NEWS
XPAN IN THE NEWS
June 2, 2023 – Xpan Receives FDA 510(k) Clearance for its Innovative Radially Expandable Access Technology
Xpan is thrilled to announce that it has obtained FDA 510(k) clearance for its revolutionary radially expandable trocar. This milestone demonstrates significant technology and regulatory risks being mitigated and unlocks the pathway toward clinical and commercial operations. Xpan’s team is looking forward to initiating clinical pilots and demonstrating the product’s unique benefits of being less invasive to patients while providing increased flexibility and efficiency to providers.
May 30, 2023 – Xpan Scores Two US Patents for its Novel Expandable Access Technology
Xpan is delighted to share successful issuance of two US patents for its expandable trocar technology. The patents provide protection regarding Xpan’s core expandable technology in addition to advanced features for use in various minimally invasive procedures. Xpan continues to build its IP portfolio through continuous research and development in close collaboration with its clinical team.
April 24, 2023 – Xpan Graduates from Prestigious Creative Destruction Lab Biomedical Engineering Cohort
Xpan is excited to graduate from the Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) Biomedical Engineering 2022/23 Cohort. CDL is a global nonprofit organization that delivers an objectives-based program for massively scalable, science- and technology-based companies.
Throughout the 8-month programming, Xpan’s team received guidance and mentorship from world-class business & technical experts and visionaries in an intimate and rigorous coaching process that was aimed at growing and accelerating the company’s value.
March 29, 2023 – Abstract accepted at Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) 2023 Conference
Xpan’s team attended and showcased its state-of-art expandable access technology at the 2023 meeting of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) in Montreal.
The company is also thrilled to have another scientific research abstract being accepted as part of this year’s conference. The research was conducted by Xpan’s clinical & scientific collaborators and highlighted significant improvements of important clinical metrics when using the Xpan access technology compared to standard access devices in animal models.
Nov 9, 2022 – Xpan Secures Two Prestigious Awards
Xpan recently competed in the Dragon’s Den Start-Up Pitch Competition, hosted by the University of Toronto department of surgery, where it was the recipient of the $30,000 grand prize among 6 finalists. This was immediately following being selected as an awardee of the National Capital Consortium for Pediatric Device Innovation’s $150,000 FDA sponsored grant to support pediatric medical innovation.
June 7, 2022 – Xpan Presents at Redefining Early Stage Investments (RESI) Innovator’s Pitch Challenge
Xpan pitched at RESI’s Innovator’s Pitch Challenge to a curated panel of the leading global life science investors.
June 3, 2022 – Xpan Exhibits at the International Pediatric Endosurgery Group (IPEG) Conference
Xpan exhibited at the International Pediatric Endosurgery Group (IPEG) conference in Miami. The reception of the Xpan access technology was overwhelmingly positive! We look forward to interacting with more minimal invasive surgeons in the near future.
May 24, 2022 – Prestigious Annual Pediatric Medical Device Competition Reveals Five Finalists
Five finalists have been named in the prestigious annual “Make Your Medical Device Pitch for Kids!” competition presented by the National Capital Consortium for Pediatric Device Innovation (NCC-PDI). Representing innovations in pediatric technologies that aim to address unmet medical needs for children, these five finalists now have access to a pediatric accelerator program led by MedTech Innovator and will compete for a share of $150,000 in grant funding from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
May 12, 2022 – Effervescence Pan-Canadian Start-up Pitch Competition
Xpan was selected as one of ten finalists for the Effervescence Pan-Canadian Start-up Pitch Competition, held in Montreal, Canada, showcasing Canada’s up and coming biotech, life science and medical device companies.
August 31, 2021 – SAGES 2021 Next Big Thing
Xpan’s abstract, “Radially expandable 3-12mm trocar: A novel, universal alternative for routine mini-laparoscopic surgeries and emergency situations,” was selected for an ePoster presentation at The Next Big Thing Session of the 2021 SAGES Annual Meeting.
April 28, 2021 – Meet OBI’s 2021 ONtrepreneurs!
Congratulations to the four Ontario Innovators awarded the ONtrepreneurs program. Currently in year ten, the ONtrepreneurs program supports start-ups to commercialize brain-related technologies to ultimately improve brain health. We are excited to add four new innovative neurotech companies to our growing portfolio.
September 29, 2020 – MassChallenge Texas Names Top 12 Startup Finalists From 2020 Austin Cohort
MassChallenge, the global network for innovators, today announced the top 12 startup finalists from its Austin-based accelerator, now in its third year of programming. These startups will now participate in a final round of judging where they will compete for up to $500,000 in equity-free cash prizes. The 12 finalists s represent the top 20% of the cohort and reflect top startup trends in 2020.
