Brian Verrier is the CEO of orthopedic fixation company OSSIO. With 28 years of medtech experience, Mr. Verrier spoke with Becker’s Spine Review about OSSIO’s technology and trends in the orthopedic fixation market.
Question: How is OSSIO using the OSSIOfiber technology to transform orthopedic fixation?
Brian Verrier: OSSIOfiber material has the potential to be the first credible replacement to permanent implants. OSSIOfiber combines the required material strength for fixation with complete integration into the native anatomy without any adverse biological response.
Permanent implants as well as older bioresorbable technologies are associated with [postoperative] complications, which can often result in secondary removal surgeries. OSSIOfiber Intelligent Bone Regeneration Technology is a new bio-integrative category that will transform the orthopedic experience by providing surgeons with a more biologically friendly way to restore patient stability and mobility while leaving nothing permanent behind. In addition, there is a great potential to lower healthcare costs by reducing complications and secondary removal procedures.
Q: What trends do you see in the orthopedic fixation market?
BV: Orthopedics is one of the faster-growing segments in the medtech industry. As life expectancy continues to increase due to advancements in modern medicine, people tend to remain physically active for many more years than in the past. Orthopedic fixation benefits from these favorable demographic trends. However, there has been very little innovation in material science for fixation implants. Every company in the orthopedic fixation space has attempted to replace permanent implants, but until now success has been elusive due to lack of mechanical strength, biocompatibility or both. Bottom line is that we are seeing a significant increase in market demand for non-permanent fixation devices, specifically for use in soft tissue fixation. Patient demand is also increasing; when given a choice, most people would likely prefer an implant that does its job and is then completely integrated into the body, leaving no foreign object behind.