Both patients and docs benefit when new medical advances reduce the cost, complexity and risks of surgery. Miamisburg-based X-spine has built a growing business on that idea.
Founded in 2004 by spine surgeon and medical device inventor David Kirschman, the company is growing on the strength of nine FDA- approved products.
The company bills itself as "leader in design and development of novel technologies for the spine." That includes the highly successful X90 screw system, a one-piece product that Kirschman, X-spine's CEO, says simplifies the old two-piece system used before.
The company's new Fixcet Spinal Facet Screw System, which received FDA clearance just last week, sports a novel dual thread design, which Kirschman -- X-spine's CEO -- says provides a more stable way to connect bones. Not just that, but it can be put in through the skin of the patient with only a very small incision.
Kirschman says X-spine is growing 20 percent to 30 percent in both revenues and employment, with nearly 30 employees to date. Along the way, it has benefited from Ohio Third Frontier programs like the Entrepreneurial Signature Program, which provided a $300,000 commercialization investment two and a half years ago, and a current University of Cincinnati-led project funded by a $3-million Third Frontier grant for development of a laser metal processing technology for use in transplants.
"Most of our products are manufactured right here in Dayton," says Kirschman. "There are a lot of skilled engineers here and lot of people with good manufacturing skills."
Source: David Kirschman, X-spine
Writer: Gene Monteith