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SmartTRAK Life Sciences News and Analysis Blog

3 min read

Impact of Final Physician Fee Schedule on US Skin Substitutes in 2026

By Kris Flinn on 11/7/25 11:22 AM

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.

SmartTRAK Wound GM Kris Flinn and Senior Analysts Elizabeth Anderson and Jay Merkel discuss the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ ( CMS) policy announced on October 31 on the final Physician Fee Schedule for US Skin Substitutes in 2026 and the overall impact on the market.

To listen to the interview, click on the following video (19:37 min). A link to download the complete transcript of the discussion is also provided below.  
 

 

Transcript:

Kris Flinn: This is Kris Flinn with SmartTRAK. I'm joined today by our senior analysts, Elizabeth Anderson and Jay Merkel. On Friday the 31st of October, CMS published the final physician fee schedule reimbursement rules for 2026. These rules are likely to have a significant impact on the US skin sub market. SmartTRAK values the 2024 skin sub market at just under $8 billion, with the sites of care affected by the physician fee schedule, such as physician office and mobile plus, accounting for over 3/4 of that number. This year's number could be even higher.

Today, during this call, we're going to look to discuss the rules that have been finalized and the impact they could have on the US advanced wound care market. Jay, Elizabeth, thank you for joining me today. Jay, if I could just start with you. Could you please talk about the rules that have been finalized, and particularly the changes from the original proposals?

Jay Merkel: Yeah, I'm just going to share a screen to help me go through all of the steps, but TLDR is that everything that was proposed was essentially adopted. So the first thing that we talk about is ...

To download and read a complete transcript of SmartTRAK's Wound GM Kris Flinn and Senior Analysts Elizabeth Anderson and Jay Merkel discussing the impact that the final physician fee schedule will have on US Skin Substitutes in 2026, just click the button below.Get the Transcript

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3 min read

Decoding the Future of Cartilage: Biologics, AI and the New Standard of Care

By Andy Knapik on 11/4/25 9:30 AM

Incoming ICRS President Dr. Christian Lattermann discusses the future of cartilage repair in an interview with SmartTRAK at the 2025 ICRS Global Congress in Boston. 

In this interview, SmartTRAK speaks with Christian Lattermann, MD, the incoming president of the International Cartilage Regeneration and Joint Preservation Society (ICRS), about the future of joint repair. He shares insights on emerging technologies, highlighting advances in mechanical correction, AI and biologics. Dr. Lattermann explains how AI helps clinicians understand causes of degeneration that were previously overlooked. He emphasizes the excitement surrounding orthobiologics, especially extracellular vesicles, as a novel approach to guiding biological responses. 

To find out more, click on the following video (22:22 min). Interview topics, organized by timecode, and a link to download a complete transcript of the interview are provided below.

 

Interview Outline by Timecode:

00:22 The three pillars of revolution: AI, biology, and mechanics.

06:36 Orthobiologics and extracellular vesicles: From "voodoo" to validated science.

10:25 Rethinking inflammation: fixing the "leak."

13:53 The collaborative alliance: industry, clinicians and researchers. 

16:46: Finding the niche: comparing the roles of MACI, Agili-C, and other technologies.

21:29: Conclusion: the future of individualized patient care.

Curious about the future of cartilage repairClick the button below to download and read the complete transcript of our interview with the incoming ICRS president, Dr. Christian Lattermann, conducted by  Andy Knapik, SmartTRAK Sr. Analyst, Soft Tissue & Arthroscopic Technologies.Get the Transcript

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3 min read

Super-Bore Catheters 2025: An Interview with Raul Nogueira, MD

By Anne Staylor on 10/28/25 9:39 AM

Raul Nogueira, MD, discusses the latest research and innovation in super-bore catheters for the treatment of AIS and the preliminary results from the MARRS pivotal trial in an interview with SmartTRAK.

