Medtronic releases ceramic “scaffold” for spinal grafting

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota – Device maker Medtronic has released a flexible ceramic implant to be used in spinal graft surgeries.

The MasterGraft strip is designed to be used as a “scaffold” in combination with a patient’s own bone for fusing multiple levels of the spine, according to a statement from the Minneapolis-based company. The product received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in June.

The strip’s broad design maximizes bony surface area contact and allows for continuous bone growth over large bony gaps. It comes in various lengths that eliminate the need to utilize multiple units of a synthetic product for a long fusion, according to the statement.

Medtronic markets two other products in its MasterGraft line – Matrix, a bone void filler, and Putty, an autograft extender.