts the angulation up to 18 degrees, almost directly enabling an optimal lordosis correction.”

Dr. Ralf Wagner, (Frankfurt, GER) is also convinced of the obvious advantages: “The Delta Cage is ideal for the posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) offering a gentle posterior alternative, especially at level L5-S1 with its large interlaminar window.

joimax® Showcases New Electromagnetic Navigation System Intracs® em at Global Spine Congress (GSC), Toronto and at German Society of Neurosurgery (DGNC), Wurzburg Clinical Trials Start in Europe and Asia

IRVINE, CA – May 13, 2019 – joimax®,, the Germany-based market leader of technologies and training methods for full-endoscopic, minimally-invasive spinal surgery, is showcasing its Integrated Navigation Tracking & Control System, Intracs®em, at this year’s Global Spine Congress (GSC), which is currently being held in Toronto, Canada. The company is also promoting the system at the annual meeting of the German Society of Neurosurgery (DGNC), being held concurrently in Wurzburg, Germany.

The Intracs®em electromagnetic navigation system is simple to set up, very user-friendly, and seamlessly integrates into the joimax® endoscopic tower. It allows for navigation during any endoscopic procedure performed with the joimax® endoscopic surgical systems, TESSYS® (transforaminal) and iLESSYS® (interlaminar). Beyond that, it can serve as a stand-alone device.

The system relies on electromagnetic tracking, affording simultaneous navigation of multiple instruments such as needles, guiding rods, reamers and endoscopes. It was developed by joimax®  for easy planning of endoscopic approaches to the spine, as well as other minimally invasive procedures, like percutaneous fusions.

Various Intracs®em sensors guarantee the highest accuracy. Plus, for the patients’ benefit, the procedure can be carried out without further X-ray control –  only starting X-rays are required. As a result, access, intervention time, and radiation exposure, are reduced to a minimum.

The system is CE-Marked. Currently, clinical trials and applications are running in Europe and Asia, where the product has already launched. In specific Asian countries, like Taiwan, the first systems have been sold and shipped.

Users are very impressed with the usability of the system. “I didn’t expect that navigation for both transforaminal and interlaminar procedures can be made so easy and that the set-up time can be so much streamlined,“ states Prof. Michael Kraus, spine specialist in Augsburg, Germany.  “And for the thoracic approach, it is so precise and a tremendous help,” continues Dr. Erik Traupe, spine specialist in Munich, Germany.

The Intracs®em electromagnetic navigation system is simple to set up, very user-friendly, and seamlessly integrates into the joimax® endoscopic tower. It allows for navigation during any endoscopic procedure performed with the joimax® endoscopic surgical systems, TESSYS® (transforaminal) and iLESSYS® (interlaminar). Beyond that, it can serve as a stand-alone device.

The launch of Intracs®em is a key milestone for joimax®. As part of its global strategy, joimax®  is providing surgeons, worldwide, with the devices they need for safe, easy and gentle spinal therapies, with US-FDA submission planned for Q2, 2019. “We are committed to overcoming any obstacles and concerns related to minimally invasive, endoscopic spine surgery,” states joimax® CEO and Founder Wolfgang Ries. “Our success lies with our innovative, user-friendly devices and instruments, and our ability to provide both doctor and patient with outstanding safety built into our systems.” Moreover, a well established and targeted clinical training program for the spinal surgical community, named CM3, rounds out the joimax® educational offering. Earlier this year, joimax® launched ESPINEA®, an Endoscopic Spine Academy focused on a complete endoscopic spine curriculum. Designed as a full training program to elevate surgeons to the next level of expertise, ESPINEA® offers professional and high-quality education for endoscopic spine treatment specialists, worldwide. The ESPINEA® Training and Education Centers are located in Karlsruhe, Germany in the newly opened joimax® building, and in Irvine, CA, where joimax® opened new labs and training rooms last November.