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Orthopedics & Spine

Orthopedics & Spine

From hip technologies to spine implants and diagnostic imaging for osteoporosis, learn more about our ortho-spine expertise.

Orthopedics & Spine
We find inventions / Ortho
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We find inventions and turn them into innovations

Orthopedic and spine diseases and injuries are significant causes of disability worldwide, affecting millions with severe impairments. Our Orthopedics & Spine team focuses on advancing the field by fostering early-stage innovations that span diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation. We find the most promising technologies at renowned institutions and corporations. Leveraging our extensive network of experts and medical specialists, we carefully evaluate each invention for its potential societal impact and commercial viability, and only the best we decide to build into a venture.

Expert-driven venture building  / Ortho
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Expert-driven venture building

NLC's robust ecosystem exemplifies our collaborative approach to venture development. Our network encompasses experts and investors from various fields, and industry partners, such as the Mayo Clinic and the University of Manchester, who work alongside our inventors, clinicians, and specialists. Through expert panels and other get-togethers, our extensive ecosystem of experts and investors provides the resources necessary to elevate innovation to the next level. These experts are essential in navigating the complex healthcare landscape, offering vital support from inception to market entry.

Established partnerships.... / Ortho
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Established partnerships for scaled impact

Our numerous partnerships with leading organizations such as Stryker and Medtronic, facilitate strategic development beyond conventional scope. These partnerships are integral to our ecosystem, providing the necessary support structure to effectively scale our orthopedic and spine ventures.

Orthopedics & Spine

portfolio

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Altach
Off-the-shelf solution for improved cartilage repair

Altach is tackling the challenge of treating damaged cartilage effectively without costly or complex procedures. Altach's solution is a simple, ready-to-use implant that makes microfracture treatment better. It's made from cartilage-like material and helps the body build new, healthy cartilage. This means fewer surgeries and better outcomes for patients.

Active
🇮🇪 Ireland
Orthopedics & Spine
Altach
Amotio
Easier joint implant revision surgery through 3D technology

Amotio addresses the challenge of revision surgeries for hip, knee, and shoulder implants with their innovative approach. Collaborating with expert revision surgeons and guided by NLC, they offer a patented solution for improved implant revision surgery. By developing unique bone cement removal devices and integrating advanced patient-specific 3D surgical planning and printing technology, Amotio aims to set a new standard for excellence in these surgeries. Their goal is to reduce complexity, trauma, and recovery time while cutting costs for healthcare providers.

Active
🇳🇱 Netherlands
Orthopedics & Spine
Amotio
Ansana
A new sterilisation technology for the healthcare & pharmaceutical industry

Ansana offers a smart sterilization container for surgical instruments, designed to tackle key challenges in the healthcare sector. By integrating electronic sensors, it ensures sterility in operating rooms, reducing the risk of infections by 10% and lowering the environmental impact of sterilization processes by 85%. Ansana's enhances patient safety with real-time monitoring and traceability features, with complex instruments like endoscopes, while also cutting costs for healthcare facilities in terms of labor and materials.

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🇳🇱 Netherlands
Orthopedics & Spine
Ansana
Audaxis Medical
Next-generation mid-urethral support for safer treatment of stress urinary incontinence

Audaxis Medical revolutionizes the treatment of stress urinary incontinence with Plielle™, a next-generation polyurethane support system. While traditional polypropylene slings often lead to chronic inflammation and tissue complications, Plielle™ offers a safer alternative by replicating the native structure and viscoelastic properties of the pelvic floor. By providing a high-performance, biocompatible solution that integrates seamlessly with human tissue, Audaxis aims to improve clinical outcomes and restore patient confidence, filling a critical gap in women’s healthcare.

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🇺🇸 United States of America
Orthopedics & Spine
Audaxis Medical
Axial
Bone repair system reduces pain after surgery and brings better recovery

Axial Orthopaedics Inc. revolutionizes trauma treatment with their innovative intramedullary nailing system. Current systems often lead to bone misalignment and joint pain, blocking post-procedural recovery. Axial Orthopaedics's modular system offers greater flexibility in bone alignment and healing. This system not only addresses postoperative pain but also reduces complications. Its intra-operative modularity and rotational capabilities allow surgeons to achieve better fracture fixation and improved outcomes, filling a crucial gap in current technology.

Active
🇺🇸 United States of America
Orthopedics & Spine
Axial
Crainio
Advancing brain health with a non-invasive pressure monitor for traumatic injuries

Crainio pioneers intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring, for assessing traumatic brain injuries (TBI) without invasive procedures. Traditional methods involve drilling into the skull, posing risks. Crainio's method uses a forehead probe and a technique called photoplethysmography to measure pulse signals. This gives real-time estimates of ICP without invasive procedures. With TBI being a leading cause of death and disability, Crainio's innovation will potentially revolutionize TBI management.