January 28, 2020 – FACIT announces follow-on investments in Xpan Inc. and Nanology Labs through Compass Rose Fund
FACIT, a commercialization venture firm focused on advancing Ontario’s top-tier oncology innovations, announced new follow-on investments in start-ups Xpan Inc. (“Xpan”) and Nanology Labs (“Nanology”). Spun out of the University of Toronto, both start-ups have previously received funding through FACIT’s proof-of-concept Prospects Fund that enabled the companies to address key commercialization challenges.
June 18, 2019 – From idea to impact: An expanding solution to a common surgical problem
Zaid Atto, Founder and CEO at Xpan Inc. Toronto-based entrepreneur Zaid Atto receives FACIT’s Ernsting Entrepreneurship Award to further develop his new device for safer and less invasive surgeries. Impressing the judges with an innovation developed based on a clearly-identified market need, Atto was ultimately awarded the $50,000 Ernsting Entrepreneurship Award.
April 8, 2019 – Entrepreneurs from Ontario’s Nanology Labs and Xpan Inc. receive FACIT investment for early-stage cancer innovations
FACIT, an Ontario First business accelerator and investor for oncology innovations, is pleased to announce recent successes in its mission to help bridge the capital gap often experienced by early-stage entrepreneurs. Following the judges’ deliberations, Mr. Zaid Atto of Xpan Inc., was chosen to receive the $50,000 award, pending due diligence requirements. His pitch focused on the development of a novel and less invasive yet expandable access port to maximize the potential of minimally invasive surgical oncology.
March 29, 2019 – Innovation Factory’s sixth annual Synapse Life Science Competition Winners
On March 27, attendees from Hamilton’s thriving life science ecosystem gathered at McMaster Innovation Park for Innovation Factory’s sixth annual Synapse Life Science Competition, Ontario’s premier life science pitch competition. Xpan Inc. came in third place, receiving $5,000 in cash, $5,000 in-kind for an IP Package with Aird & McBurney, as well as a 1-year membership with Life Sciences Ontario as and the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce.
March 2, 2018 – U of T startups draw on research, ingenuity at Entrepreneurship Week pitch competition
The RBC awards – one of several innovation-related endeavours at U of T supported by the bank – took place alongside the U of T Startup Showcase, where more than 50 startups connected to U of T set up booths in the atrium of the MaRS Discovery District. First prize in the competition’s “early stage” category ($10,000), meanwhile, was taken home by Xpan, co-founded by U of T biomedical engineering alumnus Zaid Atto. The startup makes an expandable version of a surgical device called a trocar, which is used to create a tunnel into the abdomen through minimally invasive surgical tools can be inserted.
February 7, 2018 – U of T startups take home prizes at health challenge event
Taking home a prize was surgical device startup Xpan. The company, co-founded by U of T biomedical engineering alumnus Zaid Atto, makes an expandable version of a surgical device called a trocar that’s used to create a tunnel into the abdomen for laparoscopic surgeries.
October 30, 2017 – Medical startups compete for $15,000 in prizes at U of T accelerator’s pitch event
From using seal oil to treat nerve damage to a new tool to aid minimally invasive surgery, entrepreneurs from the University of Toronto and beyond tested out health-focused business ideas during the Health Innovation Hub’s (H2i) recent pitch competition. One of the winning startups, called Xpan, took home $5,000 for its attempt to improve on a surgical device called a trocar, a T-shaped implement used to create a portal into the abdomen during laparoscopic surgery.
October 27, 2017 – U of T Graduates Build Convertible Surgical Tool
Around the world, 15 million laparoscopic operations are performed each year. Also known as ‘keyhole’ surgeries, these procedures help reduce infection risk, blood loss and recovery time. But, in some of these minimally invasive surgeries, doctors need to remove the device used to create a tunnel into the patient’s abdomen — called a “trocar” — to replace it with a larger one in order to use bigger tools. Three recent U of T graduates launched a start-up called Xpan to solve this problem.
September 13, 2017 – Four startups to watch from U of T Engineering’s Hatchery Demo Day
Startups founded by engineering students are poised to address challenges from sustainability to surgery. Twelve companies pitched their vision to a room of judges, investors and faculty members at the fifth annual Hatchery Demo Day, held September 6 at U of T Engineering. $10,000 Lacavera Prize: Xpan — Expanding keyhole surgery