If spine is such a promising market, why did Abbott sell its spine business to Zimmer? The sale is a reflection of the transition period underway in the spine market, a transition born of a combination of the glut of small companies, the disappearance of large buyers, and also, some disappointments in some of spine's most promising technologies, And with that transition has come a perceptible loss of momentum in spine. For now that means depressed valuations on private financings for venture-backed spine companies and less-than-clear exits-an amazing turn around for an industry segment that just a couple of years ago looked strikingly different, certainly not the kind of spine industry Abbott thought it was buying into six years ago.

If spine is such a promising market, why did Abbott sell its spine business to Zimmer? The sale is a reflection of the transition period underway in the spine market, a transition born of a combination of the glut of small companies, the disappearance of large buyers, and also, some disappointments in some of spine's most promising technologies, And with that transition has come a perceptible loss of momentum in spine. For now that means depressed valuations on private financings for venture-backed spine companies and less-than-clear exits-an amazing turn around for an industry segment that just a couple of years ago looked strikingly different, certainly not the kind of spine industry Abbott thought it was buying into six years ago.

By focusing on an overlooked but critical element of spinal anatomy, the facet joint, Archus is applying established principles of total joint replacement to create a new opportunity in spine, while also expanding the potential opportunities in disc replacement.