News
February 2, 2013 - NuOrtho’s Chief Clinical Officer is Selected to Serve as a Research Scientist Delegate by the International Cartilage Repair Society
NuOrtho’s Chief Clinical Officer has been selected
to serve as a Research Scientist Delegate by the International Cartilage Repair Society.
The International Cartilage Repair Society is the main forum for international
collaboration in cartilaginous tissue research with its mission to advance science and
education in cartilage repair globally. Its upcoming Summit entitled "Osteoarthritis of
the Knee and Hip, the final frontier in articular cartilage repair" will be held May
30-June 1, 2013. Only 15 Research Scientists have been selected as Delegates from
all applicants worldwide.
NuOrtho is honored by the selection of Dr. Augé as a Delegate to this important Summit.
As one of fifteen research scientists chosen worldwide, his selection is a testament to
his contributions to articular cartilage repair. The event will increase the visibility
of NuOrtho’s flagship product Ceruleau® that enables surgeons to selectively treat damaged
or diseased cartilage while preserving the surrounding healthy tissue. By preserving the
healthy tissue around a lesion site, this tissue can be enrolled in a healing response
toward repair.
Source: www.cartilage.org
For more information contact NuOrtho Surgical, Inc. at 617-848-8999.
November 29, 2012 - Adoption of NuOrtho’s Energy-Based Device Ceruleau continues to Increase
NuOrtho’s flagship arthroscopic surgical device, Ceruleau®, a physiochemical scalpel,
which gives surgeons an advanced option for treating damaged articular cartilage, has
been approved for use at Park City Medical Center, one of Intermountain HealthCare’s Utah facilities.
Phillip Davidson, MD from the Cartilage Restoration and Joint Resurfacing center at
Heiden Davidson Orthopedicsin Park City, Utah commented, “I use the NuOrtho probe to
smooth broken and fibrillated cartilage. I find this a very valuable tool in my
comprehensive treatment of cartilage lesions. Several patients have reported profound
pain relief following chondroplasty with this device.”
“The approval of Ceruleau at Park City Medical Center demonstrates continued adoption of
NuOrtho’s technology”, said NuOrtho’s CEO Patrick Janin. “As with any new technology,
beneficial patient results are the real key to the success.”
For more information contact Patrick Janin at NuOrtho Surgical, Inc. at (617) 848-8999.
September 24, 2012 - NuOrtho Technology Insights that Integrate over 100 Years of Tissue Research are to be Published
A manuscript written by NuOrtho’s Chief Clinical Officer has been accepted for publication
in a leading nanotechnology scientific journal. The manuscript highlights the innovative
design of NuOrtho’s flagship arthroscopic surgical device, Ceruleau®, a physiochemical
scalpel, which gives surgeons an advanced option for treating damaged articular cartilage.
Ceruleau has been developed in order to decrease the disease burden of osteoarthritis.
The publication in the International Journal of Nanosystems discusses how NuOrtho’s
technology works to create a healthy lesion site that is amenable to tissue healing by
mimicking innate wound healing mechanisms of the body. Interestingly, joints, when
viewed as an organ system, function in much the same wound healing manner to combat the
development of osteoarthritis.
NuOrtho Surgical CEO Patrick Janin commented, “This publication, while discussing complex
scientific topics, displays the remarkable insights of our researchers. As with most
complex and highly advanced technologies, it will take some time for industry to fully
understand what NuOrtho has accomplished for the treatment of cartilage and osteoarthritis.”
Ceruleau utilizes a highly advanced form of technology called redox magnetohydrodynamics that
enables the surgeons to selectively treat damaged or diseased tissue, such as cartilage, while
preserving the surrounding healthy tissue. By preserving the healthy tissue around a lesion
site, this tissue can be enrolled in a healing response.
Source:
Augé WK. Conceptualization of surface-confined nano-assemblies as a biophysical battery
circuit during tissue rescue: a bridge to accessing genomic control mechanisms. Int J Nanosystems 2012; 5(1):1-18.
For more information contact Patrick Janin at NuOrtho Surgical, Inc. at (617) 848-8999.
August 7, 2012 - USPTO Issues Important New Patent to NuOrtho Surgical, Inc.
The USPTO has issued a new patent to NuOrtho Surgical. The patent number 8,235,979
is entitled “Interfacing Media Manipulation with Non-Ablation Radiofrequency Energy
System and Methods” and extends the foundation of NuOrtho’s energy based device system
to include tissue healing responses such as that marked by gene expression. As applied
to articular cartilage, tissue healing responses are an important approach to addressing
the disease burden of osteoarthritis.
Ceruleau®, NuOrtho’s physiochemical scalpel, utilizes a highly advanced form of technology
to enable surgeons the ability to selectively target damaged or diseased tissue while
preserving the surrounding healthy tissue. By preserving the healthy tissue around a
lesion site, this tissue can be enrolled in a healing response.
For more information contact Patrick Janin at NuOrtho Surgical, Inc. at (617) 848-8999.
April 3, 2012 - Three Recent Publications Highlight NuOrtho’s Technology Advance for the Treatment of Cartilage Damage
Fall River, MA: April 3, 2012 - Three recent publications in leading scientific journals show that the innovative design of NuOrtho’s flagship arthroscopic surgical device, Ceruleau®, gives surgeons an advanced option for treating damaged cartilage.
Ceruleau utilizes an highly advanced form of technology called redox magnetohydrodynamics that enables the surgeons to selectively treat damaged or diseased tissue, such as cartilage, while preserving the surrounding healthy tissue. By preserving the healthy tissue around a lesion site, this tissue can be enrolled in a healing response.
The recent publications in the journals Nano Energy, Cartilage, and Osteoarthritis and Cartilage discuss how NuOrtho’s technology works to create a healthy lesion site that is amenable to tissue healing. In Nano Energy, the scientific basis for how the technology works to create a healthy treatment site is discussed; in Cartilage, a group of researchers verified that beneficial gene expression is induced in cartilage that has been linked to tissue healing; and in Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, the origin of the treatment process as a mimic to the body’s own healing mechanisms is presented.
NuOrtho Surgical CEO Patrick Janin commented, “These publications, along with previous studies in various medical journals, are showing the scientific evidence behind the benefits of Ceruleau. Our company has brought a very complex and highly advanced technology to the medical community in order improve the treatment of cartilage.”
Source:
Augé WK. Inverse Mass Ratio Batteries: an in situ energy source generated from motive proton delivery gradients. Nano Energy 2012; 1(2):309-315.
Ganguly K, McRury ID, Goodwin PM, Morgan RE, Augé WK. Targeted in situ biosynthetic transcriptional activation in native surface level human articular chondrocytes during lesion stabilization. Cartilage 2012;3(2):141-155.
Augé WK. Mimicking the respiratory burst myeloperoxidase system of polymorphonuclear neutrophil granulocytes to aid the wound healing behaviors of articular cartilage. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2012;20:S147-S148.
For more information contact Patrick Janin at NuOrtho Surgical, Inc. at 617-848-8999.
February 8, 2012 - Medical Device Industry Veteran Named as NuOrtho Surgical CEO
FALL RIVER, MA. February 8, 2012 — NuOrtho Surgical Inc., a developer of innovative surgical instruments,
announced today that Patrick Janin has been appointed as the new President and Chief Executive Officer
of the company.
Mr. Janin is a seasoned executive with a 20-year track record of building innovative products and companies.
