Throughout 2025, SmartTRAK empowered MedTech professionals to Be The Expert by providing timely, data-driven insights across key markets. From orthopedics and wound care to regenerative medicine and neurotherapy, our analysts delivered meaningful real-time analysis you could act on. Scroll down to see a dozen of SmartTRAK’s most impactful blog posts of 2025.

These blog posts are just a glimpse of the data we cover every day. Want to see the real-time analytics and deep-dive reports behind these headlines? Schedule a demo today to see how SmartTRAK can help you master your market in 2026.

1. The Future of “Skin Substitutes” - What’s the Alternative?
   SmartTRAK reviews possible alternatives to LCDs and CMS’ proposed payment model for Cellular, Acellular, and Matrix-like Products (CAMPs) commonly referred to by the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as “skin substitutes” and the potential impact on the market.
   
   
2. Terumo Neuro: Aiming for #1 in Neurovascular 
   Carsten Schroeder, president and CEO of Terumo Neuro, discusses the company’s plans to capture share and become the market leader in neurovascular.
   
   
3. What's Next in Orthopedic Trauma? 
   SmartTRAK reviews the evolving trauma startup landscape in 2025, spotlighting five innovators, followed by a comparative chart mapping 19 emerging companies.
   
   
4. Impact of Final Physician Fee Schedule on US Skin Substitutes in 2026
   Wound GM Kris Flinn and Senior Analysts Elizabeth Anderson and Jay Merkel discuss the impact of the final physician fee schedule on US Skin Substitutes in 2026.
   
   
   
   

The North American Neuromodulation Society (NANS) is once again bringing together the leading clinicians, researchers and manufacturers to Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas for the NANS 2026 Annual Meeting, to be held January 22-25.

SmartTRAK will be represented at NANS 2026 by Anne Staylor, SmartTRAK’s Executive Editor and VP & GM, Neuro Therapies, and Thom Clark, Sr Director, Enterprise Strategy & Solutions. If you would like to meet with us, please reach out to anne.staylor@smarttrak.com, or just click the button below.

To get you up to speed before the meeting, SmartTRAK has put together highlights of recent neuromodulation news. The following is just a small sampling of recent neuromodulation-related news and updates from around the world compiled, reviewed and posted in real-time every day by the expert analysts at SmartTRAK.

Market

• SmartTRAK estimates full-year US DBS Market revenues for 2025 will be up approximately +11% YoY, which is in line w/ SmartTRAK’s US DBS Market Overview projection of +10.8% YoY growth. SmartTRAK Financial Dashboard
• Based on SCS revenue YTD 2025, the US SCS Market is growing +2.9% YoY, which is in line w/ SmartTRAK’s original SCS Market Overview projection of +3.0% YoY growth. SmartTRAK Financial Dashboard
• Payer scrutiny and preauths will continue to place downward pressure on SCS, particularly because of CMS’ WISeR model set to launch 1/1/26. WISeR is piloting the preauth of SCS perm implants (NCD 160.7) for standard Medicare pts in 6 states. SmartTRAK Q325 Neuromodulation Recap
• GMED sees an opportunity to grow the NVRO business through surgeon conversion and competitive rep recruitment and views SCS as a continuum of spine care rather than as a standalone therapy. SmartTRAK Q325 Neuromodulation Market Recap
• A large unmet need exists in epilepsy, as one-third of patients (36%) do not benefit from drugs. This results in a global DRE prevalence of approximately 10MM people, w/ 1MM in the US, 2MM in Europe and 7MM in the ROW. LIVN 2025 Investor Day Presentation 
• Bioventus believes the acquisition of Nalu by BSX validates the potential of the PNS mkt. In the US, the PNS mkt is ~$200MM and is estimated to grow above 20% annually, exceeding $500MM by 2029. Bioventus Q325 Earnings Presentation  

Clinical/Regulatory/New Products

• NPCE announced it filed a FDA PMA-S application to expand the RNS System’s labeled indication to include pts w/ medication-resistant idiopathic generalized epilepsy w/ generalized tonic-clonic seizures. The PMA-S was supported by preliminary results of the NAUTILUS trial.
• The FDA approved BSX’ PMA supplement for the WaveWriter SCS MRI Safety Guidelines to add the MDT Specify SureScan MRI Leads to the list of compatible w/ the BSX M8 Adaptor and to label WaveWriter Alpha SCS Mixed System using MDT’s Specify SureScan leads as MRI scan eligible.

Are you passionate about healthcare and market research? SmartTRAK is looking for talented, self-motivated individuals to join our team. We're currently seeking a Junior Analyst for our Wound Market team and a part-time Compression Market Analyst. These are fantastic opportunities for skilled professionals to contribute to a leading provider of market data and business intelligence in the MedTech industry.

Junior Analyst, Wound Market 

The ideal candidate for this full-time remote role has strong analytical and writing skills and a keen interest in the wound care sector. As a Junior Analyst, you will be a key part of the Wound Market team, helping to track and analyze the latest developments in wound care.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Collecting and analyzing market data, clinical trial information, and regulatory filings.
• Drafting market updates, news briefs and insights for our subscribers.
• Assisting senior analysts with research and strategic reports.
• Maintaining SmartTRAK's content and databases for the wound market.

Compression Market Analyst 

We are also looking for a dedicated professional to fill a part-time remote position as a Compression Market Analyst. This role is perfect for someone with strong knowledge of the global Compression Therapy space, including bandaging, hosiery, and Lymphedema pumps. You will be responsible for providing expert insights and analysis on this dynamic market.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Maintaining and updating the Compression module, including market models and company profiles.
• Writing concise articles and market updates for subscribers.
• Supporting our sales and marketing teams with your expertise.
• Attending industry conferences to report on new trends and topics.

Why Join the SmartTRAK team?

At SmartTRAK, we value a strong work ethic and a collaborative spirit. If you're a self-starter with a passion for MedTech, we encourage you to apply. Don't miss out on these opportunities to grow your career with a leading name in the industry.

• Work remotely with flexible hours.
• Gain visibility in the MedTech community through published insights and event coverage.
• Join a collaborative team of analysts, marketers and data experts. 

To learn more and apply, visit the original job postings:

• Junior Analyst, Wound Market
• Compression Market Analyst

We are pleased to announce that Thom Clark has joined the SmartTRAK team as Senior Director, Enterprise Strategy + Solutions. Thom Clark joins us after successful positions in Medtech, Life Science and SaaS enterprise strategy, marketing and customer success.

Thom started his career in the diabetes care industry before being hired by Synthes USA. After a successful stint as both a trauma consultant, then regional manager, Thom moved into solutions and services (consulting) first within the Depuy-Synthes Advantage franchise, then Solutions Innovation,  and finally with JNJ's umbrella Medtech Strategic Customer Group (SCG). Working with the Top 150 health systems, Thom and his team of Directors delivered a broad suite of solutions including operative efficiency, clinical pathway improvement, clinician wellbeing, supply chain management, and patient navigation. After leaving JNJ in 2020, Thom moved to running US Orthopedic Marketing + Solutions at Pacira, then as chief strategy and customer officer for Elation, a human performance and coaching SaaS startup based in Wyoming. Thom and his family reside in the greater Philadelphia area.

Meet Thom Clark:

What is your role with SmartTRAK? As Senior Director, Enterprise Strategy + Solutions, my role as I initially see it is to help both product and commercial strategy in the core ortho solutions portfolio while contributing to SmartTRAK’s overall go-to-market success. As I become more familiar with the people, culture and solutions, I plan to be a catalyst working cross-functionally to help different teams across the organization, including marketing, messaging, contracting, content, research, and consulting – having some experience in each of these functions. Ultimately, it's all about our customers.

What do you like about SmartTRAK? I would have to say the amazing People and the concept of Insights-as-a-Service vs the normal SaaS offering. During the interview process, all my questions were focused on people, culture, innovation, and marketplace. I am also super stoked to begin working with many of my former colleagues in Medtech and Life Science.

What is something special or unique that you bring to SmartTRAK subscribers? I have a unique history, having moved from sales and sales management to health system consulting in the orthopedic market, focused on TJA and Trauma. Starting with clinical pathway improvement and moving to operational efficiency, supply chain improvement, clinician wellbeing and burnout, patient navigation, and digital surgery, our team under the umbrella of JNJ’s Strategic Customer Group had the privilege of working with the top 100 health systems across the US and even OUS. I also worked in Life Sciences at Pacira and then a human and team performance and coaching SaaS startup business called Elation. I believe I bring a very different view on how unique and powerful data and insights can be leveraged for success. It's also fun to understand both industries from a data and insights perspective.

How/why did you get into the life sciences industry? After college, I was blessed to get into the diabetes market and then hired by Synthes as a trauma rep, then regional manager, health system consulting director, and finally running a national consulting team. I learned very early in my career at Synthes the huge impact you can make on patient outcomes and health system efficiency. I was hooked! I have always been fascinated by how things work and being in orthopedics was a dream come true! Now I get to see the entire industry through a different lens.

What are your favorite online websites or resources that you check every day? Well, I know I need to say SmartTRAK first! As I move back into MedTech and Life Science, my focus will be on connecting (and reconnecting) with my network to conduct research on all the market and product channels we now cover. So many blogs, posts, websites, interviews and industry publications fill my day it would be impossible to list them all. 
 