In an interview with SmartTRAK, Raul Nogueira, MD, interventional and stroke neurologist at the University of Pittsburgh and chief of cerebrovascular medicine at the UPMC Stroke Institute, discusses the latest research and innovation in super-bore catheters for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS), including preliminary results from the MARRS pivotal trial that he recently presented at the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery (SNIS) 2025 Annual Meeting in Nashville, TN.

Dr. Nogueira highlights key results from the MARRS pivotal trial, which is evaluating Perfuze Medical’s Millipede super-bore 088 catheter, how the results compare to other super-bore pivotal trials and what factors contributed to MARRS’ high first-pass effect rate. 

Listen to the interview below (43:20 min) to learn more, including how Millipede performed in different parts of the brain and the status of research and innovation that is helping to drive growth in the US Market for Mechanical Thrombectomy. A link to download a full transcript of the interview is also provided below.

 

Interview by Timecode

00:06 Introduction, background about stroke thrombectomy and the evolution of technology and research in mechanical thrombectomy devices.

10:27 Discussion about the MARRS pivotal trial vs other trials and what contributed to the the high, first-pass effect rate.

18:44 Different studies use different definitions of first-pass effect and good reperfusion. Where does the MARRS study definition fit and compare to how other studies define good reperfusion?

21:47 Discussion about safety data for super-bore catheters vs the Millipede catheter, device designs and comparison to other types of thrombectomy devices.

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3 min read

What's Next in Orthopedic Trauma?

By Nick Fitzpatrick on 10/21/25 9:45 AM

SmartTRAK reviews the evolving trauma startup landscape in 2025, spotlighting five innovators, followed by a comparative chart mapping 19 emerging companies.

The Trauma Market is undergoing a subtle but significant evolution. Amid growing pressure on hospitals to improve outcomes, reduce costs, and avoid complications like surgical site infections, a wave of early-stage companies is rethinking the fundamentals of fracture care. From infection-mitigating implants to ultra-low-profile nails and percutaneous plating systems, these startups are betting that innovation in surgical efficiency, implant design, and value-based care will ultimately reshape the trauma landscape.

Historically seen as a commoditized space dominated by legacy original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), trauma is now attracting mission-driven founders, surgeons and academic engineers building platforms with real clinical intent, whether to reduce the burden of open fractures, address fragility fracture under-treatment, or to simplify procedures that have seen little change in decades. While most remain pre-commercial, several are advancing toward regulatory milestones, clinical validation, or meaningful early traction.

In this article, SmartTRAK highlights 19 companies with trauma-specific implants and technologies, categorized by platform/product, commercial stage, latest funding round, regulatory status and relevant activity callouts. Of these, SmartTRAK also provides a deep dive on five companies to watch in the Trauma Market in 2025 and beyond.

Company Spotlights: Five to Watch in Trauma

  •  CURVAFIX
    Curvafix is redefining pelvic fracture fixation with a novel intramedullary (IM) implant system designed specifically for curved bone anatomy. The company’s flagship device, the CurvaFix IM Implant, is the first and only FDA-cleared implant that ... (read more)

  • Endeavor Orthopedics
    Endeavor Orthopaedics is a trauma-focused medical device company pioneering implant systems for complex avulsion fractures. Its flagship product, the Summit Patella Plating System, addresses a critical need in the treatment of ... (read more)

  • Meduloc
    Meduloc is an early-stage orthopedic startup advancing intramedullary fixation solutions for small, long-bone fractures. The company’s proprietary system combines ... (read more)

  • OrthoXel
    OrthoXel is an orthopedic trauma company developing advanced intramedullary nailing systems designed to optimize healing biomechanics and surgical workflow. Based in Cork, Ireland, the company has commercialized two flagship platforms ... (read more)

  • Reselute Medical
    Reselute Medical is a pre-commercial orthopedic startup developing a novel class of intramedullary implants capable of localized antibiotic delivery for the treatment of severe traumatic long bone fractures. The company’s lead product is ... (read more)

Curious about what's next in Orthopedic trauma and the companies that are rethinking the fundamentals of fracture care? Click the button to get the full article by Nick Fitzpatrick, SmartTRAK Associate Market Analyst – Orthopedics.Get the Article

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2 min read

Advancing Orthobiologic Care: Charting a New Course at TOBI 2025

By David Shepard on 10/14/25 9:29 AM

TOBI President Michael Khadavi, MD, shares his thoughts on the institute's future, key insights from this year’s conference, and exciting new techniques and technologies in the orthobiologics field.  