Mr. Janin was CEO and President of Future Medical Systems (FMS) and Advanced Bio Materials SA , where he
led the development of an innovative arthroscopic fluid management and motorized resection system that
captured a leading market share in Europe. He then led the sale of the company and the successful
integration of the business into Johnson & Johnson’s DePuy Mitek. Janin holds a MBA from Georgetown
University - The McDonough School of Business and a BA in International Business from Skidmore College.
NuOrtho is currently commercializing Ceruleau®, a cutting-edge surgical device used to remove damaged
cartilage in order to rescue the surrounding healthy tissue and promote long term patient benefits.
Ceruleau® is designed with an innovative protective electrode tip that allows it to work differently
than other energy based products used during arthroscopic surgery. Ceruleau® uses an Engineered Irrigant™
within its fluid management system to precisely target damaged tissue.
September 9, 2011 - NuOrtho Surgical Announces New Product Release to Market
Fall River, MA: September 9, 2011 – NuOrtho Surgical Inc., a developer of innovative
surgical instruments, has released to market their latest surgical probe offering in
the Ceruleau® family of products. The new medical device from NuOrtho expands Ceruleau’s
use to both Valleylab™ and ConMed® electrosurgical generators, effectively doubling
the product line’s potential market and covering the vast majority of installed US
operating rooms.
Ceruleau probes are used by surgeons during arthroscopic surgery to debride diseased or damaged cartilage while
preserving the healthy tissue by use of an innovative and proprietary electrode tip design. A unique NuOrtho market
advantage is that Ceruleau is powered by previously installed electrosurgical generators and doesn’t require a dedicated
capital investment.
"Ceruleau’s precision technology offers surgeons the unique ability to achieve successful treatment for articular
cartilage lesions, while preserving healthy tissue." said NuOrtho Surgical Chief Development Officer, Roy Morgan.
"With the addition of the Ceruleau for ConMed generators, the product can be used in almost all US operating rooms
and surgical suites with the previously installed generators. This improvement will accelerate the market share growth
Ceruleau is already experiencing in the field."
NuOrtho has already received orders for the new Ceruleau device and is currently shipping to meet the demand.
April 8, 2011 - Innovative Surgical Device to Rescue Cartilage is used for first time in New Jersey
Fall River, MA: April 8, 2011 – A new, innovative arthroscopic surgical device was successfully used
recently in a New Jersey knee surgery to treat articular cartilage lesions and rescue the surrounding
healthy tissue. The surgery, performed by Merrick Wetzler, MD at Summit Surgical Center in Voorhees,
was the first surgery in the New Jersey utilizing the new product branded Ceruleau™. The Surgical
Center reported that the patient was doing well and already resuming normal activities.
The new is designed to aid surgeons during arthroscopic surgery to remove diseased or damaged cartilage
while rescuing the healthy tissue to help promote long term healing. The device, called Ceruleau™ and
manufactured by NuOrtho Surgical Inc., was recently approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.
Ceruleau is built with an innovative protective electrode tip that allows it to work differently than
other products used for this surgery. The tip and its mechanism are key to resecting the diseased tissue
while at the same time, helping to preserve a patient's healthy tissue.
Dr.Wetzler, who performed the first and several subsequent surgeries at Summit Surgery Center, said knee
pain caused by "rough," or fibrillated, cartilage is very common and have been treated with various surgical
instruments. However, many times these cartilage lesions are left untreated because surgeons are concerned
about damaging the healthy tissue surrounding the diseased tissue. Ceruleau™ was developed to allow for
the removal of cartilage lesions and prevent any damage to the surrounding healthy tissue.
"The Ceruleau device is unique,” Dr. Wetzler said. "The research studies associated with this product — and
now the surgical results — give us compelling evidence that we have a new treatment option for articular
cartilage disease that." “Ceruleau targets just the diseased cartilage and rescues the healthy tissue with
a physiochemical scalpel that operates with great precision.” The Doctor added: “This new technique is
particularly beneficial in the treatment of patients with osteoarthritis (fibrillated cartilage); one of the
most common forms of knee arthritis that progress with time.”
NuOrtho’s CEO, Jeff Morrill shared these comments: "We know that surgeons like Dr. Wetzler want the best
outcomes for their patients using the most advanced technology and techniques available. Ceruleau’s precision
technology offers the surgeon an opportunity to achieve successful, treatment and even early intervention for
articular cartilage lesions, while rescuing healthy tissue."
April 4, 2011 - NuOrtho Surgical Appoints Greg Rainey to Board
FALL RIVER, MA. April 4 2011 — NuOrtho Surgical, Inc. announced today the appointment of Gregory Rainey
to its board of directors. Mr. Rainey has extensive experience in the medical device industry in
various senior executive roles. Since 2004, Mr. Rainey has been the president of CCI Performance Group,
LLC, which provides consulting services for healthcare companies.
NuOrtho Surgical CEO, Jeff Morrill stated: "Greg Rainey is a well respected medical device executive.
Under his leadership as Vice President of Sales, the Stryker Orthopedics Division nearly doubled sales to
over $1 billion dollars in just 4 years. For the last 7 years he has been helping companies similar to
ours establish strong commercial success. And Greg also brings valuable board experience to NuOrtho from
his director roles at RTI Biologics and CAS Medical. We believe his considerable commercial experience
and his success in creating value for patients, physicians and shareholders will be extremely helpful to
NuOrtho as we continue to expand the commercialization of our soft tissue platform”.
Mr. Rainey commented: "I look forward to working with a very talented management team at NuOrtho as they
are launching their first product, Ceruleau, for better healthcare treatment of cartilage in the knee for
the orthopedic market. It’s exciting to be joining such an innovative company that has tremendous
potential for improving orthopedic outcomes for patients and physicians.”
In addition to his role as President of CCI Performance Group, Mr. Rainey is a member of the Board of
Directors at RTI Biologics, Inc, as well as a Board member at CAS Medical Systems, Inc. Mr. Rainey spent the
majority of his career at Stryker Corporation where his roles included Vice President of Sales and member of
the Executive Committee of Stryker’s $1.2 billion orthopedic division
March 30, 2011 - Innovative Surgical Device to be featured at World Science Congress
Fall River, MA: March 30, 2011 – Nine Nobel Laureates will be among the top science leaders at the
World DNA and Genome Day Conference and the World Congress of Marine Biotechnology as a new
physiochemical scalpel is showcased as a tool in the battle against arthritis.
Dr. Wayne Augé, Chief Clinical Officer of NuOrtho Surgical, Inc., has been invited to Chair the Human
Genetics and Disease section of the World DNA and Genome Day Conference and will give a presentation
titled: Addressing the Large World-wide Disease Burden of Osteoarthritis through Targeted Induction of
Biosynthetic Gene Expression: Early Intervention Engineered to Reverse Articular Cartilage Lesions. He
has also been invited to discuss his research at the World Congress of Marine Biotechnology and will give a
presentation titled: The intimate relationships between tissue surface barriers and their saline environments
create a therapeutic substrate for the surgical rescue of diseased tissue: a molecular energy conversion loop
designed for surgical work.
Among the items to be presented is a new surgical device designed to aid surgeons during arthroscopic
surgery to remove diseased or damaged cartilage while rescuing the healthy tissue to help promote long
term healing. The device, called Ceruleau®, is manufactured by NuOrtho Surgical Inc., and was recently
approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Ceruleau is built with an innovative protective electrode
tip that allows it to work differently than other products used for cartilage surgery. The tip and its mechanism
are key to resecting the diseased tissue while helping to preserve a patient's healthy tissue.