Active
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Orthopedics & Spine
Crainio
Garland Surgical
Novel hip implant designed to last

Garland Surgical addresses the challenge of hip replacement surgeries by offering an innovative solution that improves upon standard prostheses. Unlike traditional implants, the MaltaHip features four independent parts that provide enhanced mobility in three directions, reducing wear and minimizing the risk of dislocation. This implant offers a longer lifespan and greater functionality compared to standard prostheses. Importantly, it doesn't require a change to the normal surgical procedure, making it easier for surgeons to adopt.

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🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Orthopedics & Spine
Garland Surgical
Implant Preservation Devices (IPD)
Heating device for treatment of implant infections

Implant Preservation Devices has developed a handheld device to tackle a common problem after joint replacement surgeries prosthetic joint infections (PJI). This device applies heat to implants using induction, effectively targeting and eliminating bacteria that cause these infections. By reducing the risk of recurrent infections, it offers a quick, sterile, and convenient treatment option during surgery, potentially benefiting patients beyond just those undergoing joint replacements.

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🇳🇱 Netherlands
Orthopedics & Spine
Implant Preservation Devices (IPD)
Lamina
The solution for effective cartilage regeneration

Lamina offers a solution for the regeneration of cartilage, addressing a prevalent issue affecting millions worldwide. Traditional treatments focus on symptom management or procedures like joint replacement, with limited success. Lamina's ARTiREG, enhances cell therapy with a special framework to hold Mesenchymal stem cells which repair for the body and help fix damaged cartilage. This patented approach promotes fast recovery, potentially transforming outcomes for individuals with cartilage damage.

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🇫🇷 France
Orthopedics & Spine
Lamina
Liftya
Unique personalized shoulder assisting device

Introducing Liftya, a solution for shoulder instability. Developed with a patented spherical hinge mechanism, Liftya mimics the natural shoulder joint movement, offering stability and full range of motion. Unlike traditional braces, Liftya promotes motor recovery and independence, reducing pain and healthcare costs for patients.

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🇳🇱 Netherlands
Orthopedics & Spine
Liftya
NC Biomatrix
Regeneration of intervertebral disc as treatment for low back pain

NC Biomatrix offers a solution for treating chronic back pain caused by intervertebral disc degeneration. Current treatments only address symptoms, have limited effectiveness and often come with complications. NC Biomatrix introduces a new approach using a bio-inductive protein extract obtained from porcine notochordal biomatrix. This injectable treatment addresses the underlying pathology and aims to restore the degenerated disc as a way to definitively treat chronic back pain.

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🇳🇱 Netherlands
Orthopedics & Spine
NC Biomatrix
Porous Gmbh
Assessing cortical bone health with ultrasound

Porous GmbH has developed an ultrasound technology that accurately diagnoses cortical bone health, addressing the limitations of traditional methods. Osteoporosis affects millions globally, leading to frequent and costly fractures. Current diagnostics often miss early-stage bone deterioration, but Porous GmbH’s patented algorithms allow ultrasound to measure bone quality at a microscopic level for a safer and more precise method for early detection of osteoporosis, also reducing healthcare costs.

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🇩🇪 Germany
Orthopedics & Spine
Porous Gmbh

Our impact

100+
Inventions assessed annually
13
Active portfolio ventures
9
Countries active in
4
Ventures in clinical trials or commercialization stage
500
Patients impacted

Explore our 2024 Impact report

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Aalborg University
Charite
Conectus
Leiden Universitair Medisch Centrum
Mayo Clinic
Queen Mary University of London
Trinity College Dublin
Technische Universiteit Eindhoven
Universitair Medisch Centrum Utrecht
University of Malta
University of Manchester
University of Nottingham
Simon Mifsud
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Starting as a CEO of a pre-revenue start-up poses many individual challenges. Sharing experiences helps us to accelerate our progress. Having a community of like-minded entrepreneurs makes it feel like you are part of a larger ecosystem.
Simon Mifsud

Simon Mifsud

CEO Garland Surgical

Richard van de Wateringen
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The support network within our ortho spine Cluster is unparalleled. Collaborating with fellow CEOs has provided fresh perspectives. Expert advice is just a phone call away, ensuring swift progress.
Richard van de Wateringen

Richard van de Wateringen

CEO Implant Preservation Devices (IPD)

Julia Eschenbrenner
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Being part of the ortho spine cluster has been invaluable. Learning from fellow CEOs navigating similar challenges is unparalleled. Plus, having experts readily available has accelerated our growth.
Julia Eschenbrenner

Julia Eschenbrenner

CEO POROUS

Build health with us

Kim High
Kim High
Venture Partner, Orthopedics, Spine & Surgery
Annabel van der Horst
Annabel van der Horst
Venture Developer

Meet the team

Kim High
Kim High
Kim High
Venture Partner, Orthopedics, Spine & Surgery
Taco van der Feltz, MD
Taco van der Feltz, MD
Taco van der Feltz, MD
Venture Partner
Gina Melchner
Gina Melchner
Gina Melchner
Venture Partner, Lead General Healthtech
Annabel van der Horst
Annabel van der Horst
Annabel van der Horst
Venture Developer
Marta Scali, PhD
Marta Scali, PhD
Marta Scali, PhD
Sr. Venture Development Associate