BROOMFIELD, Colo., Aug. 14, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lanx®, Inc., a privately held medical device company focused on developing and commercializing innovative devices for spinal surgery, announces that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office today granted patent #8241330 for the ASPEN™ MIS Fusion System technology, designed to support spinal fusion.

Dan Gladney, Chief Executive Officer, Lanx, said, "This new patent validates unique features of the ASPEN system and reinforces the value that the Lanx research and development team has brought to the field of spine care. The ASPEN system has been shown to be ideal to support fusion through a tissue-sparing technique, with over 25,000 implantations to date. We are pleased that the advanced engineering and design of the technology has been formally recognized. This is an important addition to our current patent portfolio and we expect additional patents to be granted in the future. We believe the patent granted today will support our competitive advantage as we introduce new innovations for spinal fixation and fusion, with a particular focus on less invasive treatment options like the ASPEN system."

Since 2007, over 1000 surgeons worldwide have used the ASPEN system for the treatment of degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis, spinal trauma or spinal tumor. The patented device features proprietary spiked fixation plates designed to be rigidly affixed to the spinous process with the use of streamlined surgical instrumentation. Its unique central barrel allows the implant to share weight with the fixation plates while restoring foraminal height, and also serves as a bone graft containment chamber to promote fusion. In addition, the device features an offset shape for optimized anatomical fit.

The ASPEN system is currently being used to support posterolateral fusions (PLF) and interbody fusions (PLIF, TLIF, ALIF and LLIF), with data demonstrating fixation strength and stability comparable to pedicle screw constructs. Additional clinical experience will be highlighted at the upcoming Western Neurosurgical Society meeting in September and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) Annual Meeting in October.

Robert Tatsumi, MD, of Pacific Spine Specialists, Tualatin, OR, said, "Clinical data continues to substantiate the versatility and minimally invasive nature of the ASPEN device, which I have seen firsthand in my practice. For many patients who require spinal fusion, the ASPEN device provides robust stabilization and promotes fusion while requiring a smaller incision, less muscle trauma, less blood loss, a shorter surgery time and shorter recovery time than standard pedicle screw instrumentation."

In addition to the standard ASPEN system, the Company's spinal stabilization portfolio includes the ASPEN™ Flared 5-1 and ASPEN™ Medium spinous process fixation implants incorporating the patented technology, as well as a full line of spinal fusion technologies. For more information about the ASPEN MIS Fusion System or Lanx, please visit www.lanx.com.

About Lanx, Inc.

Lanx is one of the largest privately held global spine companies. The Company was founded by a team of experienced medical device professionals and engineers in 2003 to improve the quality of spine care and provide surgeons with innovative products. Lanx develops and markets a full line of fusion technologies with a focus on minimally invasive and biologics products. The Company is headquartered in Broomfield, CO. More information on Lanx and its spinal surgery products can be found at www.lanx.com.