The FDA approved PEEK Prevail device is designed to provide stability during spinal fusion, which involves joining two bones together, such as adjacent vertebrae.
Medtronic said that the zero-profile PEEK Prevail device eliminates the need for a plate and attaches to the spine using only two screws.
As the new implant is made of polyetheretherketone (PEEK), it is invisible on x-rays, which allows the surgeon to view the spinal fusion during a follow-up visit.
Featuring an ‘I-beam’ shape with a two-screw configuration, the device incorporates a Nitinol wire locking mechanism to keep the screws securely in place.
The PEEK device is to be used with autograft and implanted via an open, anterior approach and in patients who have had six weeks of non-operative treatment.