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Medtronic, Inc. has announced it has entered into a distribution and development agreement with Axon Systems, a privately-held developer of neuromonitoring technology used during spinal surgery.

Medtronic, Inc. has announced it has entered into a distribution and development agreement with Axon Systems, a privately-held developer of neuromonitoring technology used during spinal surgery. The agreement will allow Medtronic and Axon Systems to bring to market the next generation of surgeon directed and professionally supported spinal neuromonitoring technology and expand the availability of this critical technology.

This agreement will have an immediate impact on Medtronic’s spinal neuromonitoring product line and sets the stage for possible integration across all of Medtronic's core spinal therapy offerings.

The first new products enabled by this strategic alliance will be the NIM-ECLIPSE Spinal System of neuromonitoring capital and disposable equipment. NIM-ECLIPSE received 510k clearance in the US in May 2006. This equipment will allow for as many as 32 channels of simultaneous electroencephalography (EEG), evoked potentials (EP) and electromyography (EMG) monitoring. NIM-ECLIPSE Spinal System also provides for automatic pedicle screw monitoring with direct nerve and screw stimulation. During spinal surgery, the NIM-Eclipse may allow physicians to monitor critical neural pathways which helps prevent post-operative neurological deficits.

“We are extremely excited about our relationship with Axon Systems and the opportunity to improve the availability of intraoperative spinal neuromonitoring service and technology,” said Pete Wehrly, senior vice president and president of the Spinal and Biologics businesses at Medtronic. “Axon Systems has been a neuromonitoring technology innovator and leader since 1987 and our partnership will enable us to better integrate neuromonitoring technology into Medtronic’s core spinal therapies.”

“Working with Medtronic is a wonderful opportunity for us to improve our abilities of how best to deliver and integrate neuromonitoring technology and techniques into surgical procedures that place the spinal nervous system at risk,” said Howard Bailin, founder and COO of Axon Systems.