The World DNA and Genome Day Conference and the World Congress of Marine Biotechnology will be
held in Dalian, China and will cover extensive topics of modern life science and industrial biotechnology.
The conference includes the integration of 6 concurrent world-class congresses in one week and lectures by
9 Nobel Prize Laureates. Industry leaders from academia, government, and health care companies from all
over the world will be in attendance at the conference.
“We are honored by the invitation from the organizers of these prestigious events to discuss the importance
of rescuing healthy tissue during arthroscopic surgery” said NuOrtho Surgical CEO, Jeff Morrill.
“Ceruleau’s precision technology offers the surgeon an opportunity to achieve successful early intervention
for articular cartilage lesions while rescuing healthy tissue. The advanced surgical results obtained by
surgeons using Ceruleau show that there is a new treatment option for articular cartilage disease.
The World DNA and Genome Day Conference and the World Congress of Marine Biotechnology will run
from April 25-29th. Dr Auge’s presentations will be on April 26th and April 27th at the Dalian World Expo
Center – Dalian, China. For more information on the conference and the world congresses, visit:
http://www.dnaday.com/ and http://www.bitlifesciences.com/wcmb2011/
NuOrtho Surgical is focused on surgical instruments to enable Tissue Preservation in the orthopedic arena
to improve patient outcomes. The technology leverages a low level Radio Frequency energy to restore
mobility in patients by preserving healthy tissue in both soft and hard tissue procedures. NuOrtho has three
primary product platforms for preserving healthy Tissue to sustain long-term mobility in our busy lives,
particularly for Baby Boomers. These platforms include Soft Tissue Treatment, Agent Delivery and Bone
Fusion. More information can be found at http://www.nuorthosurgical.com
Please contact NuOrtho Surgical for copies of abstracts of the presentations.
Please contact Chris Heye, cheye@nuorthosurgical.com, with any questions.
December 29, 2010 - Massachusetts Life Sciences Center Approves Tax Incentives for Fall River-based NuOrtho Surgical, Inc.
Waltham, MA – The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center has authorized Fall River-based NuOrtho
Surgical, Inc. to receive state tax incentives totaling $573,000. In return the company has
committed to the creation of 25 new jobs in 2011. The Center has approved a total of $23.9
million in 2010 tax incentives to encourage growth at 30 life sciences companies. The
recipient companies have committed to creating nearly 1000 new jobs in 2011.
The Life Sciences Tax Incentive Program, established in 2008 as part of the state’s ten-year,
$1 billion Life Sciences Initiative, authorizes up to $25 million in tax incentives each year
for companies engaged in life sciences research and development, commercialization, and
manufacturing. The primary goal of the program is to incentivize life sciences companies to
create new sustained jobs in Massachusetts.
The Life Sciences Act provides for nine different incentives, which address the significant
capital expenditures associated with the life sciences R&D cycle and the high costs of
translating research into commercially viable products. This is the second year that
incentives have been provided under the program.
"We are thrilled that the Life Sciences Center has selected NuOrtho Surgical for this award,”
said Chris Heye, Chief Operating Officer for NuOrtho Surgical, Inc. “We started our company
here in Fall River to help orthopedic surgeons battle major disease states like osteoarthritis.
We are deeply honored that the Life Sciences Center recognizes our science and product potential.
The tax incentive award comes at a very important time for our company as we look to rapidly
expand and add jobs to help further accelerate our growth."
“The Life Sciences Initiative is all about jobs and better health,” said Governor Deval Patrick.
“These incentives help us build a stronger foundation for our economy and for healing for years
to come.”
“These tax incentives are providing a solid return on our state’s investment in both the short
and long term, with this year’s round of recipients committing to create nearly 1,000 new jobs
during the coming year,” said Dr. Susan Windham-Bannister, President & CEO of the Massachusetts
Life Sciences Center. “We are utilizing these incentives to encourage the creation of jobs in
sectors where Massachusetts is a global leader, and where jobs typically pay more than the average
salary in Massachusetts. This tax incentive program is already working to stimulate our economy,
while holding the companies involved accountable for their job creation commitments.”
“The companies that will receive these incentives are adding jobs in a cutting-edge industry that
is a strength for Massachusetts,” said Massachusetts Administration and Finance Secretary Jay
Gonzalez, Co-chairman of the Center’s Board of Directors. “The Governor’s Life Sciences initiative
not only offers hope to those waiting for cures for diseases, but to the Commonwealth as a whole as
we look to grow our economy and lay the foundation for long-term economic competitiveness and
success.”
“These investments continue to position the Commonwealth for long term sustainable job growth and
further support our place as a global leader in the innovation economy,” said Massachusetts Secretary
of Housing & Economic Development Gregory Bialecki, Co-chairman of the Center’s Board of Directors.
“Great to see the life sciences industry grow in the Southcoast region,” said State Representative
Michael Rodrigues (D-Westport). “With the addition of 25 new jobs at NuOrtho Surgical, it is exciting
to see a 21st century economy take shape here in Fall River. To continue building a lasting foundation,
leading to expanded job opportunities for our residents, we must continue to emphasize economic growth
driven by the life sciences and tech-related sectors.”
The Tax Incentive Program is jointly administered by the Center and the Massachusetts
Department of Revenue (DOR), which will oversee the technical administration of the
incentives. Jobs that are created must be maintained for at least five years. The Tax
Incentive Program mandates that awarded companies submit reports and respond to inquiries
by the Center and DOR regarding employment figures. If a company receiving a tax incentive
under the program does not meet and maintain their job creation commitment, the credit can
be “clawed back” (recovered) by DOR, requiring that the company pay back all or a portion
of the tax incentives they’ve received.
About the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center
The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) is a quasi-public agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
tasked with implementing the Massachusetts Life Sciences Act, a ten-year, $1 billion initiative that was
signed into law in June of 2008. The Center’s mission is to create jobs in the life sciences and support
vital scientific research that will improve the human condition. This work includes making financial
investments in public and private institutions that are advancing life sciences research, development and
commercialization as well as building ties between sectors of the Massachusetts life sciences community.
For more information, visit www.masslifesciences.com.
About the Life Sciences Tax Incentive Program
The Life Sciences Initiative authorizes the Center to award up to $25 million in tax incentives
each year. Applicants are generally companies that have transitioned or are transitioning from
pure life sciences research and development (“R&D”) to commercialization and manufacturing. The
Center recognizes that many companies struggle to address the significant capital investment
associated with the long life sciences R&D cycle and the high cost of translating research into a
commercially viable product. This solicitation is designed to help sustain these companies through
a critical stage of development and to leverage additional sources of capital to bring cutting edge
innovation to the marketplace.
December 24, 2010 - New Study Shows how Unique Surgical Device Design is Key to Preserving Healthy Tissue
Fall River, MA: December 24, 2010- A recent study in a leading scientific journal
shows that the innovative design of a newly released arthroscopic surgical device,
called Ceruleau™, gives surgeons an advanced option for treating tissue.
The new device from NuOrtho Surgical Inc, utilizes a distinctive protective housing
at the tip of the surgical instrument that allows the Surgeon to selectively treat
damaged or diseased tissue, such as cartilage, while preserving the surrounding
healthy tissue. Other Surgical probes do not have this protective housing and
consequently have been shown to kill healthy tissue around the treatment site.
The study, published in the most recent volume of WATER, a Multidisciplinary Research
Journal, describes how Ceruleau’s™ non-ablation radio frequency energy and its patented
design work during surgery. The study further illustrates how the device uses a primary
reaction zone within its ceramic housing to modify arthroscopic fluid and to protect
tissue from direct electrode-to-tissue contact.
