In Arizona, spine surgeons are playing an increasingly integrated role in how new medical technologies are developed and refined.
Instead of waiting for new tools to reach the operating room, many physicians are now working alongside medical device companies during the development process. Their role is hands-on. They evaluate early concepts, test designs in cadaver labs and help identify where a product may fall short in a real surgical setting.
That kind of input is paramount to delivering innovation. Engineers can design for strength and durability, but they don’t operate on patients. Surgeons bring a different perspective, shaped by anatomy, surgical workflow and the need for consistency across a wide range of use cases. Small adjustments, whether to an implant’s structure or tool’s ergonomics, can have a meaningful impact on both the procedure and the outcome.
This type of collaboration is growing, especially in Arizona. The region’s proximity to major medical device companies, combined with a strong network of specialty practices and training programs, has made it a natural environment for this kind of work. Surgeons are not only contributing to product design but also helping train other physicians on how to use these new technologies as they’re introduced.
Advancements in 3D-printed implants, such as the recently FDA-cleared Ventana-A system designed to support bone healing and stability after spine surgery, are one example of what can come from this process. These designs allow for more precise control over implant structure, helping better distribute stress and support long-term alignment.
As new tools continue to enter the market, the surgeons helping shape them are playing a growing role in improving patient outcomes, from reducing complications to supporting quicker recovery. For many patients across Arizona, that means getting back to work, travel and the everyday activities of life with less pain.
Dr. Keven Burns, a spine surgeon at Spine Institute of Arizona in Scottsdale, served as one of the design surgeons for the newly FDA-approved 3D-printed titanium ALIF cage (Ventana-A). Over the past 18 months, he worked directly with Spinal Elements’ biomedical engineering team to refine the implant design and surgical instrumentation prior to FDA clearance.
Editor’s note: This is the first of a three-part series by Dr. Burns.
- How local surgeons are influencing the future of spine surgery
- The collaboration between Arizona physicians and national medtech companies
- What FDA approval means for patient care and regional medical leadership
