South Mag South Issue 71 | Page 75

Dr. Randolph Bishop of The Neurological & Spine Institute is currently one of nine neurosurgeons in the country conducting a clinical trial and the only one in Georgia. HOW THIS DOCTOR IS CHANGING THE X-RAY INDUSTRY “It’s not the fountain of youth, but it’s the regenerative material that can be directed to grow a new body part. It sounds crazy.” –Dr. Priscilla Ross, A Winning Combination: Dr. Priscilla Ross and her husband Dr. Randy Bishop “Previously we’d been limited to palliative treatment (for degenerative disc disease) until surgery was required,” said Dr. Ross. “This is hopefully catching it before it gets to that stage. Basically, a new disc will be regenerated, and you can avoid all the back-pain issues and surgical issues.” Working from a hypothesis that MIAMI cells will not only regenerate tissue lost due to degenerative disc disease, but will also have an anti-inflammatory effect, the study tested 20 patients who all shared a single symptomatic degenerated disc between the L2 and S1 vertebrae. More than just simple back pain, DDD is a complete biochemical breakdown of a disc, a process that dehydrates the disc and floods the affected area with inflammatory chemicals, which researchers refer to as a degenerative cascade. Researchers treated the affected discs with surgically introduced MIAMI cells, and now the waiting game begins. While the study is still underway, things are looking good. “We’re waiting on radiographics,” said Dr. Ross. “It’s hard to know how much is placebo, but there’s already positive feedback. It’s promising.” Dr. Ross notes that stem cells have already shown promising results in other studies, fixing failed fusions in orthopedics and growing bone cells. Until the full results come in from this study she isn’t prepared to signal any kind of unqualified success, but she is optimistic about the brighter future this field of medicine offers. “The implications are probably infinite. It’s amazing, I’m excited,” she said. “This will have a myriad of possibilities and we’re excited to be a part of the study.” WHEN GREGORY KOLOVICH MD MPH, ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON AND PARTNER AT OPTIM ORTHOPEDICS, BEGAN HIS HAND AND MICROSURGERY PRACTICE THERE IN 2015, he brought with him his concept for the Micro C™, inspired during his tenure in the prestigious Harvard Hand Fellowship program. To begin product development and business formation, Dr. Kolovich participated in the Georgia Tech ATDC (Advanced Technology Development Center) Savannah Bootcamp. The objective: develop and launch the Micro C as the world’s first compact, handheld fluoroscopy device. A Georgia Tech graduate with a B.S. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Dr. Kolovich is hardwired to solve problems. He has focused intensely on solving his own and his fellow surgeons’ challenges with using the bulky, inflexible “C-arm.” This conventional equipment had not been improved much since its introduction 60 years ago. In contrast, at less than 5 pounds, and significantly reducing X-ray emissions, the Micro C solution ingeniously combines X-ray, digital, and infrared imaging together with image reception. The 2018 plan is to launch two designs: the surgical embodiment with the emitter and an image receptor that moves in sync with the emitter and the clinical embodiment with the emitter and a portable image receptor for use in physicians’ offices, clinics, emergency rooms, and in the field in home health care, military, and rural settings. Both versions support capturing and transmitting images and data to patient medical records systems, across the room or around the globe. The Micro C readily integrates into telemedicine solutions that connect expert physicians with patients in remote locations, As a “doctorpreneur” Dr. Kolovich has paid keen attention to the business side, having already raised $2.2 million to bring to market this groundbreaking, patent-pending medical imaging solution-designed by a surgeon for surgeons and physicians to treat a wide range of disorders of the extremities. From Savannah, Georgia, to the rest of the world, this talented doctor and his Micro C invention know no limits. - Murem Sharp JANUARY / FE B RUARY 2018 75