Musculoskeletal News Roundup 9-Feb-18

February 9, 2018 | Blake Mossy

FUNDING

7D Surgical secured funding to support the launch of its Machine-vision Guided Surgery system and product development for spine and cranial surgical navigation. The technology is designed to save time in the OR by enabling anatomical registration in 20 seconds versus the traditional 15 to 30 minutes required. Registration can be updated with the click of a foot pedal with no radiation required.

Simplify Medical secured $23.3MM in the second tranche of a Series B financing, for a total $44.3MM raised, led by LSP Health Economic Fund 2, with participation from existing venture investors LSP FUND V, MH Carnegie & Co., and Sectoral Asset Management.  The new funding will be used to support the commercialization and U.S. clinical trials studying the Simplify cervical disc.

REGULATORY

Orthofix received 510(k) clearance from the FDA for its FORZA XP Expandable Spacer System designed to restore normal disc height in patients suffering from degenerative disc disease. FORZA is comprised of titanium alloy and intended for Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF) and Transforminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF) procedures. The system can be expanded after insertion into the disc space in order to fit the patient’s anatomy.  The Forza XP Expandable Spacer System is intended for use with autografts, allograft, comprised of cancellous, corticocancellous bone graft and supplemental fixation.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Episurf Medical received a patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) addressing its 3D-based assessment of joint lesions. The company’s devices are designed for the treatment of localized cartilage damage in the knee.

APPOINTMENTS

HealthpointCapital announced that Milen Todorov, a former medical technology investment banker at UBS Investment Bank, has joined the firm's leadership team as Managing Director. Prior to joining HealthpointCapital, Milen Todorov was a Director in the global healthcare team at UBS Investment Bank, focusing on medical technology, and on the musculoskeletal sector in particular. While at UBS, Milen executed over 25 M&A and capital raising transactions with aggregate value in excess of $35 billion. He began his career in economic litigation consulting at Charles River Associates.

InVivo Therapeutics appointed Richard Toselli, M.D. as President and Chief Executive Officer, having been appointed the company’s Acting CEO in December 2017. Prior to InVivo, Dr. Toselli has held leadership positions at DePuy Synthes, Johnson & Johnson and Sanofi. Dr. Toselli is a board-certified neurosurgeon specializing in spine surgery.