Recap a system before the case

Magnetically controlled growing rod: an internal magnet-driven actuator is lengthened non-invasively in clinic with an external remote controller.

Growing rod with a geared expansion mechanism (40 or 60 mm range), lengthened through a small incision with a driver; PEEK bearing surfaces intended to reduce wear.

Vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib: curved rods anchored to ribs, spine or pelvis that open the chest wall and are expanded surgically as the child grows (thoracic insufficiency syndrome).

Compressed springs around a sliding rod give continuous gentle distraction, so the construct lengthens with growth without planned lengthening operations.

One-way self-expanding rod: a connector ratchets along a notched rod segment in 1 mm steps, driven passively by growth and activity.

Standard pedicle screw and hook systems configured with tandem or side-by-side connectors and lengthened surgically every few months.

Non-invasively lengthened growing rod in development; the drive mechanism has not been published.

Apex fused and corrected; rods slide through unlocked screw heads at the ends of the construct.

Sliding-screw construct that lets the rods glide as the child grows — a modern growth-guidance design.

Titanium sliding growth-guidance instrumentation; rods slide in their anchors as the spine grows.

Anterior vertebral body screws on the convex side, joined by a tensioned flexible cord, so asymmetric growth gradually corrects the curve.

Vertebral body tethering with screws, staples, a polymer cord and locking caps; the cord is tensioned to correct the curve and modulate growth.

Posterior single rod on the concave side, anchored on two polyaxial pedicle screws, with a one-way self-lengthening ratchet; acts as an internal brace that preserves motion.

Arthrex Endoscopic Spine (spine endoscope 7.0 mm); WishBone endoscopic instruments; Synergy 4K visualisation / ElectroSurgery; NanoCannula. Procedure pages also cover transforaminal, cervical foraminotomy, medial branch transection.

ASAP Multiscope FDA 510(k) K121261; rigid endoscopes for spine/pain applications.

Lumbar disc endoscope side-cutting concept); U-Scope transforaminal/interlaminar, co-created with EOC); Epiduroscopy system. also Mont Blanc MIS fusion and TOPS implants.

SpineTIP (transforaminal / interlaminar / postero-lateral sets); EASYGO! II tubular endoscopic; DrillCut-X II spine handpiece; VITOM 3D exoscope. Spine brochures in KARL STORZ media library; no step-by-step technique guide located online.

maxMorespine Endoscope (MAXDISC); maxMorespine instrument system; Mini endoscopic system; Biportal Endoscopic System (BESS). Website maxmorespine.com could not be checked; product info from Medical XPRT listings and FDA records.

VERTEBRIS L; VERTEBRIS C; VERTEBRIS X / X Fusion; VERTEBRIS foraminotomy. Also equipment unit (imaging, fluid, burrs, RF) and evospine fusion implants; RIWOspine Alliance education network.

Discoscopes; Cervical endoscopes. OEM-type endoscope maker named in market reports; website contents unverified.

Spine endoscope system whole spine); bipolar RF ablation; image and power systems. Website gives no product names or documents.

dualPortal; dualPortal 2.0; dualPortal Access System; dualX Slim (endoscopic fusion cage). US UBE pioneer; links dualPortal access with dualX expandable cages for endoscopic TLIF.

D`UBE UBE/BESS Instrument Set (sheath, 0°/30° endoscopes, retractors, chisels, cage instruments). Regional contacts in Latin America, APAC, USA, CIS.

UBE/BESS instrument sets; UBE scope kit (single-use); FREETOME punch. Korean UBE device maker; English site eng.endovision.co.kr. Product names partly unconfirmed.

UBE Surgical Instrument Sets; UBE/Spine RF Plasma Surgical Systems; UBE Surgical Power Systems; 4K UHD Endoscopic System. Supplies UBE RF, power and visualisation systems; may OEM for other brands (unconfirmed).

EnSight UBE biportal endoscopic platform (tower/console, endoscopes, instrument kits, fluid pump, RF). Integrated UBE platform including motorised, ultrasonic, RF and navigation components.

UBE/biportal endoscopy system and instrument sets, endoscopic camera platform, RF devices. CG MedTech also markets the Anax MIS system.

Endoscopic Spine Systems; Mult-e Portal Endoscopy; Trigger-Flex RF family; Disc-FX System. Workshops in USA, EMEA, South America; Elliquence Japan site exists.

EndoSurg Standard / Plus / Max; EndoTLIF; EndoPLIF; EndoSurg Bportal (announced). Full system incl. drill, camera/light, RF generator, irrigation pump; workshops held mainly in China.

