2013 Innovation Awards – Visionary – NDI

Geoff Thrope

CEO

NDI

 

Geoff Thrope, CEO of NDI, has founded four unique medical device firms — and hopes more will follow. From Medstim, to Checkpoint Surgical, to SPR Therapeutics and Deep Brain Innovations, Thrope has solidly landed the position of being a leading entrepreneur in the field of neurostimulation.

With more than 30 years of experience, including 15 years in academic research before joining the industry, he is helping make Cleveland an intellectual hub for neuroresearch worldwide. Thrope also is a managing director of the NDI Healthcare Fund, a venture fund focusing on investments in the neurodevice industry.

Thrope’s first company was Medstim, which developed an implanted device to deliver electrical stimulation to nerves that control bladder function, thereby addressing incontinence problems.

Medtronics purchased Medstim in 2008 but Thrope quickly followed that sale by launching Checkpoint Surgical. Checkpoint is a device designed to locate, evaluate and preserve nerves and muscles in surgical procedures for more successful patient outcomes. It is becoming the “standard of care” in many nerve protection cases and was even correctly used on an episode of “Grey’s Anatomy” on ABC-TV.

The third company Thrope helped develop was SPR Therapeutics. It focuses on pain management with its peripheral nerve stimulation products for treating pain.

The fourth company is Deep Brain Innovations. This company is focused on the treatment of people afflicted with Parkinson’s disease. Clinical tests have produced some dramatic results.

Thrope continues to address significant unmet health conditions, improve patients’ lives and provide significant returns to investors.

 

How to reach: NDI, (216) 378-9106 or www.ndimedical.com