Minimally Invasive Solution Alleviates Chronic Tendinosis

An innovative disposable surgical instrument uses targeted ultrasonic energy to address tendinosis of the shoulder and hip by removing soft tissue.

The Tenex Health TX system is designed to execute percutaneous tenotomy in patients who suffer from soft tissue tendon pain. Following administration of a local anesthetic, gentle ultrasonic energy is used to safely breakdown and remove the damaged tissue via a MicroTip, which requires only a micro-incision to reach the damaged tissue. Because the incision is so small and the ultrasonic energy precisely treats only damaged tendon tissue, surrounding healthy tissue is left unharmed, and patients enjoy faster recovery times when compared to traditional open surgical procedures.


The system is controlled by the proprietary Tenex Health TX console, a portable, self-contained device that includes a one-step, easy-load tubing set and a quick, one-touch prime cycle. Simple touchscreen controls lead the operator through a treatment interface, with computer-guided programming instructions and at-a-glance parameter and user settings. The interface also includes smart safety features and a single-use, preassembled handpiece system to hold a disposable TX MicroTip.

Two MicroTips are available, the TX1 and TX2, with the TX2 being an extended length version of the TX1 that allows physicians to complete the procedure in regions of the body not typically accessible by the shorter instrument. The most common problem is some soreness after the procedure, which can be treated with over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication, and typically lasts for a short period of time. The TX system is a product of Tenex Health (Lake Forest, CA, USA), and has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“The TX1 MicroTip has enjoyed tremendous clinical success in treating over 35,000 patients in the US since its introduction in 2012,” said Bernard Morrey, MD, chief medical officer of Tenex Health. “Only a small portion have been treated with shoulder or hip tendinosis, due to the inaccessibility of the deeper tissues to the TX1 MicroTip. The length and design of the TX2 MicroTip is well poised to effectively treat a large number of patients with a spectrum of conditions in these anatomic areas.”

“The TX System using the TX1 MicroTip has been used by physicians for the past few years and demonstrated to be effective in treating chronic tendinosis in a variety of body parts. The longer needle associated with the TX2 product will provide physicians the needed technology to definitively treat chronic tendinosis in the shoulder and hip,” said James Andrews, MD, of the Andrews Institute (Gulf Breeze, FL, USA). “Soft tissue injuries in both of these body parts are well suited to be treated through a minimally invasive approach using the TX2 product.”

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