Garwood Medical Devices

Garwood Medical Devices, a Buffalo, New York-based company established in 2014, is focused on developing solutions for peri-prosthetic or implant-related infections. The company was co-founded by its President and CEO, Wayne Bacon, a seasoned entrepreneur with a history of successful business development, including owning Mills Welding & Specialty Gases for 24 years and serving as CEO of ImmunoDiagnostics. His entrepreneurial background and experience in various industries spurred the creation of Garwood Medical, which is named in honor of his father and brother, both deceased veterans.

The company's core business revolves around its flagship product, BioPrax™, a minimally invasive device designed to combat bacterial biofilm infections on metallic orthopedic implants. This market is significant, as infections are a serious complication of joint replacement surgeries, leading to substantial costs and high patient morbidity. The technology, licensed from the University at Buffalo and Syracuse University, uses a low-voltage electrical field to disrupt the protective matrix of biofilms, killing bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant strains like MRSA. This electrical stimulation method was developed through a collaboration between the labs of Dr. Mark Ehrensberger and Dr. Anthony A. Campagnari at the University at Buffalo. The BioPrax™ system works by turning the metal implant itself into an electrode, applying a direct current that creates a chemical reaction on the implant's surface, which eradicates the infection.

Garwood Medical Devices operates on a business model centered on the development and eventual sale of the BioPrax™ device to hospitals and surgical centers. The primary clients are healthcare providers, specifically orthopedic surgeons who perform joint replacement procedures. The device aims to improve the success rate of early intervention procedures, potentially avoiding the need for costly and painful multi-stage revision surgeries. The company has pursued a strategy of rigorous testing and regulatory approval, receiving a significant milestone in October 2019 when the FDA granted BioPrax™ a "Breakthrough Device" designation, which is intended to expedite the development and review of technologies that treat life-threatening conditions. Garwood has successfully raised capital through multiple funding rounds, totaling over $11.4 million, to support pre-clinical and human trials.

Keywords: peri-prosthetic infection, biofilm disruption, medical device, orthopedic implant infection, BioPrax, electrical stimulation therapy, antibiotic resistance, joint replacement infection, surgical site infection, Wayne Bacon, University at Buffalo, minimally invasive medical device, infection control, MedTech, healthcare technology, implantable device safety, bacterial biofilm, orthopedic surgery solutions, anti-biofilm technology, FDA Breakthrough Device