POTSDAM -- Adaptable Ortho Innovations, LLC, a novel medical device startup rooted in a surgeon-engineer collaboration, earned second place recognition in the inaugural Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS) Business Plan Competition.

Researchers at all levels were invited to participate in the competition, which initially required submission of a full written business plan. Eleven start-up companies competed and Adaptable Ortho Innovations was among the finalists invited to participate in the live competition at the ORS Annual Meeting in New Orleans on March 9, 2018.

Teams pitched their innovative bench-to-market ideas to an expert panel of judges that included representatives from the medical device industry and other entrepreneurs successful in bringing their ideas to market.

Deja A. Robinson of Elmira, NY, a senior Engineering & Management student at Clarkson University, delivered the pitch. She was assisted during the Q&A session by Clarkson Associate Professor of Mechanical & Aeronautical Engineering Laurel Kuxhaus, and orthopaedic surgeon A. Martin Clark (formerly of Canton-Potsdam Hospital).

Adaptable Ortho Innovations’ first new product will add value to the entire supply chain, including inventory cost savings, simplification of inventory management and device delivery processes, and improved patient and provider experience through patient-tailored treatment.

Martin Clark, MD and Laurel Kuxhaus, PhD partnered to develop a patented adjustable length intramedullary nail in the Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory at Clarkson University, led by alumni Alexander D.W. Throop (MS Mechanical Engineering 2014) and Mark Hedgeland (MS Mechanical Engineering 2016), with support from the Coulter Foundation and Shipley Center for Entrepreneurship at Clarkson University.

Ms. Robinson joined Dr. Kuxhaus’ laboratory in the spring of 2017. The promising results of the research and product development led to the founding of Adaptable Ortho Innovations with help from Clarkson alumni and company advisors Scott Gucciardi ’90 and Steve Palin ‘90. The company is actively working on commercializing the new orthopaedic implant and anticipates regulatory clearance in early 2019.