Tom Hedman Named Senior Principal Scientist at Spinal Simplicity

Spinal Simplicity has welcomed Tom Hedman, Ph.D., as senior principal scientist. Dr. Hedman is the founder and chief science officer of Spinal Simplicity’s newly acquired Intralink-Spine and has been involved in orthopedic research and development since 1983, with a focus on soft-tissue biomechanics since 1985.
 
“I am excited to be joining the team at Spinal Simplicity to bring our nano-tethering tissue stabilization products to market. The clinical results to date on our injectable spinal disc stabilization product continue to be very compelling, and we now have an experienced team behind our efforts to provide an injectable solution for the many people worldwide suffering from discogenic back pain,” said Hedman.
 
Dr. Hedman is a recognized pioneer in the spine field with more than 35 years of experience in both the academic and entrepreneurial realms. He has made more than 100 presentations at national and international conferences and has over 65 peer-reviewed published articles. He has been a reviewer for U.S. NIH grants and various technical journals. Dr. Hedman currently has more than 40 issued patents, beginning with the first-of-its-kind “second generation” disc replacement device (total disc prosthesis) issued in 1988.
 
Dr. Hedman, in coordination with engineers at Spinal Simplicity, will initially focus on ongoing clinical studies and domestic regulatory clearances. Additionally, he will lead the effort in developing other uses for this exciting technology. Dr. Hedman’s research background will also be leveraged to produce high-quality evidence to support all Spinal Simplicity product offerings.
 
Spinal Simplicity LLC, headquartered in Overland Park, Kan., was founded in 2008. The company owns 127 patents worldwide, with 45 patents in the United States and 82 patents outside of the United States, with additional patent applications pending. Its vision is to be the global leader in simplified surgical solutions while delivering uncompromising quality.