HD LifeSciences™ Hive™: Surgeon Reflections on Top Choice

Spine surgeons are presented with a wide variety of interbody fusion device options today. Manufacturers are offering every size, shape, angle and material you can imagine as well as providing that same variety produced through new production methodologies. 3D printing, for example, has successfully found its way to the interbody space and currently there are several options on the market.

MedTech Strategies conducted a short online survey with 24 US-based orthopedic surgeons to learn more about the top contenders in the space. Surgeons were asked to choose their preferred commercially available 3D printed devices, based on visualization, as seen in the following radiographic images. See Figure 1.

The devices provided were:

Stryker Tritanium®

Titan ENDOSKELETON®

HD LifeSciences™ Hive™

4Web Truss System™

Figure 1: Radiographic images from tested devices

The most preferred device was HD LifeSciences Hive followed by the Titan ENDOSKELETON. 58% of surgeons indicated that the HD LifeSciences device was the most preferred device presented and 87% ranked it as first or second choice. Of the four devices presented, the Hive device was the only one of the four not ranked last by any of the surgeons. See Figure 2.

Figure 2: Rank of Preferred Devices Based on Visualization

Surgeons indicated that of the four options, the HD LifeSciences device had the best visualization overall and was the “easiest to see through.” When asked to provide the material or brand/manufacturer of the HD LifeSciences device, one respondent indicated that it looked like a device made from PEEK which further demonstrates the radiolucent qualities of the Hive structure. One surgeon commented that the “{HD LifeSciences} was my most preferred because it allows for proper fusion assessment.“

Other reasons for choosing the HD LifeSciences device included visualization of bony healing, assumed best evaluation of a solid interbody fusion by CT scan, most open space within the implant, and other preferred design related factors as seen on Table 1.

Table 1: Why did you pick your most preferred option? Surgeon Responses

With the increase in options provided for interbody fusion devices, understanding the drivers for choice will help manufacturers design and produce the desired products. HD LifeSciences seems to have accomplished this through the ability to maximize visualization with a well-designed device.