SmartTRAK interviewed Alafair’s leadership to discuss how their proprietary alginate technology is disrupting a market long dominated by collagen-based scaffolds. Their innovative approach aims to deliver a more dynamic clinical pathway to prevent soft-tissue tethering and improve patient recovery.
At the 2026 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) meeting, SmartTRAK had the chance to connect with CEO and co-founder John Joyoprayitno and CSO and co-founder Sarah Mayes to discuss the fundamental science that sets their technology apart from traditional solutions. For decades, the medical device market has relied on collagen-based scaffolds and wraps to address the ongoing challenge of soft-tissue tethering. By moving away from collagen and using a proprietary alginate material, Alafair is transforming the treatment approach. Instead of merely serving as a sacrificial layer, their technology aims to reduce friction and preserve essential gliding motion among tendons, nerves, and surrounding tissues.
Click below to listen to an audio recording of this discussion (16:16 min) which covers how Alafair is creating a smoother, more dynamic path to recovery. A link to download a complete transcript of the interview is also provided below.
Interview Transcript
SmartTRAK: Hi, this is David Shepard from SmartTRAK. I had the chance to connect with Alafair CEO and co-founder John Joyoprayitno, as well as CSO and co-founder Sarah Mayes, at the AAOS meeting. Here are some key highlights from our conversation.
So, VersaWrap is fundamentally different than some of the other collagen scaffolds, collagen wraps that are out there. If you can give me a little bit of a perspective of how VersaWrap and that technology is a bit different than some of those other technologies that exist.
Sarah Mayes: Collagen-based devices and products have been available to attempt to address the problem of soft tissue tethering for decades. The idea is that you have this sort of sacrificial layer that remodels into additional tissue and becomes a new interface around your healing tendons and nerves and soft tissues. If collagen-based devices were the answer, then we would have solved that problem. It's been decades.
What separates those products from VersaWrap and VersaCoat, Alafair's technology, is ...
Interested in learning more about Alafair’s innovative approach to frictionless soft tissue healing? Click the button below to download the full transcript of SmartTRAK’s interview with CEO John Joyoprayitno and CSO Sarah Mayes, conducted by David Shepard, SmartTRAK GM/Sr Analyst, Orthobio & Regen.
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