Genesis Innovation Group Invests in HAPPE Spine

Holland. Michigan-based Genesis Innovation has made an initial investment into Grand Rapids, Michigan-based HAPPE Spine.

The amount of the investment was not disclosed. MiBusiness reported that HAPPE Spine had filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that early on it had raised an equity offering with 11 investors.

Genesis Innovation, which was founded by successful medical entrepreneurs Rob Ball, Jeff Ondrla and Don Running, is an early-stage medical device investment firm which takes an active role in helping promising young companies launch their businesses and get to market successfully. The Genesis team includes a full range of people with extensive operating and financial expertise in medical device companies.

HAPPE Spine is based on the work by Ryan K. Roeder, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Notre Dame. He developed a novel modification of PEEK which imbues the widely used implant material with greater porosity and bioactivity—making it a potentially ideal material for interbody spinal fusion and other orthopaedic procedures.

Doug Snell, engineering director at HAPPE Spine, explained more about the proprietary technology to OTW, “Our proprietary molding methods enable us to offer an exposed hydroxyapatite [HA] infused implant with fully interconnected porosity, allowing for the promotion of bony ingrowth onto and within the implant.”

OTW asked Doug Snell about the challenge regarding getting hydroxyapatite whisker exposure throughout the structure. He explained, “HAPPE’s patented manufacturing method ensures HA whisker exposure is present on all pore surfaces while reinforcing the interconnecting struts.”

“This is unique. Prior to this development, most companies addressed one, or at the most two, attributes of fusion whereas HAPPE addresses all three. We mold each individual pore such that the size, shape and surface conditions promote osteointegration. We achieve this with conventional manufacturing and achieve a novel structure while remaining competitive in our pricing.”

“With this technology we offer the first to market a variable porosity PEEK implant with continuous hydroxyapatite (HA) throughout the structure. This technology allows device manufacturers to provide the optimal structural strength and stiffness of a device, along with bio-active surface and porosity positioned to promote bony in-growth through the device from one vertebral body to then next.”

“Utilizing HA whiskers, HAPPE offers a reinforced PEEK device which promote biological growth throughout the pore structure. HAPPE Spine’s porous PEEK technology brings all three fusion conditions of modulus, porosity and bioactivity together.”

“Spinal fusion implant innovation started with allograft blocks; moved to titanium spacers, PEEK interbodies, and now 3D-printed metal cages. Each innovation is a response to deficiencies of the previous technology.”

“While the present 3D-printed cage offering meets the porosity and osteoinductive need, it still has subsidence and fracture risks which cannot be ignored. We believe that, for the first time in the industry history, we will be able to offer physicians a solution which can meet all three conditions in one device—modulus, porosity and bioactivity.”

“Our name spells it out clearly; HydroxyApatite Porous PEek (HAPPE).”