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In Spine, a New Kind of Corporate Venturing

Innovative Spinal Technologies was founded in 2002 by the Texas Back Institute and spine surgeons Stephen Hochschuler, MD and Barton Sachs, MD, to bring together inventors, clinicians, and industry partners to help stakeholders in the spine industry get to rapid proof of principle of early stage intellectual property in spine. Corporate partners provide investment capital and industry expertise. The corporate partnerships take different forms, but generally, partners get the right of first bid for technologies emerging from IST in defined fields of use that don't overlap among partners. IST thus gives companies a foothold in spine that's less risky than an outright acquisition and a broader scope than venture capital investments in selected companies.

Spine is the hottest market in medical devices right now; analysts say it's compounding at greater than 20% because of recent advances in technology with lots more innovation on the way. Spine will be a $3 billion market five years from now, they claim. Large companies believe it; they're lining up behind spine companies as acquirors and investors. Johnson & Johnson 's DePuy AcroMed Inc. has bought artificial disc company Link Spine Group, and Synthes-Stratec acquired its own artificial disc company Spine Solutions Inc. [See Deal], [See Deal]Medtronic Inc. took under its wing disc company Spinal Dynamics Corp. and also invested in Raymedica Inc. , developer of a disc nucleus replacement. [See Deal], [See Deal] And this list only scratches the surface of major deals in spine over the past three years.

Even companies outside of the orthopedics industry want in: This past summer, Abbott Laboratories Inc. bought next-generation spinal cage...

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Final Chance To Have Your Say: Take Our Reader Survey This Week

 
• By Ryan Nelson

Editor’s note: This is your final call to participate in the survey to better understand our subscribers’ content and delivery needs. The deadline is 20 September.

Shape Our Content: Take The Reader Survey

 
• By Ryan Nelson

Editor’s note: We are conducting a survey to better understand our subscribers’ content and delivery needs. If there are any changes you’d like to see in coverage topics, content format or the method in which you receive and access Medtech Insight, or if you love it how it is, now is the time to have your voice heard.

Patients With Movement Disorders Will Benefit From Medtronic’s Expanded MRI Labeling For DBS

 
• By Marion Webb

Medtronic announced it received expanded MRI labeling for its DBS systems, which is critical, given that almost 70% of all DBS-eligible patients will likely need an MRI at some point in their care, says Ashwini Sharan, CMO for Medtronic Neuromodulation.

Podcast: Lung Life AI CEO Shares Regulatory And Reimbursement Journey For Lung Cancer Diagnostic

 
• By Natasha Barrow

In this episode, Medtech Insight reporter Natasha Barrow speaks to LungLife AI CEO Paul Pagano. Lung Life AI is a US-based AIM-listed medical technology company that has developed a liquid biopsy test for the early detection of lung cancer called Lung LB. Pagano runs through the highlights of Lung Life AI journey to date and its future ambition for a strategic partnership. He also provides advice to similar diagnostic companies seeking reimbursement andcompliance with the US FDA Lab Developed Test ruling.

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Study: FDA’s Breakthrough Path Speeds Access, But Raises Safety Questions

 
• By Elizabeth Orr

Research recently published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that the FDA met its review timeline goals for the majority of breakthrough devices – but also revealed some apparent shortcomings in safety data supporting the submissions.

Deals Shaping The Medtech And Diagnostics Industries, June 2025

 
• By Medtech Insight Team

An interactive look at medtech and diagnostics deals made during June 2025. Data courtesy of Biomedtracker.

Burden Is Too Heavy For Medtechs To Go It Alone On Complex Medtech AI Projects

 
• By Amanda Maxwell

Medtech companies require expertise to navigate complex AI regulations and integrate AI in medical software while addressing regulatory challenges, claims expert AI consultant with medtech experience.