K2M Group Holdings, Inc. recently announced its acquisition of a portfolio of 17 issued and pending patents for expandable interbody technology.  According to K2M, the company is a global leader in the medical device industry and provides complex spine and minimally invasive solutions to help patients with difficult spinal pathologies achieve three-dimensional (i.e., axial, coronal, and sagittal) Total Body Balance™.  K2M explains that the acquisition of the “comprehensive patent portfolio” allows the company to expand its portfolio of 3D-printed spinal solutions.

In the same press release, K2M also announced its plan to integrate its 3D printing technology, Lamellar 3D Titanium Technology™,  into new products developed with the recently acquired intellectual property.  According to K2M’s Platform Technologies page, Lamellar 3D Titanium Technology™ utilizes an advanced 3D printing method to grow implants from titanium powder through selective application of a high-energy laser beam.

Speaking about the exclusive license, Eric Major, K2M President and CEO, stated:

We are excited to have obtained the exclusive rights to this intellectual property portfolio and look forward to integrating our 3D printing technology with new expandable spinal devices as part of our effort to build a comprehensive portfolio of industry-leading, 3D-printed solutions to address the full range of spinal pathologies.

K2M recently expanded its portfolio of 3D-printed spinal solutions in June 2017 after receiving FDA clearance of MOJAVE™ PL 3D Expandable Interbody System, which is a fusion device designed to allow for independent adjustment of the anterior and posterior height in the lumbar spine.  K2M also introduced its SAHARA™ AL Expandable Stabilization System in June, which is the only expandable, lordotic interbody device currently available that uses an integrated screw fixation to help achieve spinal balance.