An innovative idea that emerged at Balgrist University Hospital is making the leap onto the global market. Ten years ago, a patient’s problem, a clinician’s insight and an engineer’s idea came together at Balgrist: tendon reconstructions fail because the sutures cut through the soft tissue. The answer was ZuriMED and its product FiberLocker – an innovative solution for mechanical reinforcement in the surgical reconstruction of tendon tears in the shoulder.

ZuriMED is based on research findings from Balgrist University Hospital and received seed funding from Balgrist Beteiligungs AG. The ZuriMED team developed its first prototypes at Balgrist Campus, where physicians, engineers and industry work together under one roof. This shows that what grows at Balgrist out of medical challenges and the determination to find better solutions for the benefit of patients can have an impact far beyond the walls of the hospital. The completion of the acquisition of ZuriMED by Stryker underlines the role of Balgrist as a place where medical innovation originates and finds its way into the international market.

Where medical challenges become innovations

The best ideas often arise where medical challenges are experienced first-hand. At Balgrist University Hospital, highly specialized patient care, scientific research and a com-mitment to continuous improvement come together. The fact that ZuriMED is now being acquired by Stryker shows that an idea firmly rooted in clinical practice can become a de-velopment of international relevance.

Balgrist as a place of innovation

«Innovation begins with an unsolved problem in the treatment of patients. Then it takes research, an innovative spirit and well-orchestrated collaboration. When this interplay produces solutions that succeed globally, it demonstrates the international excellence of a modern orthopedic hospital,» says Prof. Dr. med. Mazda Farshad, Medical Director of Balgrist University Hospital.

For Balgrist University Hospital, innovation is an important part of its academic mission. The aim is to translate medical knowledge into tangible improvements for patients. The completion of the acquisition by Stryker marks an important step for ZuriMED and exemplifies a clinical and research hub where medical challenges give rise to new ideas that find their way into clinical application and onto international markets.

Media contact
Balgrist University Hospital, Branding
+41 44 386 14 15
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