NuOrtho Surgical CEO Jeff Morrill commented, “This Water Journal study, along with previous
studies in various medical publications, is showing the scientific evidence behind the
benefits of Ceruleau™. Our company was started with the belief that preserving
healthy tissue is a critical foundation for improving orthopedic procedures for surgeons,
hospitals, and patients. We have been thrilled with the medical community's reaction to
our first product Ceruleau™.
Source: McRury ID, Morgan RE, Augé II WK. The Manipulation of Water with Non-Abla¬tion
Radiofrequency Energy: A Repetitive Molecular Energy Conversion Loop under Non-Ionizing
Electromagnetic Forces. WATER: A Multidisciplinary Research Journal Volume 2, 2010
For more information contact: Chris Heye/NuOrtho at 617-848-8999
December 15, 2010 - New device for knee surgery used for first time at Southcoast Hospitals
St. Luke's Hospital orthopedic surgeon Jeremy B. Stern, MD, is first in U.S. to use device made by Fall River firm
NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — Southcoast Hospitals Group announced today that orthopedic surgeon
Jeremy B. Stern, MD, recently became the first surgeon in the U.S. to use a new surgical
device for a common type of knee surgery at its St. Luke's site in New Bedford. The device,
created by a Fall River firm, is designed to aid surgeons during arthoscopic surgery to
remove diseased or damaged cartilage while preserving the healthy tissue to help promote
long term healing.
The device, called Ceruleau™ and manufactured by NuOrtho Surgical Inc. in Fall River, was
approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration earlier this year. Ceruleau is built with
an innovative protective electrode tip that allows it to work differently than other products
used for this surgery. The tip and its mechanism are key to helping preserve a patient's
healthy tissue. This is the first surgery using this device to take place in the U.S.
Dr. Stern, who performed the surgery on November 15 at St. Luke's Hospital, said knee pain
caused by "rough," or fibrillated, cartilage is very common and usually treated with a number
of techniques to restore the area back to a smooth surface to eliminate pain.
"The Ceruleau device fine tunes the excellent surgery we were already performing," Dr. Stern
said. "The research studies associated with this product — and now the surgical results — give
us compelling evidence that we have a new treatment option for articular cartilage disease."
Ceruleau is an electrosurgical wand-like device that smoothes the cartilage by selectively
targeting diseased tissue to preserve as much healthy tissue as possible without hurting the
surrounding tissue. The design of the device — a protected electrode to avoid electrode-to-tissue
contact in combination with, a low radio frequency energy — allows for localized treatment of
damaged cartilage tissue while sparing healthy cartilage.
This new technique is particularly beneficial in the treatment of patients with osteoarthritis
(fibrillated cartilage), one of the most common forms of knee arthritis that progresses with
time, Dr. Stern said.
"We know that surgeons like Dr. Jeremy Stern want the best outcomes for their patients using
the most advanced technology and techniques available," said Jeffrey W. Morrill, Chief Executive
Officer of NuOrtho Surgical Inc. "Ceruleau and the non-ablative radiofrequency technology offers
the surgeon an opportunity to achieve successful, early intervention for articular cartilage
lesions, while preserving healthy tissue."
September 27, 2010 - Battle Against Articular Cartilage Disease
Fall River, MA: September 27, 2010- New, ground breaking research shows promising advancements in the battle against articular
cartilage disease. A new study, presented this week at the 9th World Congress of the International Cartilage Repair Society
conference in Barcelona, Spain revealed that chondron density can increase in response to non-ablation radiofrequency energy.
Articular cartilage disease is a large and growing problem as the US population ages. Orthopedic surgeons are able to visibly
see the disease progressing but have had limited options to stop the loss of chondron density.
This new research, presented to a gathering of many of the world's top cartilage researchers and orthopedic surgeons, examined
how non-ablative radiofrequency energy can preferentially increase articular cartilage Superficial Zone live chondron density.
Resetting functional chondron density patterns may have the potential to create a more chondro-supportive environment for articular
cartilage as it inherently responds to disease.
Dr. Jack Farr, a leading orthopedic surgeon out of Indianapolis stated, “The research presented at the conference shows a
compelling case for a new treatment option we now have for articular cartilage disease. This non-ablative technology now allows
us to selectively target and remove damaged tissue without causing necrosis in the contiguous cartilage tissue surrounding the
lesion. This is an important step forward.”
NuOrtho Surgical, Inc is the medical device company that developed and sells the new non-ablative RF energy surgical probe used
in the study. NuOrtho CEO, Jeff Morrill, released the following statement, "Ceruleau® is the product used in the study to achieve
these promising results. The opportunity to achieve successful early surgical intervention for articular cartilage lesions rather
than waiting for full-thickness lesions to develop has recently been made possible with the advent of non-ablation radiofrequency
technology and Ceruleau®. With our recent FDA clearance for Ceruleau®, we are excited to bring this surgical tool to orthopedic
surgeons."
Additional information on the ICRS presentation as well as further details of the study can be found at: http://posters.webges.com/get/pdf/icrs2010/3754/
NuOrtho Surgical is focused on surgical instruments to enable Tissue Preservation℠ in the orthopedic arena to
improve patient outcomes. The technology leverages a low level Radio Frequency energy to restore mobility in patients by
preserving healthy tissue in both soft and hard tissue procedures. NuOrtho has three primary product platforms for preserving
healthy Tissue to sustain long-term mobility in our busy lives, particularly for Baby Boomers. These platforms include Soft
Tissue Treatment, Agent Delivery and Bone Fusion.
August 15, 2010 - Two Recent Studies Offer New Cartilage Lesion Insights
Fall River, MA (PRWEB) August 15, 2010 - NuOrtho Surgical, Inc. today announces that the findings of two separate studies discussing
early surgical intervention for the articular cartilage damage of osteoarthritis.
The studies demonstrate that damaged cartilage retains viable cartilage cells at stages of the degeneration process from normal to
surface fibrillation. The studies also confirm many previous studies that current treatments using thermal and plasma ablation devices
can caused additional damage to articular cartilage. The studies were performed at the Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, Los
Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, in conjunction with Physicians Medical Center of Santa Fe, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
NuOrtho's Ceruleau™ probe was tested due the new non-ablation approach to tissue preservation that it represents. The current ablation
radiofrequency devices tested, including Smith and Nephew's Glider® probe and Arthrocare's Paragon® probe, are designed for ablation
of tissue and therefore can cause collateral damage. Ceruleau allows for targeted removal of diseased tissue without causing the
collateral damage of ablation devices that has been a concern to surgeons. The study, titled “Histopomorphic Evaluation of
Radiofrequency Mediated Debridement Chondroplasty”, states that “The morphologic and histologic treatment results created by Ceruleau
are vastly superior to those of other debridement chondroplasty techniques.” and “The low-level energy delivery is configured to
modify/precondition diseased cartilage to a state amenable to a safe and effective gentle mechanical débridement.”
NuOrtho Surgical is focused on surgical instruments to enable Tissue Preservation℠ in the Orthopedic arena to improve
patient outcomes. The technology leverages a low level Radio Frequency energy to restore mobility in patients by preserving healthy
tissue in both soft and hard tissue procedures. NuOrtho has three primary product platforms for preserving healthy Tissue to sustain
long-term mobility in our busy lives, particularly for Baby Boomers. These platforms include Soft Tissue Treatment, Agent Delivery and
Bone Fusion
Source: Ganguly K, McRury ID, Goodwin PM, Morgan RE, Augé WK. Histopomorphic evaluation of radiofrequency mediated débridement chondroplasty. Open Orthop J 2010; 4:211-220.
