CASurgica develops computer-assisted tools and medical processes to enable the application of minimally-invasive surgical procedures for hip, knee and shoulder replacements. CASurgica’s initial product focus is an image-guided system to assist the efficiency of preoperative planning, to significantly reduce the intraoperative incisions, and improve the accuracy of the position of the hip, knee and shoulder implants. The technologies are based on collaborative research of the Center for Orthopaedic Research, Carnegie Mellon’s University’s Medical Robotics Laboratory, and CASurgica. CASurgica was founded by Anthony M. DiGioia, III, M.D., and Branislav Jaramaz, Ph.D.
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Dr. DiGioia approached Pittsburgh Gateways Corporation (PGC) for assistance with:
- Development of a CASurgica Business Plan.
- Strategic Planning to develop and implement
an Institute to diversify the funding
development for research
- Identifying and securing a market channel
partner through PGC’s participation on a
management team
HipNav™ software/hardware is a “Global Positioning System” for complex hip surgery, allowing for precise alignment of surgical instruments.
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• PGC established a division, the Institute for
Computer Assisted Surgery, a business unit
of a 501(c)(3) corporation, dedicated to the
development of corporate grant funds and
individual contributions to support specific
research, and the dissemination of research
information through an annual conference.
- The PGC team prepared the business plan drafts and prepared an application for Innovation Works funding
- PGC staff attended CASurgica’s weekly
management team meetings and participated as a co-presenter to J&J/DePuy, Zimmer, Ortho-McKay, and a number of mid-sized Orthopaedic products companies.
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- PGC helped obtain $330,000 in corporate foundation and individual contributions for ICAS’s research
- ICAS raised funds to sponsor the first annual CAOS conferences, which average 290 Orthopaedic surgeons as registrants
- Raised $160,000 in early capital for CASurgica.
- Prepared grant applications resulting in award of two Innovation Works grants exceeding $200,000
- Transitioned a PCG staff member to manage Dr. DiGioia’s medical practice and corporate developments
- ICAS was transferred to West Penn Hospital’s MERITS (Medical Robotics and Information Technology for Medicine
and Surgery) program, initially directed by Dr. DiGioia
- HipNav™ total hip replacement system is in FDA trials
- Attracted a Boston-based corporate partner for business development and marketing
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