Impliant Ltd. Presents One-Year Follow-up Data On World's Longest Total Posterior Spine Arthroplasty Series

MILFORD, Connecticut, May 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Impliant, Inc., a developer of novel spine arthroplasty alternatives to fusion surgery, today announced that Larry Khoo, M.D., one of the investigators involved in the Company's clinical trial with its TOPS(TM) System, presented outcome data on twenty patients, including one-year follow-up data on five spine arthroplasty patients, who received the patented TOPS(TM) System for treatment of facet arthosis, spondylolisthesis, and spinal stenosis at the Spine Arthroplasty Society Meeting in Montreal, Canada yesterday.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060515/212517 )

Dr. Khoo, a neurosurgeon at UCLA Medical Center, was invited to present his submitted abstract to the plenary session of the SAS event, which focuses on alternatives to spinal fusion.

"The data generated from these twenty patients indicate that Impliant's solution is effective in alleviating pain stemming from the degeneration of the posterior elements of the spine," commented Dr. Khoo. "The TOPS(TM) System is an attractive alternative to spinal fusion as it allows surgeons to decompress and stabilize the impaired spinal segment without sacrificing motion."

Among the group that received the TOPS System implant, scores on various scales indicated positive patient outcomes as follows:

- On the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), the average group score dropped from 8.6 preop to 1.4 at the one-year postop visit; and

- On theOswestry Score, the average group score dropped from 55 preop to 17 at the one-year postop visit.

- An independent radiologist confirmed that there was no screw loosening, no advancement of spondylolisthesis, and no loss of disc height

Todd Potokar, President of Impliant, said, "The TOPS(TM) System has raised the bar for posterior motion preservation solutions. The biomechanical superiority of our spinal implant device has been proven on the bench, and the device is now demonstrating its safety and effectiveness in our clinical trials."

Impliant has the longest series of patents for these indications (i.e., facet arthosis, spondylolisthesis, and spinal stenosis) with a motion preservation device. The patented TOPS(TM) System is currently being investigated in leading centers around the world.

About the TOPS(TM) System

Impliant's TOPS(TM) System, a mobile posterior device, is designed to stabilize but not fuse the affected vertebral level to alleviate pain stemming from degenerative facet arthrosis, spondylolisthesis, and spinal stenosis. Following a laminectomy and medial facetectomy, the device is affixed to the spine via four pedicle screws using a standard posterior surgical approach. Impliant believes that the TOPS(TM) System could benefit 300,000 patients worldwide undergoing spinal fusion surgery each year. The TOPS(TM) System is not approved for sale or use in the United States.

About Impliant, Inc.

Impliant, Inc. is a privately held company engaged in the development of novel spine arthroplasty solutions for motion preservation. The company is currently developing the TOPS(TM) System, which is designed to alleviate pain resulting from degenerative facet arthrosis, spondylolisthesis , and spinal stenosis by stabilizing but not fusing the affected vertebral level. Impliant is headquartered in Milford, CT with research facilities located in Ramat Poleg, Israel. For more information about Impliant, please visit www.impliant.com.

Contacts: Ron Sacher, CEO Todd Potokar, President +1-917-270-5538 +1-203-877-8884 rsacher@impliant.comtpotokar@impliant.com

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060515/212517Impliant Ltd.

CONTACT: Ron Sacher, CEO, +1-917-270-5538, rsacher@impliant.com; ToddPotokar, President, +1-203-877-8884, tpotokar@impliant.com