Officials at Precision Spine Inc. and Stephen D. Cook have entered into an agreement to develop spinal implants based on earth magnetic technology.

The immediate goal of the agreement is to develop applications like spinous process implants that create dynamic segmental distraction to decompress spinal stenosis, but without the subsidence of the implant or discomfort that are sometimes associated with devices used today.

Dr. Cook, who is the executive director and chief scientist at the Fellowship of Orthopaedic Researchers in Metarie, LA, has been researching the rare earth magnets for the past five years.

The magnets are more than 500 times stronger than their ferrous counterparts, meaning it is possible to create compressive and distractive forces with small implants. Dr. Cook says he believes the research and development could end the industry's search for an effective nucleoplasty device by providing powerful and dynamic decompression of painful and degenerative discs.