How do you stay current on what’s going on in the industry? There is absolutely nothing that compares to talking to real humans working on real products, marketing plans, and strategy across the industry. As stated, I am really excited to begin my outreach to “interview” as many people as I can virtually or at shows as part of my enterprise role. Combining this with the amazing amount of experience across our team of analysts at SmartTRAK should be more than adequate.

If you could have one superpower, what would it be? I try to live in “reality” as much as possible, so this one is difficult. I would say the ability to sustain a positive and optimistic mindset, regardless of what life throws at me. I know people who possess this trait and am in awe of their ability to weather hardships and remain cheerful and supportive with a growth mindset.

What was the last show you binge-watched? Wow, probably The Office with my 20 year old during his summer break from the University of Scranton (of all places!).

What is your life like outside of SmartTRAK? Married for 25 years to my best friend, supporter, and confidant. We have two boys, Ben (22) and Harrison (20) and two crazy labradoodles, Bentley and Scarlett, who pretty much run the household. I am a human performance nerd who focuses a lot of time on movement, nutrition, healthspan, and ways to optimize physical and mental well-being. I also love to fly-fish, cycle, and work in the yard.  I am a certified financial and retirement coach and in the process of obtaining personal training and nutritional coach certifications to help others reach their goals and redefine what the term "wealthy" means.

What are you most excited about for your upcoming year at SmartTRAK? The ability to get back to my roots in MedTech and Life Science while quickly learning our product and process to make a noticeable impact on our client's market success in the shortest time possible. Always up for a challenge!

If you'd like to learn more about SmartTRAK and how it can increase proficiency, improve productivity and reduce costs for your company, or if you would like to meet with Thom, just click the button below.

Recently, SmartTRAK's VP of Sales, Joe Mish, sat down with the Alpha Sophia podcast to discuss the impacts of data on the Medtech market. Hosted by Alpha Sophia founder & CEO Paul-Lukas Hoffschmidt, the podcast dives deep into the cutting-edge of MedTech innovations and commercial trends.

In this video, Joe breaks down how SmartTRAK delivers critical market intelligence to MedTech companies, helping them track trends, product performance and market changes. He explores how the Alpha Sophia partnership enhances real-time intelligence, enabling businesses to quickly act on insights, stay ahead of industry shifts, adapt to changing market dynamics and maintain a competitive edge in an evolving market. Click the video below to watch the podcast.

SmartTRAK and Alpha Sophia together offers a data-driven, AI-powered solution for commercial teams in the healthcare sector. Click the button below to watch our webinar titled "Growth in 2025: More Than Targeting" outlining how SmartTRAK and Alpha Sophia can accelerate business opportunities by combining deep market insights with advanced targeting strategies, ultimately enabling sales teams to engage more effectively with the right customers at the right time. 

We are pleased to announce that David Shepard has joined the SmartTRAK team as Senior Analyst, Orthobiologics and Regenerative Medicine. Prior to joining SmartTRAK, for the last 22 years, David has worked for Arthrex as the Senior Director of Orthobiologics and Vet Systems, where he led global business development and product strategy across two diverse portfolios, driving innovation in regenerative medicine and orthobiologics. Before that, he was Director of Donor Services at the University of Florida Tissue Bank, where he oversaw tissue recovery operations and processor distribution for all donors across the UFTB region, confirming compliance, efficiency and optimized recovery rates.

Meet David Shepard:

What is your role with SmartTRAK? I am a senior analyst with the OrthoBio Team.

What do you like about SmartTRAK? I have been using SmartTRAK for years to keep up with the latest developments in the fast-moving Orthobiologics space. This unique environment covers many areas of medical practice, so staying on top of the latest news, emerging tech, research, and IP is critical to the success of any company. Now that I am on the other side, it’s like being a kid in a candy store.

What is something special or unique that you bring to SmartTRAK subscribers? I have worked in various roles in the Orthobiologics space, leading upstream product development from early research to product launch, downstream marketing, sales management, and evaluation of emerging technologies. I have also had the opportunity to work alongside and learn from some of the preeminent thought leaders in the field. This has prepared me to help companies reach their goals using the power of data analytics and experience in this diverse field.

What do you think the biggest promise of medical technology (in your area) is? With incredible materials, instruments, and implants now available to physicians, the one area that remains out of their control is the biology of their patients and how that will impact their final repair and long-term outcome. It is well-accepted that Orthobiologics (Cells, Signals, and Scaffolds) have the best opportunity to improve patient outcomes. While it is hard to pick a single area as the most promising, I would say that cellular and cell secretory factors may hold the most potent potential to direct regenerative repair and even early diagnosis.

What are your favorite online websites or resources that you check every day? For years, I have started my day reviewing the SmartTRAK updates and augmenting these overviews by cruising PubMed to dig into more of the details. Even some of the best research can miss fine details that hold the truth.

