BEDFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BiOM® announced the appointment of Dr. Charles S. Carignan as President and CEO, as the personal bionics maker positions the company for future commercial expansion in the US and Europe.
Dr. Carignan’s more than 20 year career in medical devices is notable for a number of breakthrough technologies that have changed healthcare, ranging from the introduction of the Essure™ device from Conceptus, to the more recent introduction of the advanced OCT imaging platform, the NvisionVLE™ Imaging System from NinePoint Medical, where he was founder and CEO. “The key to being able to develop and introduce breakthrough technologies is assembling a team of outstanding people. At NinePoint I most recently had the opportunity to build such a team, who enabled that company’s great success. I am excited to join the excellent team at BiOM and look forward to the opportunity to lead them into the future.” Prior to joining NinePoint, Dr. Carignan was executive vice president and chief medical officer of Novasys Medical, Inc., where he was responsible for the successful launch of a women’s health medical device. Prior to that, he was the chief medical officer at Boston Scientific, where he led all aspects of medical and clinical affairs for the endosurgery group. Prior to this role he was the vice president of clinical research and medical affairs at Conceptus where he oversaw the clinical development of the Essure device for female sterilization, a new standard of care for tubal ligation. Dr. Carignan earned his undergraduate degree from Yale University, received his M.D. degree from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University and trained in general surgery at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center.
“Chuck has deep experience navigating the clinical, regulatory and reimbursement challenges that disruptive technologies face in order to achieve widespread growth,” according to Geoff Pardo, Chairman of the Board at BiOM. “The BiOM T2 System has a transformative effect on the lives of patients, and Chuck’s experience in demonstrating cost-effectiveness of new technologies will be invaluable as we seek to make this broadly available to patients.”
According to Dr. Hugh Herr, Director of Biomechatronics at MIT and the inventor of the technology, “The evolution from passive prosthetic devices to powered technology such as the BiOM T2, will completely change the lives for people that use prostheses. Early studies show that the benefits to patients, with possible reduction in joint damage commonly associated with prosthetic use, may also provide substantial cost savings to the healthcare system.”
“I’ve joined this company because I believe that the BiOM T2, and future products that we have in development, can redefine the lives of many people who have suffered the loss of mobility due to illness or trauma,” said Dr. Carignan. “I see a team that includes the BiOM staff, Dr. Herr and his lab, and the board of Directors, with the passion to do what it takes to get these products to patients. It is a meaningful challenge that I am looking forward to very much.”
About BiOM:
BiOM is the leader in the field of personal bionics with the introduction of the first powered prosthetic device, BiOM T2. Privately held and headquartered in Bedford, Mass., BiOM was founded in 2007 by Dr. Hugh Herr, Director and Principal Investigator of the Biomechatronics Group of MIT’s Media Laboratory, and funded by leading investment firms including WFD Ventures, General Catalyst Partners, Sigma Partners, and Gilde Healthcare Partners.
The BiOM T2 technology emulates muscle function by powering dorsi and plantar flexion to allow people with lower leg amputations to walk with a more normalized gait, using less energy to walk at a normal preferred speed, and better able to navigate uneven terrain. These benefits may potentially reduce musculoskeletal stress believed to be the cause of co-morbidities associated with the use of prostheses including osteoarthritis. The company received funding and support from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and the U.S. Army’s Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC).
