Innovative Spinal Technologies Announces Formation And Investment From Industry Advisory Council

PLANO, Texas, Nov. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Innovative Spinal Technologies (IST), a company that develops early stage products for the spine market, has formed and received funding from its Industry Advisory Council (IAC). The IAC will assist IST in achieving its goal of fast and efficient product development, with a dedicated focus on the needs of clinicians and patients.

The IAC is comprised of distinguished physicians Rudolph Bertagnoli, MD, David Bradford, MD, Paul McAfee, MD, Luiz Pimenta, MD, Hansen Yuan, MD, along with healthcare experts Fred Moll, MD and Robert Stockman. The IAC is joining an already strong team including Orthofix International , Advanced Neuromodulation Systems , Synthes Spine, LP (a Limited Partnership of Synthes-Stratec, Inc. SWX: SYST), and GE Medical Systems, a unit of General Electric

"There is nothing else like this in the orthopedic world today," says Stephen Hochschuler, M.D., IST Chairman and co-founder, and Chairman of Texas Back Institute. "Bringing the most prominent thought leaders of the industry together with a business model that can help deliver these ideas to market quickly and efficiently will produce better solutions for both patients and the healthcare industry."

The IAC is an important step in a unique business plan that brings together the best clinical and business minds. Allowing the efficient commercialization of world-class innovation-bringing value to the spine industry and spine patients.

"Members of the IAC have been carefully chosen with respect to areas of expertise and diversity of skill sets and geography," adds Scott Schorer, President and CEO of IST. "We believe that this prestigious group will help propel IST forward by providing insight and feedback on our development programs. In addition, combining leading clinicians and experienced executives in the same forum allows IST to tap into IAC members' vast product and business experience."

IST is committed to bringing quality products and services to the market and exceptional value to its customers and patients. IST seeks innovative product concepts from sources around the world, including Texas Back Institute, IAC members, and unaffiliated inventors. The Company plans to develop products and sell the assets to strategic buyers, or place them in spin-off companies.

About the Texas Back Institute

The Texas Back Institute is the largest freestanding spine specialty clinic in the United States. It is based in Plano, Texas and is located on the campus of Presbyterian Hospital of Plano. The Institute was established 24 years ago and provides comprehensive medical care for individuals with back and neck pain. TBI's professional staff includes board-certified orthopedic surgeons with spine fellowship training, general surgeons, general medicine physicians, internists, chiropractors, physiatrists, pain specialists, exercise physiologists and a team of physical and occupational therapists. For more information please visit www.texasback.com.

About Orthofix

Orthofix International N.V. is an international corporation, which develops, produces and markets innovative products in the medical device sector. Its products include the Spinal-Stim (R) Lite for the enhanced healing of spinal fusions, the Orthotrac Pneumatic Vest (R) for chronic low back pain, the EZBrace LSO (R) for spine stabilization, the Physio-Stim (R) Lite for the healing of un-united fractures, the OSCAR (R) ultrasonic bone cement removal system for hip revision procedures, the A-V Impulse System (R) for enhancing venous circulation, and the Orthofix ISKD (R) internal lengthener. For more information please visit www.orthofix.com.

About Advanced Neuromodulation Systems

Advanced Neuromodulation Systems (ANS) designs, develops, manufactures and markets implantable systems used to manage chronic intractable pain and other disorders of the central nervous system. Its products include the Genesis(R) and Genesis(R) XP totally implantable pulse generator spinal cord stimulation systems, and the Renew(R) radio frequency spinal cord stimulation system. For more information about ANS, please visit www.ans-medical.com.

About Synthes

Synthes is a leading provider of instruments, implants and power tools for the orthopaedic and spine surgery market. The company develops, manufactures, and distributes products for the surgical treatment of bone fractures, cranio- maxillofacial trauma and deformities, and a full range of products and systems for spine surgery. For more information please visit www.synthes-stratec.com.

About GE Medical Systems

GE Medical Systems is a $10 billion global leader in medical imaging, point-of-care systems, healthcare services, and information technology. Its offerings include networking and productivity tools, clinical information systems, patient monitoring systems, anesthesia and respiratory care, maternal-infant care systems, surgery and vascular imaging, conventional and digital X-ray, dental imaging, computed tomography, electron beam tomography, magnetic resonance, ultrasound and bone mineral densitometry, positron emission tomography, nuclear medicine, and a comprehensive portfolio of clinical and business services. For more than 100 years, health care providers worldwide have relied on GE Medical Systems for high quality medical technology and productivity solutions. For more information, visit the GE Medical Systems Web site at www.gemedical.com.

About Innovative Spinal Technologies

Innovative Spinal Technologies (IST) develops spine products and services through intellectual property development. IST is working closely with the Texas Back Institute (TBI) and other leading innovators to develop unique products for the spine industry. IST was founded in 2002 by TBI and spine surgeons Stephen Hochschuler, MD, and Barton Sachs, MD, MBA. For more information about IST, visit www.innovativespinal.com.

Contact: For Innovative Spinal Technologies Scott W. Schorer Phone: 303 570-7964 Email:info@innovativespinal.com

Innovative Spinal Technologies

CONTACT: Scott W. Schorer of Innovative Spinal Technologies,+1-303-570-7964, info@innovativespinal.com