Artificial Discs: Where Do We Go from Here?

Artificial discs are experiencing a cooling trend owing to an expected reduction in CMS reimbursement for both cervical and lumbar disc replacement. Many motion preservation companies are reaching critical regulatory milestones that will likely require a step-up in funding to conduct the large scale clinical studies needed to gain PMA approval. Today, companies in this sector are faced with the troubling task of either scaling back R&D programs to conserve cash or raising additional capital to take the next steps. This article first appeared in the June 2008 issue of In Vivo.