Highridge Medical Inks Distribution Agreement for GPS Tech Platform

Highridge Medical has negotiated an exclusive U.S. distribution agreement with Waypoint Orthopedics Inc. for the Waypoint GPS (Guided Pedicle System), an enabling technology platform that uses real-time guidance for pedicle screw placement without radiation or traditional navigation and robotics.

“We are excited to expand the compelling Highridge product portfolio with enabling technologies designed to enhance safety and efficiency, in both the hospital and ambulatory surgery center (ASC) settings,” Highridge Medical CEO Rebecca Whitney said. “Technology like Waypoint GPS, designed to improve surgical accuracy and limit radiation exposure while respecting the surgical workflow, supports our mission to deliver intelligent, integrated solutions that improve surgical outcomes, streamline workflows, and support value-based care.”

The Waypoint GPS is a disposable, single-use pedicle probe that uses proprietary color-sensing technology to provide physicians with real-time visual feedback for determining the difference between cancellous and cortical bone, and confirming the location of the probe’s cutting edge. The Waypoint GPS looks and feels like a standard reusable pedicle probe and requires little change in technique, according to Highridge Medical. The smart, disposable instrument enhances the surgical experience by helping clinicians identify the probe’s location in the pedicle as they advance it, avoiding cortical breaches and reducing the radiation required during traditional surgery.

The Waypoint GPS is approved for use in open and MIS spine surgery by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

“This partnership between Highridge and Waypoint is going to transform the way the industry thinks about enabling technology,” Waypoint Orthopedics President/CEO Jeffrey F. O’Donnell Jr. stated. “We are proud of the development work our team has put into making the Waypoint GPS reliable and easy to use. Highridge is perfectly positioned to bring Waypoint to the masses.”

Highridge plans to launch the product later this year.

Waypoint Orthopedics Inc. was founded by Dr. Stephen Banco and Runway Healthcare LP, a medtech accelerator fund, to make vertebral fixation safer and more efficient for the patient, surgeon, and support staff.

Highridge Medical is a global medical device company striving to improve spine care by partnering with the surgeon community to drive innovation. The firm’s portfolio is supported by extensive clinical evidence, including solutions for complex spine, motion preservation, and minimally invasive surgery.