First-time AAOS Exhibitors: New Devices and Digital Offerings

Companies are convening in Chicago at AAOS at a time when face-to-face interaction and glimpses at upcoming innovations are especially valued.

It’s always a particular pleasure of mine to research and share companies making their first appearance at AAOS. I’ve gathered eight of them from around the globe. Among them, offerings include magnesium-based materials, a unique method to treat pelvic trauma, new products for tendon repair and a recently-cleared synthetic bone graft, as well as an impressive collection of tools for surgical planning and navigation.

These are primarily young companies that we’re watching to meet your requests to learn more about startups.

ORTHOWORLD’s home base at AAOS is Booth #706. Please stop by to catch up! If you’d like to plan a meeting with a member of our team, just drop me a line. I will help connect you to the right person.

Implants

Aevumed PHANTOM Suture Anchor

Aevumed | Malvern, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Focus: Sports Medicine

• The company markets the PHANTOM suture anchor, and is developing PHANTOM-L and PHANTOM-X products to further improve healing at the tendon/bone interface.
• The PHANTOM anchor, FDA-cleared in 2018, is designed to offer intra-op choices, especially in cases with low bone quality. It carries three sutures, reduces suture-pulling steps from eight to four and uses Micro-Thread micro-structure technology that may aid against pull-out strength by more than 260% vs. traditional anchors. In support of cost-effectiveness, PHANTOM eliminates the need for disposable suture passing instrumentation; estimated cost savings is reportedly $400/case.
• As of 2020, Aevumed has raised a total of $975,000 in funding over one debt financing round.

Biostone si-Mochi Bone Graft Substitute

Biostone | Nottingham, East Midlands, U.K.
Focus: Orthobiologics

• Biostone, established from the BioCity incubator in Nottingham, gained FDA 510(k) clearance for si-Mochi synthetic bone graft in 2021.
• si-Mochi is packed into applicators for open or minimally invasive procedures.
• The chemical composition of si-Mochi’s multi-porous granules is trace silica induced bi-phase calcium phosphate ceramic, which has 80% hydroxylapatite and 20% beta-tricalcium phosphate, similar levels to those identified in naturally-growing bone.
• Biostone is pursuing CE Mark approval for the product.

CurvaFix IM Rodscrew

CurvaFix | Bellevue, Washington, U.S.
Focus: Trauma

• In 2019, the company announced FDA 510(k) clearance to market the CurvaFix Intramedullary Rodscrew for pelvic trauma surgery. The device is reportedly the only intramedullary implant capable of following the natural bone shape of curved bones, such as the pelvis.
• The flexible device is implanted through a small incision into the intramedullary space, then converted into a rigid state to stabilize and repair the fracture.
• To date, the company has raised a total of $13.2 million in funding over four rounds.

medical magnesium Interference Screw

medical magnesium | Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Focus: Trauma/Sports Medicine

• medical magnesium is developing metallic bioabsorbable implants using magnesium-based mm.X technology. As the devices are designed to absorb into the body post-healing, the need for implant removal is obviated.
• According to the company, mm.X allows an almost unlimited variety of designs that offer high stability vs. polymers, that are suitable for minimally invasive and arthroscopic treatments.
• Products developed to date include interference screws, suture anchors, compression screws and a PIP implant for surgical treatment of hammer or claw toe, as well as a foot fracture system.
• As of 2017, the company has raised $700,000 from three investors.

Digital Technologies

Axial3D Model of Bone

Axial3D | Belfast, Northern Ireland, U.K.
Focus: Surgical Planning

• Axial3D specializes in patient-specific medical 3D imaging and modeling. Their artificial intelligence-based Segmentation-as-a-Service platform is designed to render hard-to-understand 2D medical scans of patient anatomy into precise and data-rich 3D visualizations and 3D-printed models, which surgeons can use for pre-operative planning, briefing the surgical team and improving patient consent in orthopedic and other surgical markets.
• The company also provides “out of the box” 3D print labs for hospitals of any size and any surgical specialty.

Formus Labs Hip Interface

Formus Labs | Auckland, Northland, New Zealand
Focus: Surgical Planning

• Formus offers what is reportedly the world’s first automated 3D planner for joint replacement surgery. The cloud-based platform pairs surgeons and engineers with computational biomechanics to streamline the custom prosthesis design process. The planning software allows surgeons to work on cases remotely, potentially reducing patient wait time and improving overall workflow. The software is able to deliver plans in an hour and can be updated in real time.
• Formus Labs is partnered with Zimmer Biomet for the co-development and commercialization of Formus Hip in Australia and New Zealand, as well as the investigation of international markets for global expansion.
• The company has raised a total of $5.7 million over two rounds. Funds will support product development and expansion into the U.S.
• FDA clearance for the hip system is expected within 2022.

nView s1 Surgical Navigation

nView medical | Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
Focus: Surgical Navigation

• nView develops imaging technology, bringing AI solutions for image creation, image processing and image visualization to surgery and interventional radiology.
• The company gained FDA 510(k) clearance in 2021 for its nView s1 imaging system with navigation option. nView s1 integrates low-dose x-ray imaging and AI-enabled imaging algorithms to provide multiplanar, fluoroscopic and augmented views derived from fast tomographic reconstructions of the patient during surgery. With the addition of navigation, these images can be used for surgical guidance, providing greater utility for surgeons during spine procedures.
• In 2020, nView partnered with OrthoGrid to execute a proof-of-concept exercise for a periacetabular osteotomy (PAO), to be followed by expansion to additional musculoskeletal procedures. PAO preserves the hip joint by repositioning the native acetabulum in an effort to reduce the risk of a future total hip replacement.
• Further, in 2022, Orthofix Medical entered into a partnership and investment agreement with nView to jointly develop and co-market nView systems with Orthofix cervical spine and pediatric limb deformity correction procedural solutions.
• To date, nView medical has raised a total of $1.5 million in funding over two rounds.

PeekMed 3D AI-Based Pre-Op Planning

PeekMed | Braga, Portugal
Focus: Surgical Planning

• PeekMed offers 3D AI-based pre-operative planning for orthopedic surgery that allows surgeons to plan the procedure automatically using the patient’s x-ray or CT, without the need of an engineer. PeekMed also allows the surgeon to edit the planning and to simulate different outcomes of the procedure.
• PeekMed’s pre-op planning supports the accurate prediction of the size and type of implant and tools to be used in surgery, which can minimize the quantity of implants needed to be consigned in each hospital and the number of tools sterilized for the procedure.
  In recent years, the company signed agreements with DJO to develop new products and GOeasy to market pre-op planning solutions.
• In 2021, the company raised $3.6 million in a Series A round. Funds will support global expansion, especially in Europe and North America.

Julie A. Vetalice is ORTHOWORLD’s Editorial Assistant.