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Dr. Lowry Discusses Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Take Five WZZM

Used to treat a nerve root in the neck (cervical) spine pinched by a herniated disc fragment or bone spur (osteophyte) from spinal stenosis, TransCorporal Micro Discectomy (TCMD) is a minimally invasive procedure that allows a person to retain natural movement in the neck using his or her own disc, instead of requiring removal of the entire disc space followed by fusion or total disc replacement.

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WMSTI, EDF Aid New Medical Device Maker

Article from Great Lakes IT Report

The Grand Rapids-based West Michigan Science & Technology Initiative and Ann Arbor-based EDF Ventures Monday announced the incorporation and financing of a new medical device company, TransCorp Inc.

TransCorp is temporarily located at the West Michigan Science & Technology offices in Grand Valley State University's Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences.

The company will work to develop and commercialize novel surgical instruments and implants. Other participants in the financing include the Grand Angels, and Hopen Therapeutics, LLC. EDF provided business counsel to the company, while WMSTI provided needed office space.

"Mike DeVries at EDF is clearly one of the leading medical device investors in this region", said David Lowry, M.D., TransCorp founder. "Mike knows the medical device space very well, and EDF has a proven track record as a solid investor".

Added WMSTI executive director Linda Chamberlain: "Supporting innovative companies like TransCorp is a vital component to what we do every day. We are happy that we were able to provide the space they needed to get started and make any connections or collaborate with other clients and tenants to help TransCorp achieve their goals".

TransCorp was co-founded by Lowry, a neurosurgeon with the Brain and Spine Center in Holland, Scott Tuinstra, PA-C, a physician assistant with the Brain and Spine Center, Roger Veldman, associate professor of engineering in the department of engineering at Hope College, and Des O'Farrell who will serve as president of the new company.

Additionally, Mike DeVries of EDF Ventures and Mark Olesnvage of Hopen Therapeutics have been named to the TransCorp board of directors. DeVries will serve as chairman of the board.

"Mike and the EDF team understand the needs of seed and early stage companies, and they bring a wealth of knowledge to TransCorp", added Lowry. "Mike has an excellent network, and will be actively adding value as chairman of the board".

INNOVATION & JOB NEWS
EDF Ventures invests in downtown Ann Arbor, creates new fund

CONCENTRATE, 11/19/2008

In a small, old house on the northern edge of Ann Arbor's downtown is one of the big players in Michigan's new economy – EDF Ventures.

The venture capital firm invests in numerous early-stage health care companies.

Today it has about $170 million worth of assets under management. About a third of those are based in Michigan. Its latest investment, for example, is in Grand Valley State-based TransCorp, a start-up that develops surgical instruments and implants.

EDF Ventures has organized four investment funds since 1987 and is getting ready to start a fifth worth up to $50 million. It's that growth that inspired the firm to expand to four full-time and three part-time (including one intern) employees. Two new hires have already joined the firm and the company expects to add yet more next year when it gets its fifth fund up and running.

Source: Linda Fingerle, chief financial officer and principal of EDF Ventures

Writer: Jon Zemke

BIZBUZZ - Latest news from local businesses

By Staff reports
The Holland Sentinel
Posted Nov 15, 2008

TransCorp will make medical devices

The West Michigan Science and Technology Initiative and EDF Ventures announced on Monday, Nov. 10, the incorporation and financing of a new medical device company, TransCorp Inc.

TransCorp is temporarily located at the West Michigan Science & Technology offices in Grand Valley State University’s Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences. The company will work to develop and commercialize novel surgical instruments and implants.

Other participants in the financing include the Grand Angels, and Hopen Therapeutics, LLC.

North Ottawa Community Health System

I know I am not alone when I think about how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful and naturally abundant area. You can start a family here just as easily as retire here because this community offers a quality of life like few others in America.

While our population base is growing at all age levels, our 60-and-over crowd continues to boom. One of the most important health issues facing this population are the damaging and sometimes life-threatening effects of osteoporosis.

