Emerging Implant Technologies GmbH (EIT), a German medical device manufacturer exclusively focused on creating innovative technologies for spinal application by utilizing additive manufacturing, announces that it has received CE mark and performed the first surgeries in Germany with the first fully 3D printed adjustable interbody fusion cage worldwide.
The adjustable EIT PLIF cage is printed as one piece with no assembly needed in the production process. This reduces cost significantly compared to regular expandable cages that are manufactured with traditional machining processes.
The adjustable PLIF allows for restoration of lordosis angles up to 18° and supports minimally invasive insertion techniques. The goal is to reduce intraoperative trauma, optimize size adaptation and improve restoration of sagittal balance to improve fusion rates, reduce subsidence and adjacent segment disease (ASD) related to insufficient sagittal balance restoration. The bone contact areas consist of EIT Cellular Titanium® porous structure to enhance primary stability and bony integration. 
“Adjustable cage technology has the potential to change the interbody fusion cage market as it can be offered at reasonable pricing that copes with existing pressures and reimbursement systems all over the globe. Additive manufacturing allows us to bring down cost tremendously. We are thrilled to be the first that have accomplished this platform technology and can now offer this technology to the European spine community” says Guntmar Eisen, founder and CEO of EIT.
Nancy Lamerigts, MD, PhD and VP of Marketing and Research says “with the new devices we now start the launch of our 2nd generation product line combining EIT Cellular Titanium® technology with functionality. So now we can really combine faster fusion and better alignment, respecting the economic environment that has prevented the breakthrough of expandable cage technology for years.”
Dr. Marcus Eif, head of neurosurgery at the Klinikum Görlitz in Germany, who has performed the first case with the new system, experienced that the EIT adjustable PLIF implant allowed for a minimal invasive approach while still being able to restore the required lordosis. “The intuitive instrumentation and the functionality of the implant enabled a straightforward procedure and an excellent postoperative result”.
About EIT
EIT is the first medical device manufacturer to exclusively focus on spinal implants, that are designed according to latest science on optimal bone ingrowth in porous titanium scaffolds and produced with additive manufacturing methods. EIT was founded in 2014. Implants and Instruments are made in Germany.
The EIT implants are made of EIT Cellular Titanium®, that addresses the clinical shortcomings of the current cage designs and materials (non-fusion, biocompatibility, subsidence, migration and imaging distortion), thereby obtaining very promising fusion results and improved clinical outcome due to the qualities of the porous 3-D printing of titanium. The highly porous titanium scaffold ensures extensive bone ingrowth as a result of its specific design and elasticity close to the cancellous bone. Due to its unique design with a porosity of 80% the EIT implants ensure uncompromised imaging on X-ray and MRI and enabling excellent follow up on defining bone ingrowth and fusion with CT.
A complete portfolio of EIT Smart Spinal Implants™ based on EIT Cellular Titanium® is available for the cervical and lumbar spine, with an extensive choice in footprint sizes, heights and lordosis angles to support the recreation of sagittal balance and alignment. Since 2014 over 15.000 EIT cases have been performed in over 15 markets globally. EIT received various FDA approvals and began introducing products in the US in Q4 of 2017.
Impressive and very interesting to see what the possibilities are for patients and surgeons with this technology
Looking forward to the first patient case reports!