Predictika · Spine procedural systems and hospital contract orders

An AI sales agent's spine procedure order, checked before it goes out

An AI sales agent prepares a hospital order for a spine procedure: the surgical approach, posterior fixation, interbody implants, guidance and planning technology, neuromonitoring, a biologic and the loaned instrument sets, with a contract tier and discount. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the product and ordering rules and returns a verdict, every reason and the figures it computed.

Scope: Alphatec spine procedure orders: PTP, LTP, Midline ALIF and posterior approaches with InVictus or Arsenal fixation, IdentiTi interbody, Valence, SafeOp, EOS planning and AlphaGRAFT/BioCORE biologics. See everything this validator covers

This validator models Alphatec spine procedure orders, not just the scenarios shown below. Items marked with an asterisk are illustrative.

  • Approaches — Prone TransPsoas (PTP, with its Patient Positioning System, Sigma PTP Access System and SafeOp neuromonitoring), Lateral TransPsoas (LTP), Midline ALIF and open or minimally invasive posterior surgery.
  • Implants and technology — InVictus, Arsenal and Arsenal Deformity fixation with cobalt chrome or titanium* rods; IdentiTi or allograft spacer* interbody implants; Valence navigation or robot (scan or fluoroscopy needed); EOSedge or EOS Insight planning; AlphaGRAFT DBM, AlphaGRAFT CBM or BioCORE biologics.
  • Quantities and contract — pedicle screws, rods, interbody implants and loaned instrument sets must cover the fused levels; the stated implant count is compared with what the order contains; contract terms of 12, 24 or 36 months and Standard*, Preferred* and Strategic* contract tiers with discount limits.

Any Alphatec spine procedure order that touches these rules is in scope — not only the scenarios pictured here. Not covered: prices (hospital contract pricing is not public, so this validator produces no price build-up or line-item quote), cervical and other approach-specific systems, expandable interbody devices, other biologics and non-U.S. terms. Rules and contract tiers that Alphatec has not published are typical for this kind of product; see the fine print at the end of the page.

The AI sales agentBuilds the spine procedure order from the conversation and says it is ready.
Predictika validatorChecks every rule at once and returns the verdict, each finding, and the computed figures.

7 scenarios in 3 groups · each group runs from the agent’s first attempt to the outcome · click one to switch

What the agent proposes

The AI sales agent says

Illustrative agent statement. The validator receives the structured request below.

Proposing agent: AI sales agent (scripted)

Before sending, the agent must call Recorded run

Predictika validator


      
Waiting for the call.

Where rules-based CPQ gets it wrong

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Our assessment of what a typical rules-based CPQ (product rules, price rules and validation rules, as in Salesforce CPQ) does with the same cases. It is a judgment about effort and reliability, not a claim that nothing can be built.

What the validator caughtTypical rules-based CPQPredictika
Technology that works only with certain fixation, approaches and scansOnly with care
Each pairing is a product rule: Valence with InVictus screws only, a scan or fluoroscopy, no lateral approach yet. It works, but every new system or approach is another set of rules to maintain.
Approach, fixation, guidance and imaging are in one request and every pairing is checked together.
A lateral approach that pulls in positioning, access and neuromonitoring itemsOnly with workarounds
The requirement links the approach on one line with items on other lines, so it needs cross-line rules that interact with the rest.
Every choice is in one request, so a missing item is found whichever order the choices arrive in.
Screws, rods, interbody implants and instrument sets that must cover the fused levelsOnly with care
The needed quantities depend on the number of levels and on other choices; each needs its own calculation and comparison.
Required quantities are computed on every call and compared with the order.
A stated implant count that must match the orderOnly with care
A stated figure is a free-entry field; a rule can compare it with a computed total, but someone has to write and maintain that comparison.
The stated figure travels with the order and is compared with the computed total on every call.
Discounts above the contract tier that need sign-off, and robot placements that need approvalOnly with workarounds
Approval routing usually lives in a separate workflow, so the quote can leave the rep before the approval is raised.
The verdict says needs approval and lists each reason on the same call.
Every problem returned in one answerOnly with workarounds
Rules tend to fire as the order is saved or a step is completed, so a rep often fixes one error and meets the next.
All findings come back together, whatever order the choices arrived in.

What this validator catches: findings from its test cases

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Every rule is checked on every call, in any order the choices arrive; one problem never hides another. Blocking findings stop the order; approval findings need a person to sign off; everything else is computed.

