Stryker has introduced the Universal SmartLock hybrid maxillomandibular gixation (MMF) system, which combines elements of both arch bars and MMF screws.
In collaboration with inventor Jeffrey Marcus, MD, the associate vicecchair of surgery at Duke University, the system is designed to combine the strength and rigidity of arch bars with the safety and efficiency of MMF screws, according to the company.
With nine potential points of fixation along the plate, posterior fixation and vector control are enhanced when compared with traditional MMF screws. The self-drilling, locking technology of the screws allows for purchase into both the bone and the plate for additional stability, and also eliminates the need for interdental wiring that is required with arch bars.
The device has 510(k) marketing clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is also available in international markets where it has been cleared for sale.
