Rick Simmons

TranS1, Inc. designs and develops surgical procedures and equipment for back pain. It is a medical device company focused on designing, developing and marketing products that implement its proprietary approach to treat degenerative conditions of the spine affecting the lower lumbar region. TranS1 currently markets the AxiaLIF family of products for single-level and two-level lumbar fusion and the Vectre and Avatar posterior fixation systems for lumbar fixation supplemental to AxiaLIF fusion. Its primary technology is AxiaLIF, a minimally invasive access and fusion system that enables lumbar fusion to be performed with complete preservation of the annulus and all paraspinal soft tissue structures. The company specializes in bringing innovative spine solutions to market, including AxiaLIF and AxiaLIF 2L+, technologies that allow surgeons to perform lower lumbar fusions that result in high fusion rates and low complication rates. The company is also developing a motion preservation platform to be delivered through this minimally invasive, trans-sacral approach. TranS1 was founded in May 2000 and is headquartered in Wilmington, NC.

NuVasive, Inc. engages in the development, manufacture, sale, and provision of procedural solutions for spine surgery. It offers a comprehensive portfolio of procedurally integrated spine surgery solutions, including surgical access instruments, spinal implants, fixation systems, biologics, and enabling technologies, as well as systems and services for intraoperative neuromonitoring. The company was founded by Alexis V. Lukianov on July 21, 1997 and is headquartered in San Diego, CA.

Innovasive Devices, Inc. designs, develops, manufacturers and markets proprietary tissue repair systems which facilitate the repair of soft tissue injuries. Its tissue repair systems are designed to be used in either open surgical or minimally invasive arthroscopic procedures. The company was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Marlborough, MA.

Genzyme Tissue Repair develops biological products and devices for orthopedic injuries such as cartilage damage and severe burns. The company is headquartered in Cambridge, MA

Cyclone Power Technologies, Inc. engaged in the development of cyclone engines. Its cyclone engine is an all fuel thermal engine which runs power generators fueled by biomass, waste fuels, solar thermal or engine exhaust, to cars, trucks, and locomotives. The firm supported a range of customers in the field of industrial power, solar, marine, vehicles, trains, and military. The company was founded by Harry Schoell in 1971 and was headquartered in Pompano Beach, FL.

Benvenue Medical, Inc. engages int the provision and development of invasive systems for spine repair. It offers Kiva an implant solution for vertebral augmentation and a departure from balloon kyphoplasty, Blazer-C a vertebral augmentation system that utilizes a unique cannulated curved wire offering mechanical channel creation, and Luna a interbody implant that is delivered through a minimally-invasive cannula to the disc space and expands in-situ. The company was founded by Laurent B. Schaller in 2004 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, CA.