MedShape

About MedShape

MedShape, Inc. operates as an orthopedic medical device company, concentrating on the development and manufacturing of surgical solutions for the foot and ankle market. Founded in 2005 by Dr. Ken Gall, Douglas Pacaccio, and Jeff Tyber, the company was born from research conducted at the Georgia Institute of Technology's VentureLab. The founders, including CEO Kurt Jacobus who joined in 2006, shared a background in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois and a vision to apply advanced material science to solve challenges in orthopedic surgery.

The company's core business revolves around its proprietary shape memory technologies, specifically using superelastic nickel-titanium (NiTiNOL) alloys and shape memory polymers. This technology allows for the creation of orthopedic implants that can change shape inside the body. The devices are designed to be inserted in a compact form during surgery and then deploy into a permanent, secure geometry, adapting to the surgical site to maintain fixation and compression during the healing process. This active response to the body’s changes, such as bone resorption, distinguishes its products from traditional static implants. MedShape's clients are primarily orthopedic surgeons specializing in foot and ankle procedures. Revenue is generated through the sale of these specialized medical devices. In April 2021, the company was acquired by DJO, a subsidiary of Colfax Corporation, integrating MedShape's portfolio into DJO's expanding foot and ankle business.

MedShape's product portfolio includes devices for fracture fixation, joint fusion, and soft tissue injury repair. A notable product is the DynaNail® TTC Fusion System, launched in 2011, an intramedullary nail that uses NiTiNOL to maintain compression for treating severe hindfoot deformities and arthritis. Another key product line, the DynaClip Bone Fixation System, consists of superelastic NiTiNOL staples that provide continuous compression for fusions. The company also developed the Morphix® Suture Anchor, made from a shape-memory polymer, which deploys expanding wings to secure soft tissue to bone without relying on traditional screw threads. MedShape was also a pioneer in using 3-D printing to create FDA-cleared titanium alloy orthopedic devices, allowing for patient-specific designs and complex geometries.