DFINE, Inc.
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Medical technology |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Headquarters | San Jose, California , United States |
Area served | United States, Germany, 11 countries worldwide |
| Products | StabiliT Vertebral Augmentation System, STAR Tumor Ablation System |
Number of employees | 150 |
| Parent | Merit Medical Systems, Inc. |
DFINE, Inc. was a U.S.-based medical technology firm located in San Jose, California.[1] The company focused on minimally invasive therapeutic devices that utilize a radiofrequency platform aimed at treating spinal conditions.[2] Its principal offerings included the StabiliT Vertebral Augmentation System, designed for vertebral compression fracture management,[3] and the STAR Tumor Ablation System, which provided palliative pain relief for patients with metastatic spinal tumors.[4] Operating across 11 countries, with a primary presence in the United States and Germany, DFINE employed around 150 individuals.[5]
History
Established in 2004 in San Jose, California, DFINE underwent five separate rounds of financing. The initial round in 2009 raised $35 million, led by Prospect Venture Partners. This was followed by a $2.8 million injection in January 2010, then a $36.2 million funding round in July 2010 spearheaded by Split Rock Partners, with contributions from OrbiMed, Prospect Venture Partners, and Vanguard Ventures. A fourth round secured $25 million in 2011, complemented by an additional $1.8 million raised in April 2012.
In 2011, DFINE obtained a five-year contract under the Federal Supply Schedule with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, enabling the supply of its StabiliT System and associated products to the Veterans Health Administration.
On June 6, 2016, Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MMSI), a prominent manufacturer specializing in proprietary disposable devices primarily for cardiology, radiology, and endoscopy fields, acquired DFINE through a merger valued at approximately $97.5 million in cash. This acquisition was backed by a lending group led by Wells Fargo and included Bank of America, HSBC, and U.S. Bank. Post-acquisition, DFINE operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of Merit.
Products
DFINE engineered radiofrequency-based technologies targeting spinal disease treatments. Their platform facilitated two distinct procedures: one addressing vertebral compression fractures and another providing palliative care for metastatic spinal tumors. Both products received clearance from the United States Food and Drug Administration and obtained CE Mark certification for use within the European Economic Area.
StabiliT Vertebral Augmentation System
The StabiliT System is an FDA-approved device employing radiofrequency targeted vertebral augmentation (RF-TVA) for treating vertebral compression fractures. This minimally invasive technique aims to preserve healthy bone tissue during kyphoplasty. Differing from balloon kyphoplasty, RF-TVA involves inserting a working cannula into the vertebra followed by cavity creation using a small chisel-like instrument. The cavity is then filled with ultra-high viscosity bone cement to stabilize the fracture and help restore vertebral height. By 2014, this system had been utilized to treat more than 15,000 spinal fractures worldwide, reflecting strong adoption within spinal healthcare markets.
STAR Tumor Ablation System
The STAR Tumor Ablation System is an FDA-cleared device that uses targeted radiofrequency ablation (t-RFA) to alleviate pain associated with metastatic spinal tumors. Intended for outpatient procedures performed under local anesthesia, it employs a steerable device that physicians guide precisely to ablate tumors while minimizing injury to adjacent tissues. This system focuses on managing pain rather than targeting cancer itself and has demonstrated effectiveness in pain reduction following a single treatment session, establishing itself as an innovative option in supportive oncology care.
External links
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedVB28million - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedChandler2010 - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedKringsCaseBased - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedMGStar - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedDfineManagment