We are pleased to announce that Tracey Clarke has joined the team at SmartTRAK as our new Account Manager, Customer Success. Tracey has 20+ years experience in the Print and Digital Communications industry, including roles as a Client Relations Manager and IT Project Manager at Broadridge Customer Communications and DST Output LTD.

Meet Tracey Clarke:

What is your role with SmartTRAK? I am an Account Manager on the newly established Customer Success team.

What do you like about SmartTRAK? This is an exciting time to be starting at SmartTRAK. There are many positive changes happening and I am enjoying the opportunity to see the outcome. I feel very fortunate to be with a company that helps others Be the Expert.

Despite the seemingly never-ending COVID-19 epidemic, SmartTRAK continued to keep you informed of everything that transpired in the MedTech industry in 2021. As the leading provider of real-time market data and analysis for the orthopedic, wound, regenerative medicine and neuro therapies markets, SmartTRAK is uniquely suited to make you the expert on all the latest developments. Our knowledgeable analysts covered a lot of ground, everything from breaking medical device event coverage to interviews with some of the industry's top thought leaders.

Here are SmartTRAK's Top 10 blog posts of the past year that garnered the most attention from you and your colleagues, plus 3 bonus posts, because at SmartTRAK we always strive to deliver more than what's expected!

Trends in OrthoBiologics & Regenerative Medicine: A Surgeon's Perspective
by Freddy Buntoum

In this wide-ranging interview with SmartTRAK, Dr. Wasik Ashraf, an Orthopaedic Surgeon specializing in Sports Medicine, gives his view of CMS' FY21 OPPS-ASC Final Rulemaking, and discusses emerging trends and innovation in OrthoBiologics and Regenerative Medicine.

SmartTRAK was cited as a source in a press release from Smith+Nephew* entitled "Smith+Nephew acquires novel cementless partial knee system."

Smith+Nephew, in the release, announced that it has acquired Engage Surgical, owner of the only cementless unicompartmental (partial) knee system commercially available in the US. The article cited SmartTRAK's reporting that "the partial knee market is currently worth approximately $300 million in the US".

The press release goes on to say that "This acquisition strongly supports Smith+Nephew’s strategy for growth by transforming its business through innovation and acquisition, while also providing differentiation for its customers. The Engage Surgical Partial Knee System is a novel, modern cementless knee implant to serve a resurgent segment driven by the potential for better long-term fixation through biologic integration, shorter operating times, and the shift to Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs)."

Randy Kilburn, Exec VP & GM, Reconstruction, Robotics and Digital, added:

“Smith+Nephew is now the only medical device company offering both cemented and cementless partial knee implants in the US, as well as robotics-assistance through the CORISurgical System that is well-suited for the precise alignment needed .... The acquisition will drive Smith+Nephew’s Robotics and Real Intelligence strategy. Partial knee procedures are well-matched for robotics due to the need for precise alignment and Smith+Nephew’s CORI Surgical System already supports the cemented JOURNEY II^◊ unicompartmental knee. The Engage Surgical Partial Knee System is optimised for robotics and will have an application with CORI in the future. Engage Surgical’s Partial Knee System also complements Smith+Nephew’s focus on serving the growing outpatient market, with an increasing proportion of knee procedures performed in ASCs."

Used by the leading orthopedic and wound care companies, SmartTRAK is the premier provider of competitive intelligence, including market data, analysis and advisory services for the orthopedic, wound, regenerative medicine and neuro therapies markets. If you would like a demo of what SmartTRAK has to offer and how we can help increase proficiency, improve productivity and reduce costs for your company, just click the button below.

We are pleased to announce that Courtney Sheedy has joined the team at SmartTRAK as our new General Manager, Spine. Courtney has 15+ years of Global Marketing and Product Development experience dedicated to the spinal medical device market serving in leadership roles for companies like Zimmer Biomet, Alphatec, Corelink and joimax.

