New device from Medtronic to compete with X-STOP interspinous spacer

Implications: Once released on the market, this device will be a major competitor for the X-STOP which was recently approved by the FDA.

There is a large group of patients with mild to moderate lumbar spinal stenosis who might benefit from this technology.

Analysis: The clinical trial for the DIAM implant from Medtronic has just started.  This implant will be used for the treatment of spinal stenosis.  While the clinical trial underway will study the efficacy of this technology compared to conservative management, the use of this implant may supplant the use of instrumentation in the more invasive fusion procedures.  In other words, surgeons might choose to perform surgery using this device before resorting to a fusion procedure. 

The design of the DIAM is relatively similar to that of X-STOP, and the two implants will be used to treat the same indication.  There is wide speculation that the interspinous spacer technology will become a major tool in the treatment of spinal stenosis in the next 5-10 years.