Ganguly K, McRury ID, Goodwin PM, Morgan RE, Augé WK. Native chondrocyte viability during cartilage lesion progression: normal to surface fibrillation. Cartilage; July 22, 2010 as doi:10.1177/1947603510373918
For more information contact: Chris Heye/NuOrtho at 617-848-8999
July 6, 2010 - NuOrtho Surgical receives FDA 510(k) Clearance
Fall River, MA, July 6, 2010, NuOrtho Surgical, Inc., a developer of leading edge surgical instruments, received 510(k)
clearance from the Food and Drug Administration clearance to market its Ceruleau™ surgical probe in the United States.
Ceruleau™, is a 3.5 mm arthroscopic radio frequency (RF) electrosurgical probe made for the treatment of soft tissues,
particularly fibrillated articular cartilage. This novel electrosurgical device is designed to aid the surgeon by selectively
targeting diseased cartilage tissue during procedures intent to restore smooth chondral surfaces. Studies have demonstrated
that its design, which combines low RF energy delivery with a protected electrode (to avoid electrode-to-tissue contact),
allows for localized treatment of damaged/fibrillated cartilage tissue while avoiding harm to healthy cartilage.
"This 510(k) clearance is an important step towards advancing our technology and the Tissue Preservation™ platform" said Jeff
Morrill, CEO of NuOrtho Surgical. "We repeatedly hear that surgeons want to do everything they can to maximize the preservation
of healthy tissue during surgical procedures. Ceruleau™ helps deliver this need for surgeons and patients. This is the first
product of many we are developing in support of our Tissue Preservation™ platform".
Manufacturing of Ceruleau™ is underway and NuOrtho Surgical is finalizing launch plans for the new product. NuOrtho has signed
agreements with a number of leading medical device distributors around the country to help build rapid market penetration.
NuOrtho Surgical Inc., is currently focused on the design and manufacture of surgical devices that enable Tissue Preservation™
to improve patient outcomes in the orthopedic arena. NuOrtho has three primary product platforms for preserving healthy tissue
to sustain long-term mobility. These platforms include Soft Tissue Treatment, Agent Delivery and Bone Fusion, however to date
only the Ceruleau™, product has been cleared to market. In addition to the patents held for Ceruleau™, the company has numerous
other patents, providing significant business opportunities.
June, 2010 - NuOrtho Surgical named as one of top 50 companies to watch in 2010
FALL RIVER, MA (June 2010) – NuOrtho Surgical, Inc has been recognized by Medical Device and Diagnostic Industry (MD+DI) magazine as one of
the top 50 companies to watch for in the medical device industry in 2010. NuOrtho Surgical is focused on surgical instruments that enable
Tissue Preservation℠ in the Orthopedic arena to improve patient outcomes.
MD+DI went through a meticulous process to analyze all possible information on the nominated companies to select the final Top 50 companies.
In the recent June 2010 publication, the magazine writes
"The challenge for MD+DI editors was to identify not only those companies that have achieved success, but also to find those
manufacturers with the potential to revolutionize care practices".
CEO of NuOrtho Surgical, Jeffrey Morrill, commented "We are honored that MD+DI recognizes NuOrtho Surgical as one of the companies that can
revolutionize care practices. As the population ages, there is a growing need to sustain long-term mobility, particularly among baby
boomers. The future is bright for innovative products like ours that have a clear point of difference and benefits.
NuOrtho has completed 510K FDA regulatory filing and is awaiting clearance for Ceruleau™ an orthopedic probe which is designed to remove
damaged cartilage and preserve healthy tissue during surgery. Mr Morrill added "MD+DI reported that they often selected companies that
'often boasted ground breaking technologies.'. We believe Ceruleau™ and other products in our portfolio have enormous potential and it is
rewarding for the Company to be recognized in this way".
MD+DI solicited nominations from readers, its
Editorial Advisory Board
and Reader Board, and industry observers, and analyzed nominee information before producing the list.
NuOrtho Surgical is focused on the manufacture of surgical instruments that enable Tissue Preservation™ in the orthopedic arena to improve
patient outcomes. NuOrtho has three primary product platforms for preserving healthy tissue to sustain long-term mobility. These platforms
include Soft Tissue Treatment, Agent Delivery and Bone Fusion. NuOrtho’s first product launch will be Ceruleau™, a revolutionary product for
soft tissue treatment in knee procedures for cartilage. The company has a growing patent portfolio, as they added another one recently,
providing significant business opportunities.
May, 2010 - NuOrtho Surgical names Eric E. Ray Director of Sales - USA
FALL RIVER, MA (May 2010) – Jeffrey Morrill, CEO of NuOrtho Surgical, Inc. of Fall River, Massachusetts, is pleased to
announce that Eric E. Ray has joined the company as Director of Sales for the United States.
“Eric is a great addition to our team. As a veteran medical device sales and marketing executive with 14 years of
orthopedic device knowledge, he has proven experience in launching new products and growing sales at both start-up firms
and large corporations. Eric’s talents, leadership and dedication will provide the qualities needed to organize our sales,
marketing, professional education and customer service efforts, something he has done before in his career, and we expect
him to perform at a high level in his role for NuOrtho Surgical, Inc.,” stated Morrill.
Mr. Ray gained much of his experience at Johnson & Johnson’s Depuy, a $13 billion medical device division, where he served in
various sales, management and marketing roles for eight years. While at DePuy, Mr. Ray managed more than $50 million in products
and commercially launched several products overseas. He also served as National Sales & Marketing Manager for DePuy Mitek in
Australia, providing the initiatives for change and capitalization on various sports medicine and joint ventures.
Mr. Ray has brought a great network of industry sales contacts to NuOrtho and has already begun signing and entering into contract
negotiations with a variety of strategic key agent groups throughout the country. “Eric has made an immediate impact in executing
our go-to-market plans,” stated Morrill.
“NuOrtho’s unique product line provides an opportunity to improve the surgical outcome for surgeons and the active Baby Boomer
generation. NuOrtho is a great company, and it will be a pleasure to lead their sales efforts,” stated Ray.
NuOrtho Surgical is focused on the manufacture of surgical instruments that enable Tissue Preservation™ in the orthopedic arena to
improve patient outcomes. NuOrtho has three primary product platforms for preserving healthy tissue to sustain long-term mobility.
These platforms include Soft Tissue Treatment, Agent Delivery and Bone Fusion. NuOrtho’s first product launch will be Ceruleau™, a
revolutionary product for soft tissue treatment in knee procedures for cartilage. The company has a growing patent portfolio, as
they added another one recently, providing significant business opportunities.
March 26, 2010 - NuOrtho Surgical working with regulatory expert for FDA filing
Fall River, MA, March 26, 2010 - NuOrtho Surgical, Inc., a developer of leading edge surgical instruments, announced
it has retained the services of RA/QA International L.L.C. for assistance in completing the 510K FDA regulatory filing
for the Ceruleau™ orthopedic probe. RA/QA, headed by Martin Leighton, has been assisting companies with domestic and
international regulatory submissions since 1996.
"Martin and his firm bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to us as we finalize our regulatory submission for our
product Ceruleau™ which is designed to remove damaged cartilage and preserve healthy tissue during surgery." said NuOrtho
CEO, Jeff Morrill. "This is the first product of many we are developing for our Tissue Preservation™ platform and it was
important for us to partner with one of the best in completing our FDA submission. RA/QA provides another quality regulatory
resource to our team and they will help ensure that we provide the FDA with a thorough and robust filing."
