Those venture capitalists and other investors who have been suggesting recently that the spinal device market is overheated, overcrowded, and basically over as a prime investment opportunity were few and far between at Windhover's "In Spine and Orthopedics" conference held in Las Vegas in December. The meeting, which is the largest strategic partnering conference for emerging spine and orthopedic companies, found investors and entrepreneurs feeling bullish about the prospects for the spinal device market, as reflected in the panel discussion excerpted here.

Six years ago, ev3 was launched aiming at a broad attach on cardio- and endovascular disease. But the company found including coronary devices in its mix too difficult and too costly. Instead, the company shifted directions three years ago, with a focus on peripheral and neurovascular disease. In the process, it hopes to address what it calls "the innovation gap," the lack of devices developed specifically for the PVD and neurovascular specialists.

CoreSpine Technologies LLC is diving into the center of the spine market. The start-up is developing a tool that will more effectively clear out the nucleus of the spinal disc creating a cleaner platform upon which to perform nucleus replacement or other spinal surgeries.