Medical Device Company Intelligence Reports provide a full review of the company's activities, from its origins to its latest corporate activity, including mergers and acquisitions, agreements, divestitures, major purchasing contracts and litigation. Sections are included on products, international activities and R&D, as well as a full, in-depth five year financial analysis. An introduction to each report and a full table of contents is provided for review. More than 60 Medical Device Company Intelligence Reports are currently available. Headquartered in Solothurn, Switzerland, Synthes manufactures and markets products for the orthopaedic trauma market. The company develops, manufactures and distributes products in five areas:-

1. Trauma - plates and screws, intramedullary nails and external fixation systems form the core of the product line. Synthes' implants and instruments for the surgical treatment of fractures account for the largest proportion of the trauma business.

2. Spinal surgery - implants for the treatment of fractures, tumours, deformities and degenerative diseases affecting the spine, including plates, screws, rods and hooks to stabilise the spine, and cage implants to stabilise the intervertebral spaces. In addition, the company offers the Prodisc intervertebral disc replacement system for the treatment of degenerative disc disease, while preserving mobility. Both the lumber and cervical versions of Prodisc are available in the international market. Although neither are offered in the US, Synthes received an approvable letter from the FDA for the lumbar version in January 2006.

3. Cranio-maxillofacial surgery - implants for facial and cranial bones and the upper and lower jaws, including screws and plates, and systems for jaw reconstruction and skull closure in neurosurgical procedures.

4. Power tools - air-driven and battery-powered drilling systems, saws and attachments, and cutting tools such as saw blades and burrs.

5. Biomaterials - non-metallic, resorbable materials, including bone graft substitutes to fill defects in bones, implants that resorb gradually after the bone has healed, antibiotic implant coatings and demineralised bone.

Synthes claims to be the global market leader in traumatology and cranio-maxillofacial surgery, and to rank among the top three companies for spinal devices. In fiscal 2005, Synthes' revenue passed the US$2 billion market for the first time, representing 17% growth from 2004, led by the acquisition and subsequent integration of Mathys Medical in 2004. This integration also improved Synthes' global production and cost base and, despite Synthes investing heavily in expanding its salesforce, manufacturing and logistics, its net profit grew by 35% to US$436 million during the year.