RA/QA's Martin Leighton commented "I am pleased to be working with NuOrtho on this submission. The more I learned about their
Tissue Preservation™ platform and their products, the more involved I wanted to be with this innovative company."
Martin Leighton, Principal of RA/QA International is a Bio-Medical Engineer and was formerly Executive Director of Operations
and Strategic Business Development for the US Medical Division of TÜV Product Service, a Division of TÜV America, Inc. Martin
has worked with companies such as Agilent Technologies (now Phillips Medical, formerly HP Medical Products), Chiron Vision,
Alcon, Bausch & Lomb, Teleflex Medical/Arrow Int., Baxter, Colorado MEDtech, Genzyme, Hill-Rom, Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic,
MedSource, Siemens, Smith + Nephew, Respironics, TYCO (Sherwood, Davis+Geck, USSC), C. R. Bard, Bristol-Myers Squibb Medical
Imaging and many more.
RA/QA International provides hands-on consulting services to the medical devices industry for regulatory submissions, compliance
and quality management systems. Recently RA/QA International, L.L.C. has also added ISO 14644 clean room certification services
to its product offering Martin was trained at the FDA’s Staff College for “Pre-market Notification 510(k) Review for Third Party
Organizations” and “Quality System Regulation (QSR)-Design Controls Assessments.”
NuOrtho Surgical is focused on the manufacture of surgical instruments that enable Tissue Preservation™ in the orthopedic arena
to improve patient outcomes. NuOrtho has three primary product platforms for preserving healthy tissue to sustain long-term mobility.
These platforms include Soft Tissue Treatment, Agent Delivery and Bone Fusion. NuOrtho’s first product launch will be Ceruleau™, a
revolutionary product for soft tissue treatment in knee procedures for cartilage. The company has nine patents providing significant
business opportunities.
March 19, 2010 - NuOrtho Surgical Names Darik Volpa to Board of Directors
Jeffrey Morrill, CEO of NuOrtho Surgical, Inc. of Fall River, Massachusetts, is pleased to announce that Darik
Volpa, CEO of Understand.com, has joined its Board of Directors. Mr. Volpa has led the privately held company
to seven straight years of record sales growth.
Fall River, MA March 19, 2010 - Jeffrey Morrill, CEO of NuOrtho Surgical, Inc. of Fall River, Massachusetts,
is pleased to announce that Darik Volpa, CEO of Understand.com, has joined its Board of Directors.
“Darik Volpa is a great addition to our Board of Directors. As the founder and CEO of Understand.com, a global
provider of medical content that helps healthcare professionals and companies better communicate diseases,
conditions, and procedures to patients using 3D animation, Darik is well suited for NuOrtho,” stated Morrill.
Mr. Volpa gained much of his experience at Stryker Corporation, a $6 billion medical device company, where he served
in various sales and marketing roles for nine years. While at Stryker, Mr. Volpa managed more than $50 million in
products and commercially launched the first synthetically engineered bone morphogenetic protein (BMP).
Mr. Volpa was named the 2007 Innovator of the Year by The Business Report of Northern Nevada. In 2006, Mr. Volpa was
awarded "Best of Show" at the Silver & Gold Venture Capital Conference representing Understand.com. In 2009, the
company was a finalist for “Best Places to Work” in Northern Nevada by the Economic Development Authority of Western
Nevada. Mr. Volpa was the recipient of the Reno Gazette Journal “20 Under 40” award, and he was named a “20/20 Business
Visionary” by Nevada Business Magazine.
Understand.com has educated more than 5,000,000 patients and has thousands of clients licensing content globally. Mr.
Volpa has led the privately held company to seven straight years of record sales growth.
NuOrtho Surgical is focused on the manufacture of surgical instruments that enable Tissue Preservation™ in the orthopedic
arena to improve patient outcomes. NuOrtho has three primary product platforms for preserving healthy tissue to sustain
long-term mobility. These platforms include Soft Tissue Treatment, Agent Delivery and Bone Fusion. NuOrtho’s first product
launch will be Ceruleau™, a revolutionary product for soft tissue treatment in knee procedures for cartilage. The
company has nine patents providing significant business opportunities. For further information visit www.nuortho.com.
January 25, 2010 - NuOrtho Surgical selects Contract Manufacturing Partner
Fall River, MA, January 25, 2010 - NuOrtho Surgical, Inc., an innovative provider of leading
edge surgical instruments today announced it has signed an agreement with Eagle Medical Inc.
to provide Contract Manufacturing services. Under the agreement, Eagle Medical will be the
manufacturer of NuOrtho's next generation, minimally invasive arthroscopic products.
"We are proud to announce this strategic relationship as we prepare to launch our first product,
Ceruleau™ for people with knee pain. We conducted a lengthy search to find the right partner
that could meet our high manufacturing expectations. Eagle Medical has a proven track record of
working with leading medical device firms that positions them well to scale up around the globe
with us", comments NuOrtho Surgical CEO Jeffrey Morrill.
NuOrtho Surgical is focused on surgical instruments to enable Tissue Preservation™ in the Orthopedic
arena to improve patient outcomes. The technology leverages a low level Radio Frequency energy to
restore mobility in patients by preserving healthy tissue in both soft and hard tissue procedures.
NuOrtho has three primary product platforms for preserving healthy Tissue to sustain long-term mobility
in our busy lives, particularly for Baby boomers. These platforms include Soft Tissue Treatment, Agent
Delivery and Bone Fusion. The Bone Fusion technology is a game changer and can fuse bone together, and
ultimately has the potential to replace screws and plates that are used in many procedures today.
Eagle Medical, located on the California Central Coast mid-way between San Francisco and Los Angeles, was
designed to exceed today's regulatory requirements. Has a modern 10,000 square foot facility has over 1600
square feet of cleanroom and support area designed to provide a high quality environment for assembly and
packaging of medical devices.
Eagle Medical's areas of expertise include manufacturing and packaging specialties, process and sterility
validation studies, environmental controls, and bringing new products to market. We are well positioned for
companies like NuOrtho Surgical and getting their innovative new products ready for FDA clearance and manufacturing
“scale up” states Doyle Timmons Eagle Medical President.
January, 2010 - NuOrtho Surgical Names Ian McRury Ph.D. to leadership team as Chief Scientific Officer
FALL RIVER, MA (January 2010) - NuOrtho Surgical, Inc., a medical device firm focused
on surgical instruments and procedures to enable Tissue Preservation™ in the orthopedic
arena, is pleased to announce the addition of Ian McRury Ph.D. to the senior leadership
of the company as Chief Scientific Officer. Dr. McRury brings a wealth of radio frequency
knowledge and experience in bringing innovative products to market.
Dr. McRury has been working in the medical devices industry for the past 17 years with
industry leaders including Davol, Johnson & Johnson and C.R. Bard. At DePuy Mitek, a
division of Johnson & Johnson, he focused on rapid product development and transformational
technologies such as the Platform Leader for Tissue Management. He has significant experience
developing and launching RF products. During his tenure at Mitek, RF sales increased from
$20MM to $75MM.
Dr. McRury holds a B.S. degree from Boston University and a master’s and doctor’s degree from
the University of Virginia.
