Relievant Medsystems Names Chief Medical Officer

Relievant Medsystems, a privately held medical device company that has developed the Intracept Procedure, a minimally invasive and clinically proven approach for the treatment of chronic low back pain, has appointed Ray M. Baker, M.D., as chief medical officer. Baker will report to Relievant President and CEO Kevin Hykes.
 
“Ray is an internationally recognized, highly respected clinician bringing over 30 years of pain management expertise and industry leadership to Relievant,” said Hykes. “His deep experience as an interventional pain management specialist, and as past president of both the North American Spine Society and the Spine Intervention Society will be instrumental in shaping the commercial introduction of the Intracept Procedure. We look forward to his contributions as the company enters its next phase of growth.”
 
As chief medical officer, Baker will be an integral part of the executive team at Relievant, guiding technology development, clinical research strategy, and commercial initiatives. Prior to joining Relievant, Baker served as vice president and executive medical director at Evergreen Health in Kirkland, Wash. He brings both academic and private practice experience to the position, having previously served as a clinical professor and director of Interventional Pain Services at the University of Washington. In addition to presiding over the North American Spine Society and Spine Intervention Society, he has held a number of board and leadership positions within the industry, including serving as the founding chairman of the CMS Multi-Society Pain Workgroup, and chairman of the UnitedHealthcare National Spine Advisory Board.
 
“I have consulted for Relievant since the company’s inception—the depth, experience and talent of the executive leadership team are extraordinary, and I am thrilled to be on board,” said Baker. “Throughout my time as a practicing interventionalist, I have had the opportunity to be involved with the development of a number of novel technologies. The FDA-cleared Intracept Procedure has been built on a foundation of level one evidence and clinical strength. I am acutely aware of how few options are open to these patients and am excited to be part of the team bringing this important new therapy to market.”
 
Founded in 2006 and based in Sunnyvale, Calif., Relievant Medsystems developing low back pain treatment solutions and technology. Relievant’s Intracept System delivers targeted energy into the spine and blocks the transmission of pain signals from the basivertebral nerve (BVN). This minimally invasive procedure provides orthopedic surgeons, neurological surgeons and interventionalists with a new way to provide clinically proven, lasting pain relief for chronic low back pain. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared the Intracept System for the following Indications for Use: The Intracept Intraosseous Nerve Ablation System is intended to be used in conjunction with radiofrequency (RF) generators for the ablation of basivertebral nerves of the L3 through S1 vertebrae for the relief of chronic low back pain of at least six months duration that has not responded to at least six months of conservative care, and is also accompanied by either Type 1 or Type 2 Modic changes on an MRI.   
 
* Surgical Multi-Center Assessment of RF Ablation for the Treatment of Vertebrogenic Back Pain (SMART)