1The Prone TransPsoas (PTP) approach is performed with the PTP Patient Positioning System, and the order does not include it.
2The Prone TransPsoas (PTP) approach uses the Sigma PTP Access System, and the order does not include it.
3The Prone TransPsoas (PTP) approach relies on SafeOp neuromonitoring to locate the lumbar plexus, and the order does not include it.
4The LTP and Midline ALIF approaches are integrated with SafeOp neuromonitoring, and the order does not include it; the surgeon should confirm.
5Placing a Valence robot at the hospital is a capital placement that needs commercial sign-off.
6Valence navigation and robotics is cleared for placing InVictus screws; the order pairs it with a different fixation choice.
7Valence works from a 3D scan or 2D fluoroscopy, and the order has neither.
8Valence integration with lateral procedures is still in development, so it cannot be ordered with a lateral approach.
9The Arsenal Deformity system is for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and deformity cases, and the order is for a degenerative diagnosis.
10The Arsenal Deformity system is built with cobalt chrome rods, and the order has titanium rods.
11A deformity case needs 3D alignment planning with EOSedge or EOS Insight, and the order has none.
123 fused levels need 8 pedicle screws (two for each vertebra), and the order has 6.
13A posterior construct needs 2 rods, and the order has 1.
144 interbody levels are planned but only 3 levels are fused.
153 interbody levels are planned and the order has 2 interbody implants.
163 interbody implants are on the order without an interbody implant type.
17The procedure needs 2 loaned instrument sets, and the order has 1.
1810 cc of graft is on the order without a biologic product.
19A biologic product is on the order with a volume of 0 cc.
20Hospital contract terms are 12, 24 or 36 months; the order has 18 months.
21A discount of 18 percent is above the 15 percent that the contract tier allows without sign-off.
22A discount of 35 percent is deeper than any contract tier allows.
23The order states 15 implants, but the screws, rods and interbody implants on it total 13.
24The order states 11 implants, but the screws, rods and interbody implants on it total 13.

Scenarios and results

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The recorded result of the validator for each scenario on this page: the request the AI agent sent, the verdict, and every finding, in the order they appear above.

1. Lateral order with a Valence robot: A PTP order with a Valence robot and no positioner, access system or SafeOp

The agent's request. Please quote a spine procedure using the Prone TransPsoas (PTP) approach for a degenerative diagnosis over 3 fused levels with InVictus fixation: 8 pedicle screws and 2 titanium* rods, and 3 IdentiTi porous titanium implants at 3 levels, with Valence robot working from 2D fluoroscopy, 10 cc of AlphaGRAFT DBM, 3 loaned instrument sets, on a Preferred-tier contract with a term of 24 months and a discount of 10 percent. The order states that it contains 13 implants. It is ready to send.

Verdict: Blocked.

  • PTP needs the PTP positioning system. The Prone TransPsoas (PTP) approach is performed with the PTP Patient Positioning System, and the order does not include it.
  • PTP needs the Sigma PTP access system. The Prone TransPsoas (PTP) approach uses the Sigma PTP Access System, and the order does not include it.
  • PTP needs SafeOp neuromonitoring. The Prone TransPsoas (PTP) approach relies on SafeOp neuromonitoring to locate the lumbar plexus, and the order does not include it.
  • Valence not yet integrated with lateral approaches. Valence integration with lateral procedures is still in development, so it cannot be ordered with a lateral approach.
  • Robot placement needs sign-off. Placing a Valence robot at the hospital is a capital placement that needs commercial sign-off.

2. Lateral order with a Valence robot: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

The agent's request. Please quote a spine procedure using the Prone TransPsoas (PTP) approach for a degenerative diagnosis over 3 fused levels with InVictus fixation: 8 pedicle screws and 2 titanium* rods, and 3 IdentiTi porous titanium implants at 3 levels, with the PTP Patient Positioning System, the Sigma PTP Access System and SafeOp neuromonitoring, 10 cc of AlphaGRAFT DBM, 3 loaned instrument sets, on a Preferred-tier contract with a term of 24 months and a discount of 10 percent. The order states that it contains 13 implants. It is ready to send.

Verdict: Allowed.

  • Order summary. 3 fused level(s); 3 loaned instrument set(s) needed; the implants on the order total 13.

3. Deformity construct: An Arsenal Deformity order with titanium rods, no planning and too few screws

The agent's request. Please quote a spine procedure using the open or minimally invasive posterior approach for a deformity diagnosis over 8 fused levels with Arsenal Deformity fixation: 14 pedicle screws and 2 titanium* rods, 30 cc of AlphaGRAFT CBM, 1 loaned instrument set, on a Standard-tier contract with a term of 24 months and a discount of 10 percent. The order states that it contains 16 implants. It is ready to send.

Verdict: Blocked.

  • Arsenal Deformity uses cobalt chrome rods. The Arsenal Deformity system is built with cobalt chrome rods, and the order has titanium rods.
  • Deformity cases need 3D planning. A deformity case needs 3D alignment planning with EOSedge or EOS Insight, and the order has none.
  • Not enough screws. 8 fused levels need 18 pedicle screws (two for each vertebra), and the order has 14.

