If there is a more robust area of medtech development — one with more success in creating clinical and market value while resisting pricing pressures — than spine surgery, I would be surprised.
The global spine market is large, active and growing rapidly in revenues. Several dynamic forces, in addition to the aging of the population, are expected to affect the market and treatments during the next several years. While spinal fusion will always have a place, its share of the treatment market is expected to decline. Newer treatments such as total disc replacement and nuclear arthroplasty will erode the spinal fusion market, as these and other treatments which preserve spinal motion gain favor over the invasive and traumatic fusion of two or more spine segments.
Early Stage / Startup Spine and Orthopedic Surgery Companies
|
Company
|
Year founded
|
Area of interest
|
|
3Cor Medical, Inc.
|
2002
|
Distraction screws for plating and interbody fusions.
|
|
Allez Spine LLC
|
2003
|
Pedicle screw systems and cervical plating systems for use in spine surgery.
|
|
AOI Medical, Inc.
|
2005
|
Develops innovative orthopedic medical devices for spine and trauma markets
|
|
Archus Orthopedics
|
2002
|
Total Facet Arthroplasty System® (TFAS®), an articulating joint prosthesis.
|
|
Baxano, Inc.
|
2005
|
Tools that restore spine function and preserve healthy tissue
|
|
Cartilix, Inc.
|
2004
|
Biomaterials for repair of tissues in articular joints.
|
|
CoreSpine Technology LLC
|
2005
|
Spinal arthroplasty
|
|
Creaspine
|
2005
|
Instrumentation and devices for use in spine surgery.
|
|
Custom Spine, Inc.
|
2003
|
To create the next generation of surgeon-friendly spinal implants.
|
|
Eden Spine, LLC
|
2006
|
Motion-preserving spine therapies.
|
|
Expandis Ltd.
|
2002
|
Minimally invasive orthopedic surgery instrumentation.
|
|
Facet Solutions, Inc.
|
2003
|
Facet arthroscopy
|
|
ForSight Labs, LLC
|
2005
|
Ophthalmic device company incubator
|
|
Globus Medical, Inc.
|
2003
|
To drive significant technological advancements across the complete suite of spinal products including Fusion, MIS, Motion Preservation and Biomaterials.
|
|
IB Medical LLC
|
2006
|
Static compress device technology in spine surgery.
|
|
Innovative Spinal Technologies, Inc.
|
2002
|
Spine surgery technologies.
|
|
InteliFUSE, Inc.
|
2005
|
Shape memory technology for bone fracture fixation/fusion and bone remodeling
|
|
MI4 Spine, LLC
|
2006
|
Minimally invasive spinal instrumentation.
|
|
NBI Development, Inc.
|
2007
|
Implantable spine neuromodulation devices.
|
|
OrthoMEMS, LLC
|
2005
|
Implant systems for spine and orthopedic applications using MEMS and wireless technology.
|
|
Ouroboros Inc.
|
2005
|
Medical devices for minimally invasive spinal fusion
|
|
Paradigm Spine, LLC
|
2005
|
Non-fusion interspinous spinal implant.
|
|
PNIR (Peripheral Nerve Injury Repair), LLC
|
2008
|
Implant technologies for peripheral nerve repair.
|
|
RE Spine, LLC
|
2007
|
Intervertebral disc and facet joint prosthesis in spine surgery.
|
|
Signus Medical LLC
|
2004
|
Pioneering the introduction of new biomaterials such as PEEK-Optima®, and research into the next generation of materials
|
|
Small Bone Innovations, LLC
|
2004
|
Orthopedic technology focus on small bones and joints (hand, wrist, elbow).
|
|
Spartek Medical, Inc.
|
2006
|
Motion preserving spine fusion implant, inserted minimally invasively, for treatment of degenerative disc disease.
|
|
Spinal Elements, Inc. (formerly Quantum Orthopedics, Inc.)
|
2003
|
Working with prominent surgeons to develop medical device technologies in the areas of spine arthroplasty (joint motion preservation) and spinal fusion.
|
|
Spine Form, LLC
|
2005
|
Medical device technology based on treatment of scoliosis.
|
|
SpineForm, LLC
|
2004
|
Spine staple
|
|
SpineFrontier, Inc.
|
2006
|
Spine implant technologies.
|
|
SpineMatrix, Inc.
|
2006
|
Spinal imaging to improve diagnosis of lower back pain.
|
|
SpineMedica Corp.
|
2005
|
Device technologies for spine and chronic back pain.
|
|
Spinus LLC
|
2005
|
Instruments for neurological, orthopedic and spine surgery.
|
|
Vertebral Technologies, Inc.
|
2005
|
Biocompatible polymers for joint restoration within the spine
|
|
Vertebron
|
2003
|
Developing several product for spinal fusion and fixation (arthrodesis), as well as new products and intellectual property (IP) that focus on motion preservation (arthroplasty) and dynamic stabilization.
|
|
Vertech, Inc.
|
2007
|
Device to ease the pain of compression fractures of the spine by separating spinal bones and injecting fast-hardening cement.
|
|
Vertiflex (fka DK Spine Technology, Inc.)
|
2004
|
Medical devices for spine surgery
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Source: MedMarket Diligence, Report #M510 (Worldwide Spine Surgery 2008-2017) and the Medtech Startups Database.
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