RetractOrtho’s mission is to develop and introduce innovative retractor systems that simplify surgery for the physician and staff, so they can focus on delivering the best possible care for their patients.
Opportunity
RetractOrtho, Inc. was established in January 2022 to create a more efficient workflow to reduce and repair bone fractures, challenging the widespread use of outdated steel surgical retractors. RetractOrtho saw an opportunity to eliminate the need for multiple operators, manual retraction and repeated retractor removal and insertion.
Innovation
RetractOrtho designed the first self-retaining, radiolucent, single-patient-use retractor systems. The company used 3D printing technology to rapidly test new retractor system prototypes in a “real world” environment. RetractOrtho revolutionized an important routine surgical process that has been lacking innovation: surgical retraction.
Efficiency
The result is increased efficiency for physicians and their staff and more rapid surgical suite turnover. RetractOrtho systems are also efficiently manufactured to minimize cost to hospitals and surgery centers.
Leadership Team
Dr. Alidad Ghiassi
Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Ghiassi is the Chief Medical Officer and co-founder of RetractOrtho. He is an academic orthopedic hand surgeon and medical entrepreneur in Los Angeles. He began his career at the VA West Los Angeles Medical Center in 1999. In 2008, he became Chief of the Hand Surgery Service at USC-LAC County Medical Center and Co-Director of the Joseph H. Boyes Hand Fellowship program. Dr. Ghiassi has authored over 65 peer-reviewed articles and spoken at numerous local and national conferences. He is the Chief Medical Officer and co-founder of HIA Technologies, serves on advisory boards of VapoCool Jet Inc. and E-Merge Capital Partners, and continues to treat patients in his private practice in Brentwood, California.
Chris Crisman
President & CEO
Chris joined RetractOrtho as President & CEO in early 2023 to lead the US launch of its first commercial product line. He brings significant medical device sales, marketing and R&D experience from prior leadership roles at Guidant, Boston Scientific, Edwards Lifesciences, Angiodynamics and Axogen. Chris earned a BS in business at the University of Southern California and an MBA from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Management.
Steven Howard
Vice President, R&D
Steven has led Research and Development at RetractOrtho since its inception. He is a mechanical engineering professional with over 30 years of medical device experience developing novel products, processes, and equipment at companies including: REVA Medical, InSound Medical, Vessix Vascular, Spinal Elements, Sybron Dental Specialties and Endotec, Inc. He has 16 issued and 7 pending patents. Steven earned his BSME at the University of Pennsylvania.
Derek Kay
Business & Operations Manager
Derek joined RetractOrtho in 2022 to lead operations and logistics. He is experienced in scaling a variety of medical devices from concept to full market commercialization, most recently with Evolve Medtech Partners and Acutus Medical, Inc. Derek earned his BA at the University of Arizona.
Scientific Advisory Board
Louis W. Catalano III, MD
Dr. Louis W. Catalano is a board certified, fellowship-trained hand and upper extremity surgeon. After almost 21 years of practice in NYC, in December 2021, he relocated his practice to Denver CO. He currently works both at Steadman-Hawkins Clinic in Englewood and at UC Anschutz Medical Center in Aurora. He is a Visiting Professor in the Department of Orthopaedics at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Associate Program Director of the Hand Fellowship. His numerous publications have appeared in many leading surgical publications. He is a consultant reviewer for the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery and Journal of Hand Surgery. Dr. Catalano frequently gives national research presentations on hand and upper extremity surgery and is active in several national academic organizations including the American Society for Surgery of the Hand.
Jesse Kaplan, MD, MBA
Dr. Jesse Kaplan is a specialist in hand, elbow and shoulder orthopaedic care. He is an assistant professor at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine with dual appointments in the departments of Orthopaedic and Plastic Surgery. He completed his orthopaedic surgery training at Los Angeles County/University of Southern California Medical Center and Hand and Upper Extremity Fellowship at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Dr. Kaplan has specific interests and clinic expertise in: arthroscopic reconstructive techniques of the shoulder, elbow and wrist; wide-awake surgery; high-energy wrist and hand trauma; shoulder and elbow arthroplasty; and ultrasound-guided procedures. He has authored numerous peer reviewed publications and presented at national orthopaedic and hand surgery conferences.
Luke Nicholson, MD
Dr. Luke Nicholson is an assistant professor of clinical orthopaedic surgery and associate residency program director at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. He is an orthopaedic hand and upper extremity surgeon in downtown Los Angeles and Beverly Hills, California. He treats various upper extremity conditions involving the hand, wrist and elbow, including fractures, arthritis and peripheral nerve disorders. Dr. Nicholson has expertise in reconstructive, arthroscopic and microvascular surgery. He is committed to providing high-quality care to his patients using the best available scientific evidence and technology. He is also actively involved in research and education, and is a candidate member of the American Society of Surgery for the Hand and American Society for Peripheral Nerve Surgery.
Jeffrey Yao, MD
Dr. Jeffrey Yao is a professor of orthopedic surgery and a hand and upper extremity surgeon at Stanford University Medical Center. He graduated from Cornell University Medical College in 1999 and completed his residency and fellowship in New York and Philadelphia. He is board-certified in orthopedic surgery and surgery of the hand. Dr. Yao specializes in minimally invasive and arthroscopic treatment of upper limb disorders, including: fractures; arthritis; tendon and ligament injuries; and nerve compression disorders. He also researches arthroscopic techniques and stem cell therapy for tendon injuries. He has presented his work at over 400 regional, national, and international meetings.
Our Partners
Evolve Medtech Partners
Evolve Medtech Partners is a medical device development company and discovery engine. They partner with companies, inventors, physicians and investors to quickly and efficiently bring ideas from conception to licensing, acquisition or commercialization. Early stage medical device companies are launched, co-located and supported from the Evolve facility.
Vital Hospital Systems
Since 1979, VHS has been a leading distributor of medical supplies in the US market. The company initially focused on custom surgical packs and surgical microscopes, but quickly grew to take on new, high-quality manufacturers as they saw a growing demand for customer-focused medical distribution.
E-merge Capital Partners
E-merge Capital Partners is a venture capital and growth equity firm dedicated to investing in innovative, early-stage medical device companies and technologies to improve quality of life.
