Alphatec gets Japanese nod for spine vertebral body replacement devices:

Japanese regulators have given Alphatec Holdings the all-clear to market its NOVEL family of titanium vertebral body replacement devices. The product line addresses the surgical need to accommodate varying patient anatomies and surgical approaches by offering a number of characteristics, says the Carlsbad, California firm. These include "unique" shapes that allow for multiple approaches, each with multiple footprint options; significant area for bone graft; multiple lordotic angles; instrumentation tailored to each implant option; and a patented tooth pattern to prevent device migration and add stability.