Dr. Michael Khadavi, a triple-boarded physician in physical medicine and rehab (PM&R), sports medicine, and ultrasound, and the current president of the Orthobiologic Institute (TOBI), discusses the organization's future plans, including expanding its educational programs, research initiatives and strengthening partnerships with industry in an interview with SmartTRAK. Dr. Khadavi also reviews the use of musculoskeletal ultrasound in orthobiologics and highlights the promising results of intraosseous subchondral injections for joint treatments, citing encouraging data from recent studies. Click on the following video (08:22 min) to learn more. A link to download a complete transcript of the interview is also provided below.


SmartTRAK: Hi, this is David Shepard with SmartTRAK. It's my pleasure to be joined by the president of TOBI. This is Dr. Michael Khadavi, triple-boarded physician in PM&R, sports and ultrasound. Thank you very much for joining us.

Michael Khadavi, MD: It is an honor.

Thanks a bunch. So, we're just wrapping up with TOBI, fantastic presentations throughout the week. It's been really, really great. What's your take-home message to all the people that couldn't make it? What are the things that you learned from these last two days? What's the summary of what you learned here?

MK: This was a strong conference, if I've ever been to a good conference. My biggest take-homes are ...

Click the button below to download the full transcript of our exclusive interview with TOBI President Michael Khadavi, MD, conducted by David Shepard, SmartTRAK GM/Sr Analyst, Orthobio & Regen.Get the Transcript

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3 min read

OSET 2025: Spotlight on OSSIO Kneebar Procedure

By Andy Knapik on 10/2/25 9:53 AM

Dr. Brian Cole discusses the novel OSSIO Kneebar procedure in an interview with SmartTRAK at OSET 2025 in Las Vegas. 

Brian Cole, MD, orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist at Rush Health System, discussed the OSSIO Kneebar procedure for the management of subchondral insufficiency fracture of the femur and tibia, utilizing the bio-integrative OSSIOFiber 4.0mm Cannulated Trimmable Fixation Nail, in an interview with SmartTRAK at the Orthopaedic Summit (OSET) 2025 Annual Meeting held September 18-25, 2025 in  Las Vegas, NV.

To find out more about the OSSIO Kneebar procedure and what makes it so revolutionary, click on the following video (11:49 min). A link to download a complete transcript of the interview is also provided below. 


Interview Transcript

Hi everybody, it's Andy Knapik with SmartTRAK. I'm here at the OSET meeting in Las Vegas and I'm joined with Dr. Brian Cole. Thanks for joining me today.

Dr. Brian Cole: 
Thanks for having me, Andy.

Yes. I've talked a lot in the past about OSSIO. They have some really great products and one of the products that's out now, it's called KneeBar. It's a very unique product. So I thought it'd be great if you, being so involved with the product, you could walk through it and tell us about it.

BC
: Yes, so for clarity, KneeBar is probably what we would say the procedure, I guess is a KneeBar procedure.

Okay.

BC
: The device itself is OSSIO fiber, so it's their core technology, which is I'd say bio-talented, bio-replaceable and gets replaced and/or turns into bone over time. So we know that's the construct for OSSIO fiber, and the device itself is a cannulated trimmable fixation nail.

So the KneeBar procedure basically is a procedure that will address ...

