For Surgeons

Our Mission: Tackling Subsidence in Degenerative Spine Patients with Implants Built for Your Spine

OptimalPSI develops patient-specific, optimized, spinal fusion implants designed with the aim to reduce subsidence and improve outcomes.

The Clinical Challenge We're Solving

Subsidence, when an implant sinks into the vertebral endplates, affects over half of spinal fusion patients, causing persistent post-operative pain and extended recovery1. In worst cases, it requires revision surgery2. Off-the-shelf implants follow a one-geometry-fits-all approach that cannot account for individual bone shape and quality3,4.

The OptimalPSI team in the lab
Founder credibility

From Academic Breakthrough to Clinical Impact

OptimalPSI's technology originated during Dr. Thijs Smit's PhD research at ETH Zürich's Laboratory for Orthopaedic Technology under Prof. Stephen Ferguson. Working alongside leading spine surgeon PD Dr. med. Daniel Haschtmann at Schulthess Klinik, the team developed a proprietary optimization algorithm that could finally address subsidence risk.

Today, the OptimalPSI team combines Dr. Smit's computational expertise with Wolfgang Rubin's 15+ years of medical device engineering experience (including multiple successful spinal implant product launches) and Bertrand Hughes' MedTech leadership, with continued scientific guidance from Prof. Ferguson and clinical advisors PD Dr. med. Haschtmann and Dr. Rahul V. Shah (Premier Orthopaedic Associates, USA).

In 2024, OptimalPSI secured an Innosuisse grant, and in 2025, won Venture Kick Stage 3, licensed the core IP from ETH Zürich, and became an official ETH Spin-off, validating both our technology and commercialization strategy.

Meet Our Team →

Our Values

Three core principles guide every decision we make:

Focused Innovation

We innovate where it matters most, concentrating our efforts on solving the specific clinical problems that traditional approaches cannot address.

Entrepreneurial Energy

We act with urgency, ownership, and a builder's mindset, constantly pushing forward and embracing challenges as opportunities.

Caring

We place patients and clinicians at the center of what we do, striving to improve outcomes and experiences.

Our Vision

A future where every degenerative spine patient can benefit from patient-specific, optimized implant solutions that support living a life to the fullest.

Meet Our Team

Learn about the scientists, engineers, and clinicians advancing OptimalPSI's technology from research to commercialization.

View Team Bios →

Review the Science

See the peer-reviewed publications and biomechanical testing that validate our subsidence prevention approach.

View Clinical Evidence →