Singapore, March 16, 2010: CareFusion, a leading, global medical device company, announced the launch of the AVAmax Vertebral Balloon, a minimally invasive device for use during kyphoplasty, a procedure for treating spinal compression fractures.

 

The release noted that CareFusion is the only company in the industry to offer a full line of products that address both vertebroplasty and balloon kyphoplasty, the two primary approaches to treat spinal compression fractures by delivering bone cement into the vertebral space with specialized needles.

 

CareFusion will offer the new AVAmax Vertebral Balloon as part of a system that includes needles, bone cement and delivery instruments for both kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty, giving doctors the choice and flexibility to perform either procedure at the time of patient care.

 

"Stabilizing spinal fractures caused by osteoporosis through kyphoplasty or vertebroplasty is a mainstay of treatment," said Dr. Wade Wong, Professor of Radiology, division of Interventional Neuroradiology at the University of California, San Diego. "However it may be difficult for doctors to predict which procedure to perform until they see the current state of the fracture once in the procedure room."

 

"Adding the AVAmax Vertebral Balloon to our existing offering is another example of CareFusion's commitment to developing products that help lower the cost and improve the safety of health care," said David Schlotterbeck, chairman and CEO of CareFusion. "Our entry into the kyphoplasty market builds upon our existing leadership in vertebroplasty and provides physicians with a less expensive way to treat spinal compression fractures by reducing waste of unused components between the two procedures.”