Meet Courtney Sheedy:

What is your role with SmartTRAK? General Manager, Spine

What do you like about SmartTRAK? I’m fortunate to have been a user of SmartTRAK for many years prior to joining the ranks as a GM. I love how dynamic the SmartTRAK platform is. For Marketing and Business Development teams to be able to access real-time market information to guide their pipeline planning and day-to-day marketing strategies is one of the most unique and beneficial attributes. I also love how user-friendly the platform is. As a former marketer, I loved the ability to export data files for direct use.

The Spine Market was down in every category as Covid halted elective spine cases globally. 

Spine market performance in Q321 was mired by the resurgence of the Covid-19 Delta Variant, both in the US and OUS. All markets were down sequentially YoY, with dynamic devices taking more than a double digit hit globally.

Globus’ potential takeover of Nuvasive was the biggest storyline of Q3, as they search to gain market share through acquisitions. Market participants are certainly taking note of Globus, as Medtronic CEO Geoffrey Martha stated they are trying to attract Globus users with the launch of their Catalyft Expandable Interbody System.

Among the many topics covered in detail in our comprehensive Q321 Spine Market Recap* are:

In an interview with SmartTRAK, Mesh Suture, Inc. (MSI) Founder Gregory Dumanian MD, discusses the Company and its novel suturable mesh that has the potential to change how hernias and other conditions are treated.

MSI is commercializing a novel suturable mesh that combines a mesh’s ability to distribute forces and support tissue with the precise placement and minimal foreign body presence of a suture. In a time when patients and physicians are rethinking how mesh is used in hernia treatment, MSI’s Duramesh offers the potential of retaining the durability of mesh repair with less foreign body presence. Today, the Company is running clinical trials and building evidence to support regulatory clearance in the United States. To find out more about the Company and its operation, SmartTRAK talked with Gregory Dumanian, MD, Chief of Plastic Surgery at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, Founder & Medical Officer of MSI and the inventor of the new technology.

Click on the following video to listen to SmartTRAK Senior Analyst Doug Devens’ interview with Dr. Dumanian, which was recorded via Zoom audio (24: 35 min). A link to download a complete transcript of the interview is also provided below.

The US market for Hemostats and Sealants regained its pre-pandemic stride in Q321 as many procedures mostly returned to normal volumes.

Hashed Health CEO John Bass discusses how Hashed Health is bringing blockchain technology to healthcare in an interview with SmartTRAK

In an interview with SmartTRAK, Hashed Health CEO John Bass discusses the Company and the use case of blockchain and distributed ledger technology in the medical device industry. Hashed Health is a venture product studio that partners with healthcare and life science enterprises to introduce new blockchain-based healthcare solutions to market.

To find out more, including why blockchain technology is important for medical device manufacturers, click on the following video to listen to the full interview (25:42 min). A link to download the complete transcript of the interview is also provided below.

Covid-related challenges continued to dampen market recovery in Q321. Despite pandemic hurdles, technology that improves surgical precision and real-time workflows is driving adoption and innovation in computer-assisted spine surgery and accelerating the development of products and systems.

Many companies with established enabling technologies are pushing to expand indications for existing systems and bolster them with robust preoperative planning, enhanced navigation and post-op evaluation solutions for start-finish integration within a single line of products. Meanwhile, other players are focusing on open-platform solutions to address care gaps for specific procedures and populations. At the forefront of industry research and development are artificial intelligence and virtual reality technologies to aid in imaging, planning and navigation assistance (robotic-assisted and freehand). 

Renewed COVID-19 headwinds mute overall Q3 results, however, the soft tissue repair segment remains resilient

Impact of the Delta variant was felt broadly across OrthoBio, with virtually all publicly traded companies observing a reduction in surgical volume (relative to forecast) directly attributable to a resurgence of COVID-19. Overall, OrthoBio revenue declined, primarily driven by a sharp reduction in Bone Replacement revenue. Several companies noted the decrease in surgical volumes was most acute in August and September due to shortages in hospital staffing. Weakness was most closely tied to deferrable, elective, complex spine procedures.

Among the many topics covered in detail in our comprehensive Q321 OrthoBio Market Recap* are: