Luiz Pimenta, Cervitech PCM?

[biffnoble]

Luiz Pimenta, and the Cervitech PCM.

What's the scoop?

The VERY interesting thing about Dr. Pimenta is that he implants ADR's ENDOSCOPICALLY! So the "collatoral" damage of a standard approach surgery is minimized. More info on Pimenta will hopefully be gleaned at the NYC conference.

[Justin]

Biff:

Luiz Pimenta's Website

Porous Coated Motion Cervical Disk Replacement 112 Cases Performed as an FDA Pilot Study


I hope this helps,

Justin

[biffnoble]

Excellent!

[biffnoble]

It almost appears as if the Cervitech PCM is a 2nd gen/cervical Charite(?).
This might be reasonable since Link (as in Link/Charite) is the brains (as I understand it) behind the PCM. It'll be interesting to get mmglobal's take on this.

He's clearly aware of the PCM and preparing to direct attention toward it and Dr. Pimenta (Regan).

What would be equally interesting is to know Dr. B.'s take on the PCM, whether he's considered adopting it in his practice and how long it would take for him, if he were to decide to use it, to begin implanting it.

Good find Justin!

[Fortitudine]

"The procedure allows reconstruction of more unstable indications than previously reported with disk replacement."

This looks like a good thing...

[prodisc2005]

The PCM device was recently approved by the FDA for a full IDE study (comparing to fus ion) for 1-Level disease. Pts will be randomized to either PCM or fusion. There are twenty or so sites that will be/are enrolling pts. It will be a long time before this implant is available for "general use." Current expectations for cervical ADRs is that Bryan and ProDisc C will be available in 2007 and Prestige soon thereafter. PCM isn't likely until at least 2008.

[biffnoble]

Thanks for the info prodisc.

At this point one wonders when multi-level cervical will on an equal footing with fusion, laminectomy. 2007, 2008, later?

[biffnoble]

One wonders if the PCM trials will allow compassionate exemptions for multi-level procedures.