In this episode, Robin sits down with Dr. Aaron Hofmann, an orthopedic surgeon whose four decades of innovation in large joint reconstruction have shaped the field in ways still felt today. Dr. Hofmann shares his journey from growing up on a small farm in Medina, North Dakota, to becoming a pioneering force in cementless fixation and knee system design. He reflects on how a childhood spent fixing everything himself, from farm equipment to electrical systems, laid the foundation for a career defined by mechanical thinking and creative problem solving.

The conversation covers the development of the ultracongruent insert, the asymmetric tibial component, and the Natural Knee system, tracing how each innovation grew directly out of clinical challenges Dr. Hofmann encountered in practice. He also shares the story of Operation Walk Utah, the humanitarian chapter he founded to bring total joint replacement to underserved patients in El Salvador, and how the constraints of that work, limited inventory, minimal instruments, and improvised solutions, directly informed the design philosophy behind Total Joint Orthopedics.

Together, Robin and Dr. Hofmann explore how TJO's universal knee, the Klassic® Knee System, with its single-instrument tray system, is built around the principle that less is more and addresses the challenges of ASCs. Dr. Hofmann discusses 10-year clinical outcomes, kinematic studies, and ongoing bone ingrowth research. The episode closes with a look ahead, and Dr. Hofmann's view on the future of orthopedics - making excellent care simpler, more accessible, and available to far more of the world's patients.

In this episode, TJ sits down with Scott Banks and Scott "Mac" McCaig, who are revolutionizing how surgeons understand and visualize joint motion.Scott Banks shares his remarkable 40-year journey from a Cleveland kid whose dad suffered through constant knee pain to becoming a pioneering biomechanics researcher at MIT and the University of Florida, and one of the rare non-surgeon members of the prestigious Knee Society. He recounts the pivotal 1989 moment when he first used fluoroscopy to capture knee motion in real-time, collaborating with orthopedic legends like Dick Laskin, Leo Whiteside, and Martin Roche to influence implant designs at companies from Mako to Smith & Nephew. At 60, facing a personal health scare, Banks made the bold decision to walk away from tenure to finally bring three decades of research out of academic journals and into clinical practice.Scott "Mac" McCaig brings the industry expertise to make that vision real, explaining how his journey from chemical engineering through Smith & Nephew, Wright Medical, and back again taught him that hardware in the OR is the key that tech giants like Google and Apple have been missing in healthcare. Together, they're building Orthopedic Driven Imaging (ODI), a company that has the ability to upgrade 23,000 C-arms across the country while developing AI-powered systems that capture how joints actually move during weight-bearing activities, not just static snapshots. They discuss their FDA-approved surgical imaging system already in use, their upcoming Academy debut of AI-enabled preoperative planning tools, and their bold prediction that within five years, surgeons will routinely prescribe dynamic kinematic exams the same way they order CT scans today, using digital twins to simulate procedures before ever entering the OR.To learn more about ODI, visit their website at https://linkly.link/2am6S.

In this episode, TJ sits down with Ben Johnson from 3D Systems, who leads their medical device division and brings a fascinating perspective shaped by his journey from chemical engineering into the cutting edge of additive manufacturing. Ben shares how his early work on drug-eluting stents and transcatheter heart valves led him to discover the transformative potential of 3D printing when he needed patient-specific anatomies for bench testing, ultimately bringing him to 3D Systems in 2014.

The conversation explores the evolution of additive manufacturing in orthopedics, from the company's founding in the mid-1980s with the invention of stereolithography to today's sophisticated capabilities across titanium, PEEK, and cobalt chrome materials. Ben provides valuable insights into the current market dynamics, explaining how titanium has surged from being overshadowed by PEEK a decade ago to now holding roughly half the spine market, driven by its superior osseointegration properties when 3D printed with porous structures.

They dive deep into emerging technologies, particularly the exciting developments in HA-coated PEEK implants that combine the mechanical advantages and radiolucency of PEEK with enhanced biological integration. Ben discusses 3D Systems' recent white paper demonstrating successful osseointegration in both cortical and cancellous bone, and why he believes this technology will see heavy research and investment over the next five to ten years. The conversation also addresses the realities of personalization in orthopedics, with Ben offering a measured perspective on why point-of-care printing in hospitals faces significant regulatory and cost hurdles, while centralized hybrid models show more immediate promise.

Perhaps most valuable for listeners is Ben's explanation of how 3D Systems partners across the entire spectrum of companies, from startups with napkin sketches to major OEMs. He details their comprehensive capabilities, from concept ideation and prototyping through validation, manufacturing, and even technology transfer, emphasizing their mission to solve unmet clinical needs whether that's faster osseointegration, oncology reconstruction, or supply chain challenges. It's a compelling look at how a manufacturing partner can accelerate innovation from concept to commercialization in orthopedics.

