DIRECTSYNC SURGICAL SECURES NIH PHASE I GRANT TO ADVANCE SMART IMPLANT RESEARCH

September 15, 2022 – DirectSync Surgical announced today that the National Institutes of Health awarded the company their third grant as part of the Small Business Innovation Research Program. This Phase I award entitled “Spinal Fusion Implant with Embedded Biomechanically Powered Sensor,” will be administered through the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS). This effort will build on Direct Sync Surgical’s core technology to create human powered implantable devices to enhance bone growth to also include a biomechanically powered sensor that improves fusion and long term outcomes of lumbar spinal fusion.

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"Winning an award for an NIH SBIR proposal not only brings funding to our innovation, but also a stamp of validation from one of the most respected scientific institutions in the world,” Lisa Friis, DirectSync Surgical Chief Technology Officer, “It's a testament to the potential impact of our work and a steppingstone to greater success."

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"We are excited to receive this grant from the NIH, which will allow us to develop a groundbreaking enhancement to our stimulation only interbody fusion device," said Leighton LaPierre, DirectSync Surgical Co-Founder and COO. "By integrating diagnostic functionality into the device, we will be able to provide surgeons with critical information about the fusion process, which will ultimately lead to better outcomes for patients."

Mr. LaPierre, will be the Principal Investigator and will work in collaboration with DirectSync Surgical's development partners, and university collaborators to complete the grant.

About DirectSync Surgical, headquartered in Lawrence, KS, is developing the first ever patient powered smart implant which reduces the heavy reliance on constantly powering and monitoring the device remotely.  While the patient goes about their daily life, the DirectSync device is hard at work providing both mechanically synced electrical stimulation for enhanced bone healing as well as post-operative data collection to better inform and optimize treatment regimen between the physician and their patient.

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