The Nivalon Medical Story

Born from Personal Experience, a Genuine Care for Fellow Spine Patients, and Driven by True Innovation

Nivalon Medical was founded five years ago with the vision of transforming spinal health through advanced technology. Our journey began with a simple, yet ambitious goal: To bridge the gap between traditional spinal treatments and the rapidly advancing field of medical technology. Despite the spine industry’s slow adoption of new innovations, we were determined to push the boundaries of what was possible, bringing a more precise, personalized approach to spinal care.

Our story began with two innovators, Todd Hodrinsky and Marcel Janse, both of whom are spine patients themselves. They met through an online spinal forum where their shared desire to better understand the wide range of patient outcomes in spinal surgeries brought them together. Having lived through the physical and emotional challenges of spinal issues, Todd and Marcel had witnessed first-hand both the successes and setbacks of spinal procedures. This personal experience sparked their passion to improve the current landscape of spinal health.

As patients, they reviewed thousands of patient outcomes, analyzing factors contributing to good results as well as causes behind poor outcomes. They were struck by a recurring theme: inconsistency. While some patients experienced significant improvements after surgery, others faced complications like misalignment, prolonged recovery, or the need for revision surgeries. Despite advancements in spinal technology, many of these outcomes seemed avoidable, leading Todd and Marcel to ask themselves, "Why were the results so unpredictable?"

 This question became the foundation of Nivalon Medical’s mission: to innovate a solution that would address these disparities. Combining Todd’s expertise in operations, manufacturing, engineering, and product development with Marcel’s background in IT and computer science, mechanical engineering and product development, they envisioned a new approach—one that integrated advanced technology, personalized patient care, and data-driven insights.

The result of their collaboration is Nivalon Medical: A company designed to revolutionize spinal surgery by offering a holistic, patient-specific approach to both surgical planning and implant design. Their vision was simple yet transformative: To create a customized spinal implant that not only fits the unique anatomy of each patient but also integrates seamlessly with AI-powered preoperative planning software. By combining these innovations, Nivalon Medical aims to provide surgeons with the precise tools they need to improve surgical outcomes while giving patients a more predictable and shorter path to recovery.

In our early days, we focused on research and development, collaborating with medical professionals, engineers, and AI experts to create a comprehensive solution that combines cutting-edge diagnostics with custom therapeutic devices. After receiving our first round of funding and patent, we accelerated our work, refining our software and device designs to ensure the highest levels of accuracy and effectiveness.

Today, Nivalon Medical stands at the forefront of a new era in spinal care, empowering surgeons with the tools they need to plan surgeries with precision and providing patients with implants designed specifically for their bodies. With a growing team of experts and partnerships with leading healthcare providers, we are ready to bring our transformative technology to patients and surgeons worldwide. As we continue to innovate and improve, our commitment to providing better, safer, and more effective spinal treatments remains at the heart of everything we do.

Through the personal experiences of Todd and Marcel, the Nivalon Medical story is driven by innovation, collaboration, and a genuine desire to improve the lives of those living with spinal conditions. Their journey from patients to innovators continues to fuel our mission to lead the next generation of spinal healthcare.