Choll Kim, MD, is a spine surgeon at the San Diego Spine Institute and an expert in computer-assisted minimally invasive spine surgery. He has trained specialists nationwide to use image guidance and navigation technologies.

Frank Phillips, MD, director of the section of minimally invasive spine surgery at Rush University Medical Center and a founding member of the Minimally Invasive Spine Institute at Rush, discusses the institute and where the future is headed for minimally invasive spine procedures.

Although many research and journal publications show that minimally invasive techniques for spine procedures are beneficial clinically, the adoption of techniques has been slow.

Ara Deukmedjian, MD, is the CEO of the Deuk Spine Institute and developer of the Deuk Laser Disc Repair™ technique. The technique is different from other minimally invasive and endoscopic spine surgeries, because virtually all other endoscopic laser spine surgeries offered require the surgeon to drill a hole, called a laminotomy and facetectomy, in the back of the patient's spine to alleviate the pain.

William Taylor, MD, a spine surgeon at UC San Diego Health System, is one of the pioneers of minimally invasive spine surgery in the United States. He helped found the Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery — which has grown tremendously over the past five years — and now serves as its president and executive director.

NLT Spine, an Israel-based developer of minimally invasive spine surgery products, has received FDA clearance for its PROW FUSION, according to a company news release.

John H. Peloza, MD, is an orthopedic spine surgeon, founder and medical director of the Center for Spine Care and founding physician partner of the Institute for Minimally Invasive Surgery in Dallas, which was recently founded through a partnership between Meridian Surgical Partners and local physicians. He is a leading expert in minimally invasive spine surgery and has helped launch several minimally invasive spine surgery technologies. He is an investigator/researcher in FDA trials, such as MAVERICK total disc replacement, and holds multiple spinal technology patents. He is a spine consultant to the U.S. Ski Team and a member of numerous national and international medical organizations.