Lali Sekhon

Reno, NV (USA)
Role(s):
Founder/Owner/Principal

Kinetic Spine Technologies

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Location: Reno
Industry: Bio-Technology
Year Founded: 2005
Number Employees: 1-10 people
Description: Kinetic Spine Technologies (KST) was established as a private corporation in Alberta in 2005. The three founding members are internationally known spine surgeons. The mission statement of the company is two-fold: (1) to CREATE anatomically precise, physiologically compatible, and bio-mechanically sound technologies to repair and reconstruct the spinal column and (2) to DEFINE the present and future of motion preserving spinal surgery. In the past 4 years this management team has developed intellectual property (IP) on 9 types of motion sparing spinal implants for which 12 provisional patents have been filed in the United States and 11 other countries world-wide. Unique to this intellectual property is the neurosurgical perspective from where it comes (vs. traditional orthopedic principles) and the “top-down” approach tackling the more complex cervical spine first (as opposed to lumbar spine) making future lumbar applications more intuitive and easy. As a start-up company this unique spinal perspective places KST and its IP at a significant advantage over all others. The KST suite of products is designed to apply principles of motion preservation to all aspects of the spine, from in front, from behind, from the side, from the top, and from the bottom. Essentially KST has developed the circumferential solution to motion preservation in a modular form resulting in a truly bionic spine. The implants are designed for all approaches and can be used in almost all circumstances. They are created from materials with established track records already proven in biological compatibility. The design principles have accounted for and solved design limitations in primitive first generation motion preserving spinal implants. Critical to KST technology is the principle that these prosthesis can be implanted by surgeons using currently widely practiced techniques. Although KST represents revolutionary technology the devices are immediately familiar to the spinal surgeon and do not require a steep learning curve to implant. The three principle founders have invested their expertise and US $765,000 of their own money to develop this technology and drive value into KST. Approximately 20% of this financial investment has been spent on prototype development while the remainder has been vested towards establishing and maintaining IP through patent protection. Despite a recent sluggish economy the global spinal market will continue to heat up due to a healthier but aging population demanding more and more from their naturally degenerative spines. In 2005 the world spine market was valued at US $5.3 billion. This market is expected to triple to US $16 billion by 2015. Motion preservation will play a key role in this growth accounting for US $2.5 billion by 2012. KST will not only ride this wave, but by virtue of its cutting edge technology, will actually define it. KST will meet this objective through an aggressive development and commercialization plan. Over the next three years KST will bring two of its most promising products to the point of global commercialization, firmly establishing itself within the spine community as a revolutionary, not evolutionary, presence. Development of the other products within its current suite will also continue. In addition KST will maintain its role as industry leader through the development of even newer IP. Round 1 of financing is designed to catapult the company forward on several fronts: • retain two key individuals pivotal to corporate growth: a qualified experienced project manager and a design engineer • provide basic infrastructure such as computing hardware, software, and support • ensure US FDA Design History File (DHF) compliance • maintain ISO standards and certification • protect current IP