Image: The Blazer Vertebral Augmentation System (Photo courtesy of Benvenue Medical).

An innovative vertebral augmentation (VA) system creates cavities via multiple channels in the vertebral body to direct the flow of bone cement, thus allowing greater predictability and control in VA procedures.

The Blazer VA System for vertebral compression fractures (VCF) is a circular cavity creation device indicated for the treatment of pathological compression fractures of the vertebral body that result from osteoporosis, benign lesions, or malignant lesions. The system works by creating cavities via multiple channels in the existing spinal bone structure. The channels created in the bone are intended to direct the flow of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cement in an anterior fashion, away from the posterior cortex.

The system uses a nitinol wire that is percutaneously inserted, and is strong enough to penetrate the bone to create the cavities in an orderly fashion. The PMMA bone cement flow is thus smoother and more controlled, forming an interdigitation with the cancellous bone, which stabilizes the fracture. The Blazer Vertebral Augmentation System is a product of Benvenue Medical (Santa Clara, CA, USA), and has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“Benvenue has developed a toolbox to treat painful VCFs, as all fractures are not the same. We believe the Blazer System is the best in class mechanical cavity creator available on the market today,” said Robert Weigle, CEO of Benvenue Medical. “Blazer compliments our Kiva VCF Treatment System, currently under an IDE study named KAST. Together, our products will be able to address the majority of patients suffering from VCFs.”

VCFs are a serious and growing problem for an aging population, and are the most common type of osteoporotic fragility fracture, often resulting in prolonged and debilitating pain that can lead to a downward spiral in physical and mental health. During VA, voids are created in the collapsed vertebra, allowing for controlled and contained cement delivery. The hardened cement creates an internal cast that stabilizes the fracture, thereby alleviating pain in approximately 90% of patients.

 

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