4. Deformity construct: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

The agent's request. Please quote a spine procedure using the open or minimally invasive posterior approach for a deformity diagnosis over 8 fused levels with Arsenal Deformity fixation: 18 pedicle screws and 2 cobalt chrome rods, with EOSedge planning, 30 cc of AlphaGRAFT CBM, 1 loaned instrument set, on a Standard-tier contract with a term of 24 months and a discount of 18 percent. The order states that it contains 20 implants. It is ready to send.

Verdict: Needs approval.

  • Discount above the contract tier. A discount of 18 percent is above the 10 percent that the contract tier allows without sign-off.
  • Order summary. 8 fused level(s); 1 loaned instrument set(s) needed; the implants on the order total 20.

5. Deformity construct: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

The agent's request. Please quote a spine procedure using the open or minimally invasive posterior approach for a deformity diagnosis over 8 fused levels with Arsenal Deformity fixation: 18 pedicle screws and 2 cobalt chrome rods, with EOSedge planning, 30 cc of AlphaGRAFT CBM, 1 loaned instrument set, on a Standard-tier contract with a term of 24 months and a discount of 10 percent. The order states that it contains 20 implants. It is ready to send.

Verdict: Allowed.

  • Order summary. 8 fused level(s); 1 loaned instrument set(s) needed; the implants on the order total 20.

6. Posterior order with Valence: A posterior order with a Valence robot and no scan, too few sets and no graft volume

The agent's request. Please quote a spine procedure using the open or minimally invasive posterior approach for a degenerative diagnosis over 4 fused levels with InVictus fixation: 10 pedicle screws and 2 titanium* rods, and 4 IdentiTi porous titanium implants at 4 levels, with Valence robot with no scan or fluoroscopy, 0 cc of AlphaGRAFT CBM, 1 loaned instrument set, on a Strategic-tier contract with a term of 18 months and a discount of 12 percent. The order states that it contains 16 implants. It is ready to send.

Verdict: Blocked.

  • Valence needs a scan or fluoroscopy. Valence works from a 3D scan or 2D fluoroscopy, and the order has neither.
  • Not enough loaned instrument sets. The procedure needs 2 loaned instrument sets, and the order has 1.
  • Biologic without a volume. A biologic product is on the order with a volume of 0 cc.
  • Contract term not offered. Hospital contract terms are 12, 24 or 36 months; the order has 18 months.
  • Robot placement needs sign-off. Placing a Valence robot at the hospital is a capital placement that needs commercial sign-off.

7. Posterior order with Valence: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

The agent's request. Please quote a spine procedure using the open or minimally invasive posterior approach for a degenerative diagnosis over 4 fused levels with InVictus fixation: 10 pedicle screws and 2 titanium* rods, and 4 IdentiTi porous titanium implants at 4 levels, with Valence navigation working from 2D fluoroscopy, 20 cc of AlphaGRAFT CBM, 2 loaned instrument sets, on a Strategic-tier contract with a term of 24 months and a discount of 12 percent. The order states that it contains 16 implants. It is ready to send.

Verdict: Allowed.

  • Order summary. 4 fused level(s); 2 loaned instrument set(s) needed; the implants on the order total 16.

Narration transcript

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The text of the narrated walkthrough, step by step.

  1. Welcome to a demo of Predictika's Validator. An AI sales agent prepares a hospital order for a spine procedure: the surgical approach, posterior fixation, interbody implants, and more. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the product and ordering rules and returns a verdict, every reason and the figures it computed.
  2. I will start with the first request by the agent.
  3. The agent says. Please quote a spine procedure using the Prone TransPsoas (PTP) approach for a degenerative diagnosis over 3 fused levels. The order states that it contains 13 implants. The rest of the request is on screen.
  4. Before it goes out, the agent calls the validator.
  5. Blocked, with four findings and one approval, all in one answer. The Prone TransPsoas (PTP) approach is performed with the PTP Patient Positioning System, and the order does not include it. The Prone TransPsoas (PTP) approach uses the Sigma PTP Access System, and the order does not include it. The Prone TransPsoas (PTP) approach relies on SafeOp neuromonitoring to locate the lumbar plexus, and the order does not include it. The other one is on screen.
  6. The validator returned four blocking findings and one approval in one answer. A check that reads one field at a time would pass most of this; it shows only when the choices in the order are checked against each other.
  7. What this shows: for discounts above the contract tier that need sign-off, and robot placements that need approval, a rules-based CPQ can do this only with workarounds.
  8. Now the agent resubmits.
  9. The corrected request. It changes the PTP Patient Positioning System to yes, the Sigma PTP Access System to yes, the SafeOp neuromonitoring to yes and the guidance to no guidance. It removes the imaging.
  10. It calls the validator again.
  11. This time the validator clears it.
  12. All five earlier findings are cleared, and the validator's figure matches the order.
  13. Five problems caught in one call, fixed in one pass, and a clean order. That is the value of Predictika's validator: catching mistakes before they reach the customer. Now you can try the other scenarios yourself.