By Rebecca Schwan

A University of Toledo research professor received a patent for a new device designed to assist with fine-tuning spinal surgeries.

Manoj Kodigudla, research engineer in Dr. Vijay Goel’s lab, made adjustments to the spine testing device in the lab.

Dr. Vijay Goel, professor of bioengineering and co-director of the Engineering Center for Orthopedic Research Excellence, said the Simplified Spine Testing Device standardizes the range-of-motion testing for pre- and post-surgical procedures.

“The device is used on cadaver samples in the lab to design the surgical process from start to finish,” Goel said. “This standardization greatly reduces the amount of time needed to test range of motion using CT scans and other imaging.”

The patent also was assigned to The University of Toledo, ATS Holdings LLC, the University of Kansas, Norman L. Carroll, Edward C. Cartwright, Robert J. Gephardt, Christopher L. Dixon and Elizabeth A. Friis. The Simplified Spine Testing Device has been licensed to Applied Testing Systems LLC for continued
development and commercialization.

Additionally, Goel and his colleagues Dr. Anand Agarwal and Dr. Sarit Bhaduri, UT professors of bioengineering, founded a spinal biological startup company called OsteoNovus. Goel and Agarwal also founded Spinal Balance, and co-developed other medical devices, including the Libra Pedicle Screw System. The pre-sterilized, individually packaged screw system was designed to reduce the risk of surgical infection for spine surgery patients.