Digital ClarusScope (single-use, working channel); Digital NeuroPEN; LASE laser-assisted spinal endoscopy; 3000C flexible scope. Single-use digital spinal endoscopes; website does not yet list the digital scopes.

ELID (Endoscopic Less Invasive Decompression) System. Country and website not identified; ELID details unverified.

METRx System / METRx MED (microendoscopic discectomy, tubular). Only tubular microendoscopic offering; METRx scope attachment sheet hosted by RCH Melbourne not used.

OptiLIF Endo (Direct Visualization System, single tubular retractor); OptiMesh expandable implant. Endoscopic lumbar interbody fusion system; website not checked.

SpineVu Endoscopic Spine System (SESS); SpineVu Miniscope; enVue cannula; enCise bone cutter. Single-use access/decompression accessories for endoscopic use; current status unknown.

CoCrMo endplates with spikes and a central keel and a UHMWPE inlay with limited translation.

Ti-6Al-4V endplates with titanium plasma spray and DLC-coated articulating surfaces, mobile vitamin-E blended crosslinked PE nucleus; 1 or 2 contiguous levels.

Titanium shells with porous coating around a polyurethane nucleus, enclosed in a polyurethane sheath; FDA 1 level.

Reverse-geometry cervical prosthesis with double centre of rotation and mobile HDPE core; supplied pre-assembled with single-use inserter.

One-piece viscoelastic implant: polycarbonate-urethane elastomer core bonded between titanium endplates with pegs; no articulating surfaces.

One-piece viscoelastic elastomer core bonded to titanium endplates.

CoCr endplates with lateral teeth (no keel) and a mobile UHMWPE core; FDA approved for 1 and 2 levels.

Additively manufactured (3D-printed) endplates, polyethylene-free design with six-degree-of-freedom motion and progressive axial damping; implanted with a cage-like technique.

Two-piece titanium-ceramic composite ball-in-trough articulation; dual rails, no keel; FDA approved for 1 or 2 contiguous levels (C3-C7).

CoCrMo endplates with UHMWPE ball-and-socket core (prodisc CORE). Prodisc C: domed endplates with central keel; C Vivo: keel-less with lateral spikes; C SK: flat endplate with low-profile central keel; C Nova: flat endplate with low-profile tri-keels.

Articulating cervical total disc replacement (design details not verified here).

CoCrMo endplates with titanium plasma spray and serrated keels, UHMWPE sliding core (selectively constrained). Same IFU also covers OUS variants SECURE-CR (PEEK) and SECURE-C3 (PEEK with PCU core).

PEEK endplates with titanium plasma spray and a semi-constrained mobile zirconia-toughened alumina ceramic core (biconvex dual articulation); designed for low MRI artefact; heights from 4 mm; 1 or 2 levels.

Three-piece: titanium-alloy endplates with titanium plasma spray and a UHMWPE core with built-in lordosis (0 or 6 deg); heights 5-7 mm; FDA 1 level.

Polycrystalline diamond articulating surfaces (tri-lobe design).

CoCrMo endplates (spike or keel versions) with Plasmapore titanium/calcium-phosphate coating and a mobile UHMWPE inlay (rotation unconstrained, limited translation); lordotic endplate options; single level L4-L5 or L5-S1.

One-piece viscoelastic elastomer core bonded to titanium endplates with pegs; no articulating surfaces.

CoCrMo endplates with central keel, lateral spikes and titanium plasma spray, fixed UHMWPE inlay (ball-and-socket, fixed centre of rotation); 6/11 deg lordosis options; the only US lumbar TDR approved for 2 levels.

Woven PET fabric occlusion component anchored by a titanium bone anchor into the vertebral body, implanted after lumbar discectomy to close large annular defects.

Percutaneously injected hydrogel that is heated, injected into the nucleus space and solidifies in situ to augment a degenerated nucleus.

Minimally invasive lumbar nucleus replacement: a balloon implant placed after nucleotomy and filled in situ to form a custom-fitting implant; single level L1-S1.

Dehydrated allograft nucleus pulposus tissue, rehydrated and injected percutaneously to supplement a degenerated disc.

CoCr endplates with teeth and an unconstrained mobile UHMWPE sliding core; single level L4-S1.

CoCr metal-on-metal semi-constrained mobile core cervical disc.

Artificial viscoelastic polycarbonate-urethane nucleus within a woven UHMWPE fibre annulus and PCU sheath, between titanium endplates with keels; FDA 1 level.

Viscoelastic polycarbonate-urethane core with UHMWPE fibre annulus between titanium keeled endplates.

Metal-on-metal (CoCr) ball-and-socket lumbar disc with keel.

