Carlsbad: Tapping into spinal innovation

Our reputation as a regional powerhouse for medtech companies is not new, but this month, we want to zero in the backbone of this cluster: the spine industry. With leaders and disrupters like Atec Spine, Carlsmed and Orthofix (formerly SeaSpine), it’s not surprising that we are known as a place where spinal companies tap into success. 

Atec Spine is driven by its mission to be the “standard bearer” in spine. It develops medical devices and surgical methodologies to improve patient outcomes – all of which are informed by technology. Their EOS Insight™ imaging and integrative technologies “enable spino-pelvic alignment assessments, patient-specific surgical planning, patient trends and surgeon analytics.” Essentially, a full-body, weight-bearing image is taken of patients before surgery that provides surgeons the ability to simulate procedures, customized implants and monitor post-operative recovery. The company has been headquartered in Carlsbad since opening in 1990, and based on their 2024 financial report, their growth trajectory is expected to continue. They reported a 28% growth in surgical revenue in 2024 and completed their first surgery in Japan.  

SeaSpine, another Carlsbad-based spine company, merged with Orthofix in 2023, a move that created the ninth largest orthopedics company based on global revenue. According to an OrthoWorld article that analyzed the move, SeaSpine’s sales took off (almost doubling) between 2016 and 2022, which is attributed to a “relentless pace of innovation and product launches,” with 76% of its reported revenue resulting from a new or updated products. One of its latest innovations won “Best Patient Experience Solution” award in 2024 from MedTech Breakthrough; it is a patient compliance app that monitors how well post-op patients are recovering from a fracture or fusion. From daily reminders to pain management logs, the app provides data to surgeons between appointments, and it is designed to facilitate higher rates of patient compliance in recovery protocols. 

Another company making waves in Carlsbad’s spine sector is Carlsmed. It is developing personalize treatments for spine surgery, and in December of 2024, the company announced FDA 510(k) clearance of its aprevo® Cervical ACDF Interbody System, which follows its earlier designation by the FDA as a breakthrough device. Carlsmed’s technology is described as an integrated platform for personalized spinal care with 3D surgical planning that utilizes custom designed implants for patients based on their precise condition. A new digital production line was announced by the company in November that reduces production time of custom implants to ten days or less. This reduction in lead time means shorter scheduling windows and more addressable procedures, according to the company.  

All of this is to say that Carlsbad’s spine-focused medtech companies are pioneering new technologies and methodologies to improve patient outcomes. As these three companies suggest, iteration and innovation are critical for an industry as dynamic as medtech. All three are leaning into more personalized approaches to solving spine conditions that result in more than 1.2 million surgeries in the United States alone, as reported by the Joint Commission. If you’d like to join Carlsbad’s band of spinal innovators, visit Carlsbad Life In Action’s recruiter tool. Our team will help connect your skillset with hiring companies in Carlsbad, so you can experience the benefits of working in Carlsbad.