Our Technology

Morgan Steer Orthopaedics Ltd is an innovative medical device and healthcare technology company. 

Controlled Ablation Technology

Our product portfolio leverages Controlled Ablation Technology where bipolar high frequency electrical energy is utilised to excite electrolytes in a conductive medium (such as saline) creating a precisely focused plasma.

The energized particles in the plasma field ablate and remove tissue via plasma mediated molecular dissociation 1 rather than by thermal destruction. 

Time–efficient removal of tissue at relatively low temperatures (typically 40°C to 70°C 2), versus the higher temperatures of conventional RF thermal ablation devices, preserves the integrity of surrounding healthy tissue. Controlled Ablation Technology is the outcome of the research work carried out by Dr. Jean Woloszko et al. 1,3  

Controlled Ablation Technology allows targeted areas of tissue to be removed, in applications including the decompression of herniated discs or de-bulking of metastatic and primary tumours. 

The by-products resulting from plasma mediated tissue ablation are elementary molecules and low molecular weight gases, such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, carbon tetrahydrate and hydrogen, which are easily resorbed or vented.

 Significant Benefits

The significant benefits of this technology and its ability to offer controlled, highly localised and rapid ablation of tissue, whilst preserving adjacent tissue4, has led to its adoption across numerous surgical specialties, including spine, ENT and sports arthroscopy, with millions of patients successfully treated to date.

ArthoCare Corp develops the SpineWand Plasma Disc Decompresion device for lumbar disc herniations.

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ArthoCare Corp launches SpineWand for cervical spine disc herniations utilising 19G delivery.

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Smith & Nephew plc acquires ArthroCare Corp.

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Smith & Nephew enter into global supply agreement with Morgan Steer Orthopaedics.

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Smith & Nephew transfer SpineWand manufacture to Morgan Steer Orthopaedics.

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Morgan Steer SpineWand launched in USA.

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1  Woloszko J, Stalder KR, Brown IG. Plasma characteristics of repetitively-pulsed electrical discharges in saline solutions used for surgical procedures. IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science (2002). 30(3):1376 – 1383   https://www.researchgate.net/publication/3165337_Plasma_characteristics_of_repetitively-pulsed_electrical_discharges_in_saline_solutions_used_for_surgical_procedures

2  Diederich C, Yetkinler D, Nau WH, and Brandt L. Disc temperature measurements during Nucleoplasty and IDET procedures. Eur Spine J (2002). 11: 418.

3  Stalder KR, McMillen DF and Woloszko J. Electrosurgical plasmas. J Phys D: Appl Phys, 38 (2005) 1728–1738. https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0022-3727/38/11/014

4 Chen YC, Lee S-H, Saenz Y, Lehman NL. Histologic findings of disc, end plate and neural elements after coblation of nucleus pulposus: an experimental nucleoplasty study. Spine J (Nov-Dec 2003). 3(6): 466-70. https://www.thespinejournalonline.com/article/S1529-9430(03)00143-8/fulltext

5 Woloszko J, Stalder KR, Brown IG, Smith CD. Repetitive plasma discharges in saline solutions. Appl. Phys. Lett. 79, 4503–4505 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1429752