CoCrMo endplates with UHMWPE bearing, low-radius-of-curvature design, serrated surfaces; FDA 1 level.

Hydrogel pellets in polyethylene jacket replacing the nucleus.

Stainless-steel ball-in-trough metal-on-metal articulation fixed with anterior screws; FDA 1 level.

Self-retaining cervical retractor with interchangeable smooth/toothed blades (radiolucent option) plus Caspar distraction pins; reusable

Anterior cervical access retractor derived from the MaXcess platform; reusable

Self-retaining cervical retractor frames (right/left/offset) with pronged, blunt, spike and T-shaped blades 34-85 mm, all-titanium option and microdiscectomy attachment; reusable, steam sterilised

Compact retractor system for minimally invasive cervical approaches; reusable

Self-retaining cervical spine retractor system with interchangeable blades; reusable

Self-retaining low-profile frame with interchangeable toothed/blunt blades for ACDF; reusable

Table-mounted cervical retractor with hands-free blade holding, independent medial/lateral retraction, optional integrated light; reusable; Thompson also offers MIS (Thompson MIS division) and posterior/ALIF frame systems; reusable 'Mini Retractor Lite LED' light for anterior cervical use

Table-mounted ring frame with adjustable arms and interchangeable blades, radiolucent options and light sources; used for anterior/lateral thoracolumbar and other approaches; reusable

Table-mounted anterior retractor system for anterior lumbar approaches; reusable

Retractor for lateral-position ALIF (L5-S1 in lateral decubitus), table-mounted blades; part of MARS family

Retractor system for supine ALIF; reusable

Table-mounted self-retaining ring/post retractor with spine-specific blades for anterior lumbar and other approaches; reusable

Oblique pre-psoas (OLIF25) and L5-S1 (OLIF51) access; OLIF25 retractor offers flat and round blades, flat blade allows single-step dilation, flex arm with T-handle fine adjustment

Phantom AL: retractor for MIS ALIF; Phantom ML3: MIS posterior lumbar access; reusable

Retractor for anterior lumbar (ALIF) access; reusable

Lateral retractor launched 2017 with Battalion lateral system; used for ATEC lateral and prone transpsoas (PTP) approaches with SafeOp neuromonitoring

Three-blade split-blade lateral transpsoas retractor, surgeon-controlled independent blade movement, integrated with NVM5/Pulse neuromonitoring (XLIF); table-mounted; reusable with disposable components

Lateral transpsoas retractor integrated with Timberline lateral interbody system; neuromonitoring-compatible

Three-blade lateral retractor, top-loading blades expanding independently cranial/caudal/posterior, pivot and sweep, two-point table-arm attachment

Frame retractor adjustable cranio-caudally and medio-laterally, removable top-loading radiolucent titanium-alloy blades that tilt, optional integrated light, mounts on Aesculap holding arm; designed with S4 pedicle screw system (~30 mm incision)

Tubular and blade-type MIS retractors with table-mounted arm; AO-approved solution (2010)

Expandable MIS access retractor for posterior lumbar procedures; reusable

Lightweight radiolucent aluminium minimal-access retractor; independent blades angle up to 20 degrees; light can be routed through the blade walls; table-mounted; reusable

TLIF-specific retractor in the MARS family; reusable

Pedicle-based less-invasive access system anchored to modular shanks, quick-connect blades, adjustable retraction and independent blade splay; reusable

CENTRIC-T: pedicle-based MIS retractor (first case 2018); CENTRIC-R: expandable MIS retractor

Expandable split-blade tubular retractor on table-mounted arm, dilator insertion, blade extensions; part of MAST minimally invasive platform

Sequential dilators with fixed-diameter disposable or reusable tubes on a table-mounted flexible arm; used with microscope or endoscope (METRx-MED)

Pedicle-screw-based MIS retractor for posterior TLIF/decompression; launched 2023

MIS retractor that docks onto ES2 pedicle screws for less invasive access under direct vision; reusable

Expandable MIS retractor with integrated illumination for posterior lumbar access; reusable frame

Self-retaining lumbar retractor for microsurgical (micro-)discectomy with hook and blade options; reusable

Midline posterior retractor in the MARS family for open/mini-open approaches; reusable

Reusable self-retaining spinal retractor sets for cervical and lumbar (micro)surgery with interchangeable blades

Self-retaining retractor system for thoracic and lumbar spine with blade sets; reusable

Self-retaining midline posterior retractor for open/mini-open decompression and fusion; interchangeable blades; reusable

Single-use waveguide-illuminated retractor blades/systems giving cool, shadow-free light in the wound; spine-specific systems were launched by Invuity