Want to learn more about the novel OSSIO Kneebar procedure? Click the button below to download and read the complete transcript of SmartTRAK's interview with Brian Cole, MD, conducted by  Andy Knapik, SmartTRAK Sr. Analyst, Soft Tissue & Arthroscopic Technologies.Get the Transcript

Topics: Orthopedics
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2 min read

SmartTRAK Announces Retirement of Susan Paquette, Former VP/GM of Wound Care

By Sharon O'Reilly on 9/30/25 11:45 AM

It is with both gratitude and admiration that we announce the retirement of Susan Paquette, our former VP/GM of SmartTRAK Wound Care, after nearly 15 years of dedicated service to SmartTRAK. 

Since joining the company, Susan has been instrumental in building SmartTRAK Wound Care into the industry’s most trusted source of real-time market intelligence. Under her leadership, the Wound Care business has grown from a promising vision into a powerhouse platform providing comprehensive data, news, and analysis on a range of Advanced Wound Care markets. Today, SmartTRAK Wound Care delivers deep coverage across nine distinct areas with broad global reach, relied upon daily by the world’s top wound and orthopedic companies.

Topics: Wound Care
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3 min read

Orthobiologic Care: Inside the Agenda at TOBI Conference 2025

By David Shepard on 9/30/25 9:30 AM

Dr. Steve Sampson, founder of The Orthopedic Institute (TOBI) and the Orthohealing Center, discusses the evolution of orthobiologics, highlighting the integration of machine-based therapies like shockwave and a focus on patient safety, with patients traveling overseas for untested biologic treatments. 

In this interview with SmartTRAK, TOBI founder Steve Sampson, DO, discusses the development of orthobiologics, highlighting a key inflection point where technologies like shockwave and light therapy are used to boost the body's natural healing process. Dr. Sampson also mentions patients traveling abroad for treatments. He warns about the lack of regulatory oversight, potential complications and offers solutions through the Orthohealing Alliance.

Click on the following video (11:10 min) to learn more. A link to download a complete transcript of the interview is provided below.


SmartTRAK: My name is David Shepard. I'm with SmartTRAK, and I'm here at the 16th annual TOBI meeting. and it's my pleasure to be joined by Dr. Steve Sampson. Thanks so much for taking the time. I really appreciate it.

Steve Sampson, DO: Thanks for having me. Looking forward to chatting.

Absolutely. So, the agenda of this year's conference is... It's got a wide range of topics. What do you think is reflected in this year's agenda that really typifies the technologies that are happening out there in the field today?

SS: It's probably the most exciting time in my 20-year career that I feel like we're at this inflection point with new technologies, including machine-based therapies. So, the concept is the human body is remarkable, and we're made of 37 trillion cells, and we have our own drug store, our own ability to self-repair. Our role as physicians is to try to facilitate that. So, machine-based treatments are a big point of this conference where there's a session on shockwave therapy, photo-biomodulation light therapy, hyperbaric oxygen. They're all different machine-based treatments that are trying to boost our body's healing capacity. Then I also have a new session of mesenchymal stem cells or MSCs overseas.

SS: A lot of times, in clinic, we find patients are going to Mexico, Panama, Thailand, and some of them have unlimited resources, but they may not be getting the best level of care and bigger isn't always better.

Right.

SS: So, understanding what are some of the regulatory challenges here in the United States, why are patients going overseas ,,,

Click the button to get the full transcript of our exclusive interview with TOBI founder Steve Sampson, DO, conducted by David Shepard, SmartTRAK GM/Sr Analyst, Orthobio & Regen.Get the Transcript

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2 min read

Navigating Tomorrow's Foot and Ankle Market

By Natasha Weeks on 9/23/25 9:30 AM

Gregory Berlet, MD, shares insights on trends in foot and ankle surgery, including MIS, ASCs, orthobiologics, and AI planning, in an interview with SmartTRAK.

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3 min read

Join the SmartTRAK Team! We're Hiring!

By Thomas Wallick on 9/23/25 9:20 AM

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.Learn More and Apply

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.Learn More and Apply


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:

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