In this episode, TJ sits down with Dr. Kevin Plancher, a dual board-certified orthopedic surgeon in both sports medicine and hand surgery. His remarkable journey spans from an asthmatic child spending time in ERs to becoming a Harvard-trained physician and globally recognized leader in orthopedics. Dr. Plancher shares how his mentors shaped his relentless drive to push boundaries and his unconventional path through medicine, fueled by curiosity. He also discusses his philosophy on creating the next generation of leaders by giving others opportunities, even when risky.The conversation explores Dr. Plancher's 15-year success building Ortho Summit (OSET) from a bold idea that industry said would never work into one of today's most popular conferences. Dr. Plancher candidly addresses the controversies and disagreements with AAOS, explaining his unwavering commitment to educational opportunities that serve all surgeons globally, regardless of organizational politics.Now, Dr. Plancher is launching the Global Knee Summit in Dubai this January 22-24, bringing together 125 faculty members from around the world, all volunteering their time to debate everything from kinematic alignment to complex trauma cases. They discuss why bringing East and West together matters, how he's making the conference accessible for everyone, and his vision for spatial recognition technology replacing robotic arms in the OR. Dr. Plancher believes the future of knee surgery will be disrupted by innovations we haven't even imagined yet—if we're willing to learn from each other with open minds and honest disagreement.Click here to learn more and register for the Global Knee Summit: https://linkly.link/2VuOU

In this episode, TJ Halvorson sits down with Jantzen Cole, a medical device marketing leader whose career bridges engineering, sales, and creative strategy across Wright Medical, Zimmer, AmniOX, Artelon, and Kuros Biosciences.Jantzen shares how resource constraints at startup Artelon forced unconventional thinking—turning authenticity about their journey, including struggles with "10x10 booths in the back corner," into genuine connections that polished perfection never could. His decade in sales taught him that every marketing promise impacts the fragile trust reps build with surgeons, making the OR experience as critical as long-term outcomes.The conversation explores practical strategies: why "small is big enough" matters (Artelon pivoted from being generalists to owning lateral ankle reconstruction before expanding), how to use social media as a low-cost testing laboratory, and why LinkedIn outperforms other platforms for medical devices. Jantzen emphasizes building measurement systems around marketing intuition, viewing marketing as sales enablement, and giving sales teams a voice in strategy.For early-stage companies, his advice is clear: be honest about your journey, invest in your skill gaps, leverage affordable tools, and build networks that decentralize your message through authentic advocates.

In this episode, TJ sits down with Dr. Tim Deer, a pioneering pain management physician who has been at the forefront of interventional spine care for over 30 years. Dr. Deer shares his unique perspective on the evolution of pain management, from the early days when treatment options were limited to epidurals, opioids, and major surgery, to today's landscape where minimally invasive procedures are transforming patient care. He opens up about the historical resistance between pain physicians and spine surgeons, and how those barriers are finally breaking down through collaboration, evidence-based data, and a shared commitment to patient outcomes.

The conversation explores Dr. Deer's vision for the future of spine care, including his work with the American Society of Pain and Neuroscience (ASPN) to create comprehensive certification programs that ensure proper training for minimally invasive procedures. He discusses emerging technologies in disc regeneration, the role of AI and big data in predicting optimal treatment pathways, and why he believes the convergence of interventional pain management and spine surgery represents the future of musculoskeletal care. Drawing parallels between his experiences as a multi-time Ironman finisher and the collaboration needed in medicine, Dr. Deer emphasizes that just as no single sport makes the best athlete, no single specialty has all the answers; it's about finding balance through working together to deliver the best possible care for patients.

In this episode, TJ sits down with Alyssa Huffman, CEO and founder of ALLUMIN8, who shares the deeply personal story behind her groundbreaking medical device company. After witnessing her cousin become an incomplete quadriplegic with hardware complications at just 21 years old, followed by similar struggles with her uncle and father, Alyssa sketched out a revolutionary concept in the OR back in 2009. As a former distributor who represented implants "from the neck down," she recognized a critical gap in spine fusion technology—traditional hardware wasn't addressing the biological factors causing alarmingly high revision rates, even in young, healthy patients with excellent bone mineral density.The conversation explores ALLUMIN8's recent FDA clearance of the Integrate system, the world's first 5.5mm 3D-printed pedicle screw that creates an entirely new category called "therapeutic hardware." Alyssa breaks down the engineering challenges her team overcame to achieve what no one in history had accomplished before—creating a device that not only provides structural support but is designed to diagnose, treat, and heal directly through the implant itself. She explains the innovative Gaussian topography that mimics natural bone patterns, the strategic porous design that captures bone marrow during insertion, and her vision for the upcoming Circulate system that will enable surgeons to draw, analyze, and deliver patient-specific therapeutic compounds directly through the hardware. With her father and uncle having recently passed before seeing this milestone, Alyssa issues a passionate challenge to the spine community: let's stop spending hundreds of millions on products that provide only marginal improvements and instead work together toward the cumulative goal of reducing spine revision rates by 25%.Connect with ALLUMIN8:Website: https://linkly.link/2HeypLinkedIn: https://linkly.link/2HeyvFind them at NASS Denver 2025Follow on LinkedIn for live updates!