“The addition of Dr. McRury to our company signals another significant step toward building our
team to advance the science of Tissue Preservation™ for the orthopedics market,” said NuOrtho
Surgical CEO Jeff Morrill. “Dr. McRury brings tremendous experience and expertise to the
commercial, clinical, technical and regulatory sides of our business. The reception and
enthusiasm we have received from the medical and healthcare communities have helped us attract
top talent like this to NuOrtho. These are exciting days as we prepare for our initial launch
in the coming months.”
NuOrtho has three primary product platforms for preserving healthy tissue. These platforms include
Soft Tissue Treatment, Agent Delivery and Bone Fusion. The Bone Fusion technology is revolutionary
as it can fuse bone together, and ultimately has the potential to replace screws and plates that are
used in many procedures today such as a simple ACL knee procedure. The company has nine issued patents.
There are several additional patents pending in the Tissue Preservation™ arena.
January 17, 2010 - What’s Nu? Standard Times
NuOrtho Surgical, Inc., a medical device manufacturer start-up here has patented
a surgical probe designed to preserve joint cartilage during orthopedic repair
procedures and combat degenerative osteoarthritis of the knees, a problem that
plagues millions as they age.
The company is planning to launch this innovative new technology early this year,
pending FDA approval.
"This is a very exciting approach. If you can help someone with mid-range osteoarthritis
improve their mobility and at the same time preserve the remaining healthy articular
cartilage, that is a huge win-win," said Dr. Jeremy Stern, a well-known orthopedic
surgeon who practices in the SouthCoast and is a member of NuOrtho's Advisory Panel.
NuOrtho was founded in September, 2008 by Jeffrey W Morrill, CEO, a marketing executive
who worked in the medical device arena at Johnson & Johnson for eight years; Roy E.
Morgan, a mechanical engineer with expertise in radiofrequency energy who worked at Stryker,
Artemis Medical and Abbott Labs, and now serves as chief development officer; and Dr.
Wayne K. Augé II, the chief clinical officer and a board-certified orthopedic surgeon.
Morgan oversees research and development from California and Dr. Augé is located in New
Mexico.
Morgan and Augé began creating a patent portfolio in 2003, and the company now holds nine
patents for the tissue preservation technology and eight trademarks.
They put together their first million dollars in start-up financing in March, 2009 and
a second million had been secured by November. The company continues to look for strategic
partners to help the firm grow.
Osteoarthritis is a widespread problem in the United States, afflicting more than 20 million
people — especially baby boomers — a primary market targeted by NuOrtho. According to
www.MedicineNet.com, the degenerative condition affects more males before the age of 45.
After age 55, it affects more women. Genetics can play a role, and sometimes it affects much
younger people. Symptoms of osteoarthritis can include joint pain with activity, limited
motion, joint inflammation, morning stiffness and pain at night.
According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons' web site, www.aaos.org, the
articular cartilage is located between the thigh bone and the shin bone, cushions the knee
joint and helps muscles move the knee more efficiently. As the body ages, the cartilage
becomes thinner and more vulnerable to fraying and lesions which can limit the gliding
ability of the knee joint and severely limit mobility. Eventually, the cartilage breaks
down completely, which results in the "bone-on-bone" situation which can require a total
knee replacement.
"Once cartilage is gone, it's gone," said Morrill. "The goal of our new surgical probe is
to allow the surgeon to preserve the healthy articular cartilage tissue while repairing
and contouring the damaged area — using lower temperatures and lower levels of radiofrequency
energy — all with the benefit of avoiding necrosis, the killing of healthy tissue."
The company has trademarked its probe, called Ceruleau, which means "blue water" in Latin
and French. Like other probes already on the market, it is designed for one-time use while
performing a surgical treatment for articular knee cartilage called a chondroplasty — a
procedure where the damaged knee joint surface is carefully re-contoured to remove lesions
and fraying and improve mobility.
The NuOrtho approach is designed to create a smooth cartilage surface without cutting,
shaving or heating tissue to a high degree, all of which can create collateral tissue damage.
"This procedure can be a Catch-22," said Stern. "If you smooth the knee surface completely,
you may sacrifice too much cartilage. If you leave it too rough, the knee may still get
caught or stuck, which can limit mobility."
Morrill emphasized the careful attention paid to the design details of the probe, based on
years of experience in the medical devices arena, combined with feedback from orthopedic surgeons.
"It has been reshaped to better fit the contour of the surgeon's hand as opposed to being
stick-like," he commented. "The exterior surface has been texturized for better grip and
improved surgical precision and control. And we added the power button to the probe handle
itself instead of utilizing a floor pedal which requires additional cabling and more cords
in the operating room."
Other benefits Morrill mentioned include enhanced patient recovery and reduced operating time,
and lower costs to the surgical facility.
According to Morrill, choosing the SouthCoast for NuOrtho's corporate headquarters was a conscious
decision. "We could have been on the river in Cambridge, but we felt the SouthCoast has a lot to
offer and there is a strong labor pool available in the area. It's a way for us to ultimately
contribute to the economic strength and stability of this region with some potential long-term
job creation."
NuOrtho has been incubating at the Advanced Technology Manufacturing Center and currently employs
36 independent contractors or consultants on a full or part-time basis who have been working on
developing the new technology and the prototype. When FDA approval comes, the company anticipates
hiring about 100 new employees.
"The ATMC is an example of our regional efforts to promote continuing economic development in the
SouthCoast area," said Robert A. Mellion, president and CEO of the Fall River Chamber of Commerce
& Industry. "That's why NuOrtho's progress is so exciting. It is an innovative company with the
potential for great success in the future — and the potential for new jobs in Fall River is always
welcome news."
After Ceruleau is launched, the company is planning to adapt the design for use in other areas of
the anatomy that typically present with wear and tear issues — shoulders, hips etc., as well as a
new meniscal (knee) cartilage repair probe.
NuOrtho's core technology, trademarked Tissue Preservation, is the foundation of the product platform,
with multiple future applications planned for soft tissue treatment, including a bone fusion product,
which could replace the need for screws, pins or plates in orthopedic procedures.
"It's been an interesting ride," said Morrill. "For the first nine months, we were chasing potential
investors, but now that has all changed, and they are chasing us."
--
www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100117/NEWS/1170333/-1/NEWS06
November 17, 2009 - NuOrtho Surgical secures $1 million in Series B Financing
Fall River, MA, November 17, 2009 — NuOrtho Surgical, Inc., a medical
device firm focused on surgical instruments to enable Tissue Preservation™
in the orthopedic arena, announced today it has closed $1 million in Series B
financing from private investors and individuals familiar with the orthopedic
industry. The company plans to use the capital to file their FDA 510k application
on their first product, scale up manufacturing capabilities and procure initial
inventory for product launch in the first part of 2010.
“NuOrtho is the type of industry that Fall River is looking for. Projected job
growth in the health care and medical manufacturing sector continues to be an
area of opportunity for us. As a company that continues to be incubated and grow
in the Advanced Technology and Manufacturing Center (ATMC), NuOrtho has a breadth
of patented products that will take medical devices to the next level and create
jobs for years to come. We look forward to accommodating each stage of growth in
Fall River,” states Kenneth Fiola Jr., Executive Vice President of the Fall River
Office of Economic Development.
NuOrtho CEO Jeffrey M. Morrill comments, “As the population ages, there is a growing
need to sustain long-term mobility, particularly among baby boomers. The future is
bright for innovative products that have a clear point of difference and benefits.
Our technology leverages a low level Radio Frequency energy to restore mobility in
patients by preserving healthy tissue in many procedures done today designed for
both soft and hard tissue. While we await FDA approval, we are excited to build our
team to commercialize our Tissue Preservation™ platform.”
