About Apex
Engineering the future of spine surgery.
Apex Orthopaedic Technologies develops clinically driven spine technologies through biomechanics, engineering, and translational research. Built by physicians, engineers, and scientists committed to solving some of spine surgery's most challenging clinical problems.
Our Story
From an unmet clinical need to an integrated technology platform.
Apex Orthopaedic Technologies was founded in Charleston, South Carolina, and emerged from a long-standing collaboration between the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and Clemson University focused on translating clinically driven engineering into innovative spine technologies. The company began with a single clinical problem that conventional spinal implants could not adequately solve, leading to the development of a fundamentally new approach to spinal fixation that ultimately became the R-FIX™ platform.
What began as an academic collaboration has evolved into a multidisciplinary spine technology company dedicated to translating clinically driven engineering into technologies that improve patient care. Today, Apex develops integrated technology platforms spanning pediatric spinal deformity, adult spinal deformity, sacroiliac fusion, posterior fixation, biomechanics, surgical navigation, digital health, and translational medical device development.
Headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, Apex continues to collaborate closely with leading surgeons, engineers, physician-scientists, academic institutions, and industry partners to accelerate the translation of innovative technologies from concept to clinical practice.
Our mission is not simply to develop implants, but to solve meaningful clinical problems through engineering, scientific validation, and collaboration.
Our Mission
To solve some of spine surgery's most challenging clinical problems through engineering, biomechanics, and scientific validation.
We strive to bridge academic innovation and commercial translation by developing technologies that improve patient care around the world.
Development Philosophy
A disciplined path from clinical need to patient impact.
Every Apex technology follows the same disciplined development pathway — from identifying an unmet clinical need through rigorous engineering and scientific validation before reaching clinical practice.
Step 01
Clinical Need
Step 02
Engineering Innovation
Step 03
Scientific Validation
Step 04
Clinical Translation
Step 05
Patient Impact
What Makes Apex Different
Four principles that define how we build.
Clinically Driven
Every technology begins with an unmet clinical need identified by practicing surgeons.
Engineering Excellence
Biomechanics, computational modeling, and thoughtful engineering guide every stage of development.
Scientific Validation
Finite element analysis, mechanical testing, cadaver evaluation, animal studies, and clinical research support every technology.
Collaborative Innovation
Apex brings together physicians, engineers, scientists, academic institutions, and industry partners to accelerate innovation.
Technology Platforms
An integrated portfolio, not a catalog of products.
Leadership
Multidisciplinary leadership across engineering, medicine, and science.
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Daniel Bonthius, MD, PhD
Physician-engineer with expertise in emergency medicine, orthopedics, biomedical engineering, biomechanics, and translational medical device development. Leads Apex's corporate strategy, product development, intellectual property, regulatory planning, commercialization, fundraising, and strategic partnerships.
Co-Founder & Chief Scientific Officer
Hai Yao, PhD
Associate Vice President for Biomedical Innovation, Professor and Ernest R. Norville Endowed Chair, and Associate Chair for the CU-MUSC Bioengineering Program. Internationally recognized expert in musculoskeletal biomechanics, computational modeling, implant design, and translational orthopaedic research.
President
Joe Powers
Leads business operations, commercialization strategy, and corporate growth initiatives. Former VP of Marketing at market leader SI-BONE.
Chief Technology Officer
Marc Yap
Leads engineering strategy, product development, manufacturing, and technology commercialization. Brings engineering experience at multiple SI companies, including SI-BONE.
Chief Medical Officer
Stephen Kalhorn, MD
Professor of Neurosurgery at MUSC, Director of Spine Surgery, and Director of the Spine CAST Fellowship. Provides clinical leadership across Apex technologies.
Director of Operations
Mike Wentz
Supports organizational development, operational growth, internal company operations, and investor relations. An engineer who formerly worked at Ellipse Technologies developing the MAGEC Growing Rod System, later acquired by NuVasive/Globus.
Scientific Advisory Board
Guided by leading voices in spine surgery and biomechanics.
Minimally Invasive Spine
Choll Kim, MD
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgeon, Excel Spine
Adult Spine & SI Fusion
Peter Whang, MD
Professor, Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Yale University School of Medicine
Adult Spinal Deformity
Vikas Patel, MD
Executive Vice Chair, Orthopedic Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine
Pediatric Spine
Alaa Ahmad, MD
International Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon
Pediatric & Adult Deformity
Behrooz Akbarnia, MD
Founder and Board Chairman, San Diego Spine Foundation
Academic & Clinical Collaborators
Collaboration accelerates rigor and translation.
Recognition & Milestones
Independent validation of Apex's engineering and science.
FDA Breakthrough Device Designation
Competitive NIH Funding
>$4M non-dilutive
NASS Young Investigator Award
2024 · 2025
InnoVision Technology Development Award
2024
ORS Business Innovation Competition
Runner-Up · 2022
ORS Spine Section Podium Award
2020
SC Research Society Innovator of the Year
Finalist · 2025
SC Research Authority Researcher of the Year
Finalist · 2024
Issued & Pending Patent Portfolio
Apex Through the Years
The visual story of a growing spine technology company.
Building What's Next
The next generation of spine technologies.
Apex continues to develop the next generation of spine technologies through engineering excellence, scientific rigor, and close collaboration among surgeons, scientists, and industry partners. Our vision is to transform important clinical ideas into technologies that improve patient care worldwide.
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