Medtronic has introduced the Artisan space maintenance system for bone grafting space maintenance in oral-maxillofacial applications.
The device is cleared for temporary use in oral-maxillofacial surgical reconstruction and dental regeneration procedures to maintain space during bone graft procedures and to support soft tissue until bone formation occurs, according to the company.
The Artisan system has a screw design that provides a low profile and a good interface between the screwdriver and the screw head so a surgeon can place the screws with excellent visualization and accuracy, said Daniel Spagnoli, DDS, PhD, with the University of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Charlotte, NC, and an assistant professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery at Louisiana State University School of Dentistry. The system is matched to the characteristics of the facial bone for good retention, he added.
The system's titanium mesh was designed specifically for the containment of bone grafts and has handling characteristics that make it easy for the surgeon to adapt it to the surgical site, Dr. Spagnoli said.
The Artisan system is composed of three primary space maintenance implants: porous titanium mesh and bone fixation screws; an umbrella-shaped screw, called a tenting screw, that protects bone grafts; and an implant called a socket preservation screw.
A variety of instrumentation necessary for product implantation accompanies the system. All materials are housed in an easy-to-use tray and module set and can be assembled to meet customized orders.
The Artisan system can be used with bone void fillers and extenders such as MasterGraft ceramics and the Progenix DBM products. It is not indicated for use with Infuse Bone Graft.
