Thursday, August 26, 2010

The Guyer Interbody Fusion Device

Tonight I received the most notable award in my professional career.

Alphatec Spine, my previous employer in San Diego, launched the GLIF project, which was the project I had led, to the next phase of development and recognized me as one of the key inventors of the product. They dedicated the product line to my name and renamed it to the "Guyer Lumbar Interbody Fusion" technique and created a memory book of how I took the project from a napkin sketch to a fully developed product, capable of revolutionizing the way spine surgeons perceive minimally invasive spine surgery.

The executive team flew out to Boston and we had a video conference with all the team members in Carlsbad who had made GLIF a success. Placards like the one shown above were given to all team members and cakes were cut on both ends while we all shared stories. My parents and Dr. Steve Hochschuler flew in from Dallas and Autumn was by my side.

It's amazing to be recognized and honored in such a generous fashion for a project I truly poured my heart, soul and several years into. Having my family and friends both near and far away in Carlsbad to celebrate the milestone made the experience that much more meaningful. It was great to see the whole team get recognized for without their efforts, none of this would have ever been possible. Congratulations and thank you to all involved.

I really had no clue what to expect going into the awards ceremony and am still in disbelief about the recognition to the entire team over video conference, the dedication of the product line and the memory book. Everything was so nice, so very nice. Alphatec went above and beyond fathomable expectations which goes to show as Dr. Hochschuler stated, "they've got their hearts in the right place!"

From my end, developing the project and the job was the easy part. I was just doing what I love to do. What a great honor!

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A little background in as close to laymen terms as I can find: The GLIF technique is a method for acheiving a full circumferential fusion of the spine (fusion to the front and back of the spine) while the patient remains in the prone position (on their belly). Previously this type of fusion required the patient to be moved during the surgery, either starting on their back then flipped to their belly or starting on their side and flipped to their belly. Moving the patient requires additional operating room time, more anesthesia and theoretically increases blood loss, etc. The technique also avoids dangerous approaches around the intestines and can allow procedures to be simulatenous implemented to really add a new element to spinal fusion.

15 comments:

  1. Congrats Jeff! This is so awesome! So proud of you! I'm glad that your parents and Hoch were able to be there to share this honor with you. Can't wait to see this device in action!
    Melanie

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  2. Wow...what an honor! Congratulations Jeff on a job very well done. I was just at a lab in San Francisco & saw it in action & can't wait to see it in the OR.

    Stay strong & keep the blogs coming. I look forward to reading the one where you post that you've won the fight.

    Joel

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  3. No words can express how PROUD we are of you Jeffrey. You are truly the "little engine that CAN" whether it be through your creative mind or through your life challenges. We feel blessed to have shared this unbelievably special moment with you and Autumn and the entire Alphatec team! It was very cool!

    Mom and Dad

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  4. Oh my gosh! Jeff, congratulations on this awesome award! I'm already looking forward to taking x-rays of the patients whose spines will be helped by your invention. I am so proud for you!!

    Kay Andrews Smith, R.T. (R)(ARRT)

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  5. Jeff I am so proud of you!! This is such an amazing honor. Your so creative! Pretty cool now we have something named after our last name :)! I love you!

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  6. Congratulations Jeff!!! Your shining light encompasses so many parts of life: you are an inspiration, a gifted writer, an incredible human being. And now an outstanding honor which you and your teammates fully deserve! And to be named for you. I am so in awe of your accomplishments. And just plain WOWEE ZOWEE! Said like the true dweeb I am. But really, I have trouble changing toilet rolls, and look at you!!! YEA JEFF! XXXXX

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  7. mazel on your award and honor so proud of your accomplishment great picture the amdurs

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  8. Holy f'ing s, man - this is amazing... pardon the emphatic French. There's been much good spoken of you and crew in New York that would love to see your glorious dome. Keep up the good fight my friend.

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  10. Jeff, Clark was so happy to see you, even if it was through a monitor. (He even got a little emotional telling me about it) You are doing so awesome! Lots of love and hugs!

    ~The Huttons

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  11. So cool and such an honor Jeffy! Love, me

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  12. Nice Buddy Buddy! Congrats and well deserved... I miss you my friend...

    G. Yocum

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  13. Jeff I didn't know this was going on.. nice work! Now when are you going to design my zeppelin?

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  14. Awesome. Quite a step up from your previous sleazier inventions though it looks like them. Glad they didn't name that one after you.

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