Vertos Medical | Top Orthopedic Solution Company 2018

MedTech Outlook Magazine

Vertos Medical
An Innovative Way to Treat LSS

CIO VendorEric Wichems, President & CEO
More than two million people in the U.S. each year are diagnosed with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), a degenerative, age-related narrowing of the lower spinal canal that leads to compression of the nerve roots. The symptoms of the disease include pain and numbness in the lower back, legs, or buttocks, which limits the patient’s ability to stand and walk. LSS treatments, historically, were limited to palliative therapies or invasive, high risk, open surgical procedures that result in changes to the structural stability of the spine. Resolving these challenges safely and effectively is California-based Vertos Medical that offers mild®—a clinically proven outpatient procedure that removes the cause of the stenosis, helping patients stand longer and walk further with less pain.

The mild procedure is done through a 5.1mm treatment portal and no general anesthesia, implants, or sutures are required. The procedure decompresses the spinal canal by removing small portions of bone overgrowth and debulking the thickened ligament, caused by the accumulation of inflammation-related scar tissue. “This is a simple, minimally invasive, low-risk pain therapy that directly treats the stenosis, has been shown to be as safe as a steroid injection, and provides long-term symptom relief,” explained Eric Wichems, President and CEO of Vertos Medical. Once the thickened ligament has been debulked, space is restored in the spinal canal and patients immediately experience a significant reduction in pain, and improvement in standing time and walking distance. “Unlike other more invasive procedures, patients can return home the same day and are generally able to resume light tasks and everyday activities within just a few days following the mild procedure,” he adds.

After the mild procedure, patients can return home the same day and are generally able to resume light tasks and everyday activities within just a few days


The mild procedure kit includes proprietary, patented medical instruments designed to access and debulk the bony structures and ligament causing the nerve impingement. The procedure can only be done by qualified physicians who have attended training provided by Vertos Medical. The key objectives of the training program are to establish clinical and technical comfort with the mild procedure through hands-on cadaveric lab practicum and physician-proctored didactics. Additionally, the training program focuses on identifying the right patient and acquiring a comprehensive understanding of the mild procedure and Level I clinical study data.

The mild procedure received national Medicare coverage in 2016, and has been used to treat more than 20,000 patients since its 2008 FDA clearance in the U.S. Its safety and efficacy have been demonstrated in more than 13 clinical studies and 20 articles. The mild data shows no device or procedure-related serious adverse events and a significantly lower rate of complications than other more invasive spine procedures. There are countless stories of patients who were not even able to stand, but are now hiking the mountains and can stand for hours. “If patients have the symptomology and the MRI confirms the thickened ligament, the mild procedure should be considered before more invasive options. Interested patients should always consult a doctor to determine if mild is the right treatment option for them,” Wichems mentions.

For Vertos Medical, the road ahead is quite clear, with the company’s focus on helping the large population of LSS patients in the U.S. However, it also aims to expand globally and treat patients from other parts of the world too. “We want to provide the mild procedure to as many patients as we can while growing and expanding as a company,” concludes Wichems.

Top 10 Orthopedic Solution Companies - 2018

Company
Vertos Medical

Management
Eric Wichems, President & CEO

Description
Develops medical devices and produces innovative, minimally invasive treatments for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS)

Vertos Medical News

Vertos Medical Raises $26M for Minimally Invasive Spinal Procedure

Medical device maker Vertos Medical recently snagged $26 million in a Series C funding round. The company’s flagship product is a minimally invasive procedure that removes small pieces of bone and ligament that cause lumbar spinal stenosis.
Vertos Medical, a medical device manufacturer based in Aliso Viejo, California, secured $26 million in a Series C funding round led by Norwest Venture Partners. The company specializes in developing minimally invasive devices for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), a condition characterized by the narrowing of the spinal canal in the lower back.
LSS is often linked to age-related degenerative changes in the spine, such as the growth of bone spurs or thickening of ligaments, resulting in compression of the spinal cord and nerves. This compression leads to back and leg pain, as well as numbness and weakness. Treatment options range from conservative measures, such as physical therapy and pain medication, to surgical interventions in severe cases.
Vertos Medical aims to assist patients suffering from LSS-induced back pain in regaining their quality of life through its products, according to CEO Eric Wichems. The company's flagship product, called "mild," is a minimally invasive procedure that removes small pieces of bone and ligament. This image-guided outpatient procedure does not require general anesthesia.
Wichems explained that during the mild procedure, a physician inserts a hollow metal tube about the size of a straw into the patient's back. X-ray guidance is used to locate the area where the ligament or bone is causing the problem. Specialized instruments are then inserted through the tube to remove small amounts of ligament and bone. The procedure leaves no implants behind and does not require stitches. Patients can typically resume daily activities within 24 hours.
More than 1,000 physicians performed at least one mild procedure in the first quarter of the current year. Since mild is a single-use device system, doctors need to purchase a device for each patient receiving the procedure. Vertos Medical targets physicians experienced in procedures using X-ray guidance, typically interventionists such as interventional pain physicians, interventional radiologists, or physiatrists.
The company's target patients are those who did not benefit from conservative care options and seek a procedure that removes the root cause of the stenosis. These patients are often not candidates for more invasive surgeries or choose not to undergo surgery. According to Wichems, Vertos Medical's biggest competitor is epidural steroid injections, which have a similar safety profile to the mild procedure but only alleviate pain without addressing the underlying condition. Overcoming the challenge of persuading patients to consider a procedure that treats the underlying condition is one of Vertos Medical's key objectives.