Mr. Joseph A. Ciffolillo, a proven industry veteran, served in management positions
with Boston Scientific Corporation (including Chief Operating Officer), Johnson &
Johnson and Codman. Mr. Ciffolillo comments, “I have followed NuOrtho since inception.
Their growth strategy and innovative product platforms have tremendous growth potential.”
NuOrtho has three primary product platforms for preserving healthy tissue. These platforms
include Soft Tissue Treatment, Agent Delivery and Bone Fusion. The Bone Fusion technology
is revolutionary as it can fuse bone together, and ultimately has the potential to replace
screws and plates that are used in many procedures today (such as a simple ACL knee procedure).
The company has added 4 new patents and now has 9 issued patents. There are several additional
patents pending in the tissue Preservation™ arena. Their first product has early stage
validation testing. The device will contour and smooth articular cartilage that has tears,
lesions or is fraying, inhibiting knee mobility.
Company founders, Jeffrey W. Morrill, Dr. Wayne K. Auge II and Roy E. Morgan, have broad medical
device experience and proven results of creating and launching new products and technologies
(at Johnson & Johnson, as a surgeon and at Stryker respectively).
September 16, 2009 - NuOrtho Surgical Featured at Entrepreneur Forum
Fall River, MA September 16, 2009 - NuOrtho Surgical was the featured
speaker at the Southern New England Entrepreneurs Forum (SNEEF)
focusing on effective Business Planning at the UMASS Advance Technology
and Manufacturing Center. The Forum attracted investors and entrepreneurs
from the area to learn about creating and managing Business Plans from
NuOrtho and the Panel of funding experts. The panel included moderator
Bob Creeden who is Managing Partner of Partners Innovation Fund, Bob
Lamkin of Bay Angels, Dan Myer from Pt. Judith Capital and Jeff Morrill
from NuOrtho Surgical.
NuOrtho Surgical Inc. showcased their Tissue Preservation™ platform
that is focused on the Orthopedic market place. CEO Jeffrey Morrill
outlined their three product platforms of Soft Tissue Treatment, Agent
Delivery and Bone Fusion and how they have been successful in building
their business in a touchy economic climate. The most critical component
is having a realistic plan with strategies to focus on. For NuOrtho, that
included identifying a starting point from which to commercialize their
whole platform building upon soft tissue treatment for cartilage. While
there is the game changing capability of Bone Fusion, NuOrtho is establishing
a product that will actually be used in their future platforms and will
generate revenue sooner with this approach. An educational animation of how
the cartilage treatment works can be seen at www.NuOrtho.com.
Dr. Louis Petrovic, the Director of the UMASS Advanced Technology and
Manufacturing Center commented, “We are delighted that SNEEF showcased
one of our more exciting Tech Venture Center companies. NuOrtho is doing
innovative, creative, and exciting work that we expect will make it economically
successful and that we believe will lead to jobs for U.MASS Dartmouth
students and South Coast residents.
Morrill stated the Forum was productive in several ways including initiating
conversations with strategic partners, investors and potential employees.
We also recognized how much we have accomplished in one year as we shared our
story including two additional issued patents bringing the total for NuOrtho
to 9 – a great accomplishment for a start up. A big part of our success is
the ability to operate in a strategic incubator like the ATMC. We would not
be where we are without them.
July 7, 2009 - NuOrtho Surgical Featured at Medtec Investor Conference
Fall River, MA; July 7, 2009 - NuOrtho Surgical was a featured
speaker at the recent Medtec Insights IN3 investor conference in Boston.
The conference is the largest East Coast Strategic Partnership and
Investment Meeting for Medical Technology Executives.
NuOrtho Surgical Inc. showcased their Tissue Preservation platform that
is focused on the Orthopedic Surgeon marketplace. CEO Jeffrey Morrill
outlined their point of entry product for soft tissue debridement and
contouring. The technology has tremendous potential and is the foundation
for their patented game changing technology for Bone Fusion. The potential
to fuse bone together instead of using plates and screws has broad applications
in the orthopedic marketplace and beyond. This opens up the ability to go
beyond just bone fillers and grafts.
Morrill stated the conference was productive in opening up strategic
conversations with existing ortho players as well as some looking to enter
the space.
June, 2009 - USPO Issues Seventh Patent to NuOrtho Surgical
The USPTO has issued a new patent to NuOrtho Surgical, their seventh
issued patent. NuOrtho is a developer of surgical instruments that
enable Tissue Preservation in the Medical arena. The company will
help doctors be more effective and efficient in their soft and hard
tissue procedures minimizing collateral damage. The company is
headquartered in Massachusetts.
The patent is titled “Electrosurgery Devices”. The specific patent
application extends the low energy RF foundation already established
by NuOrtho for treating tissue within the body. Treatment options
enabled by the new approach include therapeutic devices to effect
advantageous tissue changes and enhance the overall healing response
of tissues.
NuOrtho’s product portfolio in development includes instruments for
debridement and contouring of soft tissue. One key application will
be for articular cartilage in the knee. As people age and cartilage
frays or basic activity cause tears, NuOrtho’s probe can smooth and
contour tissue to help patients return to pain free mobility. A game
changing product is their bone fusing technology for hard tissue. This
has the potential to eliminate the use of some plates and screws in
basic procedures in orthopedics, Cranial Maxilla Facial and even the
Veterinary arena.
Dr. Brant Bair, Chair of NuOrtho’s advisory panel sees tremendous
potential for NuOrtho’s product portfolio. As an active tri-athlete
and Orthopedic surgeon, he sees the benefits of Tissue Preservation
for active people and the aging population. “The technology has the
ability to advance the science of Orthopedic surgery and the team is
laser focused on getting the first product to market.”
NuOrtho is focused on the US marketplace for initial launch. They will
expand into the EU with partners. The company has recently opened a
Series B round for strategic partners.
February 12, 2009 - NuOrtho Surgical Completes Initial Tissue Testing
NuOrtho Surgical announced today that it has successfully
completed tissue testing with its first device. "I have
used the device and it exceded all performance expectations",
says Brant A. Bair, MD, an orthopedic surgeon and NuOrtho
Advisory Panel Chairman.
January 15, 2009 - M2D2 Supports NuOrtho Surgical
The Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2), a
medical device support team located at UMASS Lowell and Worchester
is doing their part in helping rebuild our economy by supporting
the innovative technology of NuOrtho Surgical. The M2D2 program
develops and facilitates early stage medical device companies to
ensure their success in New England. Dr. Jeremy Stern, a leading
orthopedic surgeon on the South Coast, comments that NuOrtho's
cartilage probe's ability to treat cartilage without causing side
effects (like necrosis--killing of healthy tissue) has tremendous
commercial application. It would be the holy grail."
NuOrtho has raised initial funds to build their cartilage probe
and is looking for help as they shift from the R&D to the
commercialization phase. The initial funding has come from
surgeons and device industry people who see the need and value
the product has for patients. Dr. Stern:"NuOrtho has a broad
list of patented products that will enable them to be the next
great orthopedic company in Massachusetts."
January 14, 2009 - NuOrtho Surgical and BC Tech Announce Partnership
BC Tech: "NuOrtho Surgical is a medical device start up focused
on Tissue Preservation for Orthopedic surgeons and their patients.
Their innovative technology leverages a low level of Radio Frequency
energy to restore mobility in patients by preserving healthy tissue
during surgical procedures. We're proud NuOrtho Surgical selected BC
Tech to assist in commercializing this therapy and look forward to a
successful product launch."