As part of our continuing effort to expand the continuum of care for our patients, we’ve welcomed Neurosurgeons David Lowry, MD and Adam Kremer, MD to the North Ottawa family of providers.

Both surgeons are extraordinarily talented and specialists when it comes to dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis as well as the full spectrum of care related to back, neck and spine problems.

They are based in Ottawa County and have growing practices in Holland, Zeeland and now in the Tri-Cities, where they are seeing patients out of our Harbor Dunes facility.

Neurosurgery is a critical need in our community. And we are thrilled to be providing this exceptional level of expertise and care so close to home.

I hope you’ll help me in welcoming Dr. Lowry and Dr. Kremer to our health system.

In good health,
Shelleye Yaklin
President and CEO
North Ottawa Community Health System

When we think of osteoporosis, we often think of it as the inevitability of old age – shortened stature; a hunched back; limited mobility; typically found in women. But that snapshot is no longer true. Osteoporosis, meaning “porous bones” is a skeletal disease affecting women and men. As bones age, they lose minerals such as calcium, which make them weaker, more brittle, and susceptible to fracture. While osteoporosis can occur anywhere in the body, it mostly affects the back/spine, hips and wrists. Consider the statistics:

300,000 hip - 44 million people in the U.S. are at risk
250,000 wrist - Of the 1.5 million fragility fractures occurring annually in U.S.
300,000 other - 700,000 spine (that’s one every 45 seconds)

Because the disease makes bones thinner and weaker, fractures can occur during ordinary movements like bending and lifting, or from falls. These fractures can be painful, disfiguring, and often go unnoticed at first. Fractures may also reduce a person’s ability to lead an active life. It is estimated that one out of every two women over the age of 50 will be affected by osteoporosis in her remaining lifetime.

Leading an active lifestyle and ensuring you get enough calcium in your diet are the first steps toward avoiding osteoporosis. Early diagnosis and developing a plan with your doctor will also minimize or even prevent the serious affects of osteoporosis from taking hold of your life.

The Neurosurgery team at North Ottawa Community Health system coupled with diagnostic tools such as our new Bone Density Analysis machine are available to help you understand if you are at risk for osteoporosis. Schedule an appointment with your doctor to determine if you need an osteoporosis screening.

West Michigan In The News

November 10, 2008

New medical device start-up gets boost from Grand Rapids investors, life sciences incubator
Source: Wall Street Journal Market Watch

As the health care industry and the development of new medical devices bring innovation and jobs to West Michigan, one start-up company that specializes in commercializing novel surgical instruments is growing, thanks to life sciences incubator space and venture capital.

According to excerpts from the story:

The West Michigan Science & Technology Initiative and EDF Ventures today announced the incorporation and financing of a new medical device company, TransCorp, Inc.

TransCorp is temporarily located at the West Michigan Science & Technology offices in Grand Valley State University's Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences. The company will work to develop and commercialize novel surgical instruments and implants.

Other participants in the financing include the Grand Angels, and Hopen Therapeutics, LLC. EDF provided the necessary business counsel to take their company to the next level. The Initiative provided the new company with needed office space.

WMSTI, EDF Aid New Medical Device Maker

Posted: Monday, 10 November 2008

The Grand Rapids-based West Michigan Science & Technology Initiative and Ann Arbor-based EDF Ventures Monday announced the incorporation and financing of a new medical device company, TransCorp Inc.

TransCorp is temporarily located at the West Michigan Science & Technology offices in Grand Valley State University's Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences.

"Mike DeVries at EDF is clearly one of the leading medical device investors in this region," said David Lowry, M.D., TransCorp founder. "Mike knows the medical device space very well, and EDF has a proven track record as a solid investor."

Additionally, Mike DeVries of EDF Ventures and Mark Olesnvage of Hopen Therapeutics have been named to the TransCorp board of directors. DeVries will serve as chairman of the board.

"Mike and the EDF team understand the needs of seed and early stage companies, and they bring a wealth of knowledge to TransCorp," added Lowry. "Mike has an excellent network, and will be actively adding value as chairman of the board."

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