Synthes公司開發出鈦肋骨
 
一種垂直可擴張假體鈦肋骨(VEPTR)可移植設備，被設計用于機械穩定和加強特定脊椎骨畸形和缺陷，允許正常肺臟發育，并能夠矯正某些脊柱疾病。

該VEPTR是由Synthes公司(Solothurn, Switzerland)開發的，主要用于治療胸腔功能不全綜合征(TIS)，該病是由于胸腔功能缺陷不能夠支持正常呼吸或者肺臟生長。該病發生于嚴重肋骨和胸壁畸形，常常伴有脊柱側突。

Titanium Rib Corrects Deformities of the Torso
 

A vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib (VEPTR) implantable device is designed to mechanically stabilize and lengthen certain deformities of the spine and torso, allowing normal lung development and offering correction for some spinal conditions.

The VEPTR, developed by Synthes (Solothurn, Switzerland), is most often used for thoracic insufficiency syndrome (TIS), the inability of the thorax to support normal respiration or lung growth. It occurs in young children with severe rib and chest wall malformations often associated with scoliosis.