DEL MAR, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SAIL Fusion, a medical device company focused on advancing the surgical treatment of sacroiliac joint dysfunction through solutions built upon AO principles, today announced that it has conducted the first implantations of its novel BowTie SI Fusion System. The surgeries began on October 14th and were conducted by Dr. Peter Whang, Associate Professor of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation at the Yale University School of Medicine, and Dr. Abdufarrukh Karimov, Head of the Division of Neurosurgery Spine and Chairman of the Neurological Surgery Program at the Republican Medical Center of Neurology and Stroke, as part of a pilot study conducted at Akfa Medline in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. BowTie is the first SI fusion system to be based on long-standing, proven joint fusion principles established by the AO foundation. The technology and surgical technique minimize tissue disruption, thoroughly prepare the joint, and provide rigid fixation to enable true and robust arthrodesis. The device features a novel bowtie shape and integrated iliac and sacral transfixing screws to maximize rigidity, as well as a proprietary porous structure and roughened surface technology to aid in osteointegration.
“The recipe for effectively fusing two bones together has been around for quite a long time,” Dr. Whang remarked. “It is surprising to me that nobody has taken the logical step of applying AO principles to fusing the SI joint until now. I was impressed that we were able to decorticate virtually the entire auricular joint from the posterior approach and by how rigidly we were able to lock the joint down. I fully expect these patients to do extremely well.”
Dr. Karimov added, “The BowTie System allowed me to fully access the joint and create an ideal environment for fusion. The surgical technique and instrument set are very intuitive and streamlined.”
David Jansen, President & CEO of SAIL, commented, “Today was a very exciting day for everyone at SAIL and everyone involved in developing and backing our BowTie system. It is the culmination of decades of research into joint arthrodesis and years of hard work in response to countless surgeons telling us that they wanted a better solution to SI fusion. We look forward to completing our pilot study and launching the product in the United States in the near future.”
About SAIL Fusion
SAIL Fusion is a medical device company advancing the treatment of sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction. The company is focused on providing lasting relief for patients with chronic lower back pain caused by the pelvis, and is the first to apply proven joint fusion principles established by the AO foundation to the SI joint. SAIL's proprietary BowTie technology and surgical technique minimize tissue disruption, thoroughly prepare the joint, and provide rigid fixation to enable true and robust SI joint fusion. The company is currently seeking FDA clearance for its BowTie technology and plans to launch the system in the United States in the near future. To learn more or to inquire about distribution opportunities, visit www.SAILspine.com.
