Spinal Elements announced the first procedure with its Sapphire X Anterior Cervical Fixation System. FDA clearance of the Sapphire X system was announced in July of this year as the newest product in the MIS Ultra suite of products aimed at minimizing the unintended consequences of traditional spine surgery. The Sapphire X Anterior Cervical Fixation System features unique integrated instrumentation and high angulation screws designed to help surgeons perform the procedure while preserving the patient’s skeletal and muscle tissue. Beyond a smaller incision is the expectation that the streamlined integrated instrumentation will reduce procedural steps and complexity. After the procedure has taken place, the low-overhang implant is designed to minimize disruption to the patient’s nearby healthy anatomy, a feature that has been shown in studies to reduce the incidence of adjacent level ossification.