In this episode, TJ sits down with John Matthews, CEO of InkWell Health, whose journey from leading major orthopedic companies to founding a healthcare startup reveals the evolution of post-operative patient care. John shares his extensive background spanning DePuy, Johnson & Johnson, Wright Medical, and MicroPort, where he witnessed firsthand the seismic shift toward outpatient joint surgery and the critical gap it created in monitoring patients during their recovery at home. He explains how conversations with surgeons about the challenges of tracking patients between discharge and follow-up appointments, combined with the rising concern about emergency room visits after surgery, led to the development of InkWell's innovative solution.

The conversation explores the technology behind InkWell's smart temporary tattoo system, which uses computer vision algorithms to transform simple markings on a patient's skin into medical-grade data tracking swelling, range of motion, and temperature. John walks through the technical challenges his team overcame to create an algorithm that corrects for different phones, lighting conditions, and camera angles while maintaining accuracy, and how the system achieves an impressive 82% patient compliance rate with automated reminders and intuitive design.

Together, they discuss the clinical results showing how this data can identify patients at risk for manipulations or surgical site infections early enough to intervene, the reimbursement model using remote therapeutic monitoring codes that's making the technology financially viable for practices, and John's vision for expanding beyond knee replacements into hip, foot and ankle procedures, compression therapy, and international markets while positioning the company for future success.

If you'd like to learn more about InkWell Health, please visit: https://linkly.link/2GnAi

In this episode of OTW Spotlight, TJ sits down with Patrick O'Donnell, CEO, and Ian Helmar, co-founder and VP of R&D at NanoHive Medical, a company pioneering intelligent spinal fusion implants through advanced 3D-printed titanium technology. Patrick and Ian share how NanoHive is carving out its position in the highly competitive spine market by focusing on doing one thing better than anyone else—bioactive 3D-printed titanium interbody devices. They explain their unique approach to converting surgeons by tailoring conversations to specific pain points, whether it's device stiffness, imaging quality, or clinical outcomes, and how this strategy has helped them achieve a near 100% trial rate with surgeons who experience their technology.

The conversation explores NanoHive's "four pillars of fusion success"—stiffness, imaging, ongrowth, and ingrowth—with Ian breaking down how their proprietary lattice structure and subtractive surface treatment create implants that promote stronger bone healing while delivering diagnostic imaging quality far superior to traditional titanium implants. Patrick reveals the company's impressive growth trajectory, including 120% growth in Q3 and exceptional surgeon loyalty, with customers who started using their products five to seven years ago remaining loyal today. Looking ahead, they discuss NanoHive's ambitious vision for the future: embedding patient-powered sensor technology into their implants to capture real-time data that could revolutionize how fusion success is measured and verified, potentially establishing new standards of care in spine surgery while leveraging AI to deliver cost efficiencies across all stakeholders in the patient care episode.

To learn more about NanoHive Medical, visit: https://linkly.link/2Fxsh

We're joined on OTW POD by Douglas Fairbanks, CEO of VISIE, a company that may fundamentally change how surgeons use computers in the operating room.

Doug shares his personal journey from medical device sales rep to CEO of one of orthopedics' most innovative startups, revealing how his early life experiences sparked his lifelong commitment to improving healthcare delivery.

The conversation explores VISIE's breakthrough spatial computing technology, which uses structured light to track anatomy in real-time at 200-micron accuracy, updating 25 times per second. Fairbanks explains how their Austin-based team full of engineers who "don't know how to stop" solved problems others deemed impossible.

Robin and Doug candidly discuss the company's journey toward becoming an enabling platform for navigation, AR/VR, and robotics across multiple surgical specialties. Doug shares insights on capital efficiency, raising funds in a difficult fundraising environment, and the company's goal to become "invisible and silent"—seamlessly reducing cognitive load for surgeons without requiring them to serve the computer.

VISIE Inc: https://visie.io/