Surgical spirits to be lifted by new development fund

BRITISH surgeons say that only one in 10 new product ideas will actually reach the market thanks to a lack of funding and development resources.

The pessimistic view was highlighted by Leeds-based medical solutions firm Xiros at this year's British Orthopaedic Association's annual congress, seen as the launch pad for the firm's groundbreaking £2m research and development investment fund.

Responses suggested that a good number of surgeons had identified new product procedures in need of development and that many had concepts they would like to see commercialised.

But an overwhelming of majority of those questioned believed less than 10% of their ideas would reach the market in the next three to five years.

A lack of funding, development resources and regulatory conditions were among the reasons highlighted for their pessimism.

David Beevers, Xiros innovations director, said:

“There is no doubt front line surgical experience is a key source of surgical innovation and new ideas, but there are consistent key factors in the commercialisation gap.

“The Fund was launched to close the gap and has immediately attracted a number of very promising concepts from contributing surgeons.”

Mr Beevers said that Xiros' mix of research, design, engineering, production and sales and marketing skills, coupled with intellectual property experience allowed it to help bring ideas and designs to reality.

“More importantly make them commercially successful products selling around the world,” he added.

Xiros was founded by medical academic Bahaa Seedhom in 1985 to develop his ideas for prosthetic ligament products to help surgeons repair patients' knees and other joints.

His venture was so successful that the business now employs more than 60 staff, manufacturing its Neoligaments brand of replacement ligaments and also developing and making other surgical components on behalf of medical firms, under the Xiros brand.