China's largest manufacturer of implants and related surgical instruments for traumatology and spine surgery, Weigao Orthopaedic Device, is offering a spinal stabilisation system called “Tulip”, which uses semi-rigid rods made from PEEK-Optima to bridge the gap between rigid and dynamic systems. The system is indicated when one to three levels of the spine, including the lumbosacral region, require posterior pedicle-screw fixation or when fusion surgery is required for a segment of the spine where degenerative disc disease is present.

Weigao collaborates with UK-based biomaterial specialist Invibio for its PEEK rods, as well as its technical and testing support; All of which, the Chinese medical implants manufacturer said has helped in its product development and clinical adoption of our PEEK-Optima semi-rigid rods.

Two types of the domestic manufactured rods are available: a 6.35mm-diameter round rod, and a 6.35x7.2mm-diameter oval rod. Following previous CFDA (China Food and Drug Administration) approval of other PEEK-Optima-based products, the Tulip system received its approval in 2014 and targets China's Tier-One market for spinal devices as well as Class-Two and Class-Three (top level) hospitals nationally.

PEEK-Optima polymer-based spinal rod components are bridging the treatment gap between rigid and dynamic systems. According to research results presented in Europe, the rods are strong enough to restore lumbar spine stability and have much lower failure rates than titanium. Spinal rods made from the biocompatible polymer offer numerous advantages, including improved load sharing to encourage fusion more physiologic loading at adjacent levels, which may decelerate degeneration and reduced stress at the bone-to-screw interface, which may prevent screw pull-out, especially in patients with questionable bone quality. This improved load sharing, plus clear, artefact-free imaging for easy device placement and monitoring, are important advantages that PEEK-Optima provides over metal rods.

Being non-metallic, PEEK-Optima does not produce metal ions when implanted; it also offers high strength combined with a modulus very similar to that of human bone. The proven implantable material with a 15-year history of successful clinical application has been widely used in the therapeutic treatment of the spine, orthopaedics, arthroscopy and trauma, with PEEK-Optima used in over 5 million implanted devices worldwide.