How do you keep your medical device research skills sharp? I read, read, read…and I have never been shy about contacting authors to get more details about the research I am reviewing. I enjoy talking to companies about their new technologies and clinicians who are early adopters so I can better understand the problems they are trying to solve and how their technique or product solves those problems. As my father has always told me, surround yourself with people who are better than you, and that is easy to do when working at SmartTRAK.

If you could have one superpower, what would it be? This is a fun question. I would have to say teleportation. I love to travel and hate traffic; this power would resolve that conflict.

What was the last show you binge-watched? Hmmm…tough one. I am more of a binge reader but almost anything in the sci-fi genre will fit the bill regarding series and watching. Separation has been and interesting one. Good characters that you care about are key.

What can we find you doing when you’re not working? You can often find me on the ice. I do my best to stay fit as I remain an avid hockey player, playing 3+ games weekly. All three of my boys also play, so it is a busy house. My wife and I also enjoy hiking in the mountains of NC.

If you'd like to learn more about SmartTRAK and how it can increase proficiency, improve productivity and reduce costs for your company, or if you would like to meet with David, just click the button below.

We are pleased to announce that Elizabeth Anderson has joined the team at SmartTRAK as Senior Analyst, Biologics. Before joining SmartTRAK, Elizabeth got her start at Healthpoint in Texas and has since worked in various roles with several of the top companies in the biological space, including Smith+Nephew and Organogenesis. 

Meet Elizabeth Anderson:

What is your role with SmartTRAK? My role with SmartTRAK will be as a Senior Analyst for the Biologics module.

What do you like about SmartTRAK? I have been using SmartTRAK since the platform started. My favorite feature is the ability to have information relevant to both the commercial and clinical sides of the market in one place. 

What is something special or unique you bring to SmartTRAK subscribers?
The majority of my roles have been responsible for market research and business intelligence. I have extensive experience combining primary and secondary data to get a full picture of the market.

What do you think the biggest promise of medical technology (in your area) is?  In the Biologics space, it isn't easy to choose just one. A lot of research is looking into the ability to impregnate matrices or grafts with growth factors or cell types that a patient may be missing based on their pathophysiology. 

How will it change everything? This would allow clinicians to tailor their tx specifically, giving the patient what is needed to heal. Of course, this hinges on the proper diagnostics, but I think it is where we are headed.

What are your favorite online websites or resources that you check every day? Of course, I stay up to date with SmartTrak and LinkedIn, my go-to sources, but I also monitor the CMS website in this space.

How do you keep your medical device research skills sharp? I keep my skills sharp by attending conferences, reading published clinical studies, and talking to clinicians on the front lines.

What was the last presentation you gave and to who, about what?  My last presentation was a forecast model for a new product launching clinical trials to enter the US market. It was for a US Business Development Director for an OUS manufacturer.

What was the last show you binge-watched? The last show I binge-watched was the limited series American Primeval on Netflix. It is a good story.

What is your life like outside of SmartTRAK? Outside of SmartTRAK, I run a lot, tend to my senior dog, and try to teach myself new baking skills. I have backed off a lot of the long-distance running but still do a few endurance events.

If you'd like to learn more about SmartTRAK and how it can increase proficiency, improve productivity and reduce costs for your company, or if you would like to meet with Elizabeth, just click the button below.

In 2024, SmartTRAK continued to empower you to Be The Expert in the MedTech industry. As your trusted resource for up-to-date industry insights, we delivered real-time market data, analysis and actionable insights across the orthopedics, wound care, regenerative medicine and neurotherapy markets. Here are SmartTRAK's Top Blog Posts from 2024, offering valuable perspectives from our expert analysts.

1. Skin Substitute Market Rocked by DOJ Investigations
   SmartTRAK believes the billions of dollars of Medicare abuse already uncovered is the tip of the iceberg in services billed to Medicare via the Physician Fee Schedule.
   
   
2. Medtronic: Making Waves At NANS 2024
   Medtronic executives discuss how the company is making waves in interventional pain, minimally invasive spine and deep brain stimulation in an interview with SmartTRAK at NANS 2024.
   
   
3. Spine Market Movers to Watch in 2024
   SmartTRAK highlights companies to watch as they continue their double-digit growth train with multiple catalysts for expansion in 2024.
   
   
   
   

SmartTRAK is attending the upcoming North American Spine Society (NASS) meeting being held Sept. 25-28 in Chicago, Our team can't wait to see all of our colleagues at the premier meeting for the spine market. To help you get ready for the meeting, in the following video, Elise Wolf, SmartTRAK's VP & GM of Orthopedics and Digital, reviews the latest trends and developments in the Spine Enabling Technologies market.

If you would like to see more of what SmartTRAK has to offer in spine coverage, including some of our recent articles on the trends and developments in the Spine Enabling Technologies market, or if you would like to meet with us at NASS 2024 in Chicago,  just click the button below.