Anges Québec invests $590,000 in GCS Medical and its AssistArm surgical positioner
Sherbrooke, December 12th, 2012 – Anges Québec is pleased to announce $590,000 in funding awarded to Sherbrooke’s GCS Medical and its AssistArm surgical positioner. Twenty Quebec Angels invested in the company, including Richard Bordeleau.
Originally developed to simplify the work of surgeons in the CHUS operating suite during shoulder operations, the AssistArm positioner frees the highly specialized professionals who previously held the patient’s arm during the entire operation so that they can perform more efficient tasks. With a receptacle to hold the patient’s arm and a floor pedal for surgeons to control its movements, this ultra-light device attached to the operating table holds the patient’s arm in the desired position.
Financing from Anges Québec will enable GCS Medical to begin marketing its product and continue its development. Charles Sévigny, President of GCS Medical said: “Our production line is now in place in our new premises and we can finish assembly to meet the demand from hospitals and to begin marketing. We also hope to develop the positioner for other types of surgery like hip and knee and for minimally-invasive operations that require the use of a camera; that’s something that the positioner could eventually do.”
This easy-to-use, effective and safe surgical positioner designed and manufactured to take into account both the constraints and requirements of surgeons and operating room staff won over the angel investors. Richard Bordeleau stated: “The very first product developed by GCS is the perfect illustration of smart engineering for health services. We also decided to invest in GCS Medical’s project for the quality and capability of its entrepreneurs, Charles Sévigny and Guillaume Chauvette. They aptly demonstrated their skills and, above all, communicated their passion and their hunger for success.”
Founded about a year ago, GCS Medical has already received honours from the Quebec Entrepreneurship Competition in the “Technological and Technical Innovations” category. Roger Noël, Anges Québec’s head of the Estrie region, said, “In a very short time, this young, local company demonstrated the importance and relevance of its product. It’s with pride and confidence that our investors chose to give them the means to pursue their ambitions!”
About Anges Quebec
Anges Québec is a network of 110 private investors that identifies, finances and coaches innovative Quebec enterprises with high growth potential. Anges Québec members invest their capital and expertise in the most promising start-up companies. In this capacity, Anges Québec works closely with Quebec business leaders in the development and growth of technological innovations.
About Richard Bordeleau
Richard Bordeleau participated in the international development and strong growth of many innovative companies over the past 25 years, mainly in the healthcare sector. From 1994 to 1999, he helped to develop the Aeterna Zentaris biotech company, and from 2000 to 2007, he was President of Atrium Innovations. At the end of 2007, he became shareholder and Executive Vice-President of BioCad Medical, which was sold in 2008 to Nobel Biocare. Richard is head of Anges Québec’s Health and Wellbeing sector, in charge of studying potential investments in life sciences.
For more information, go to www.angesquebec.com
An English version is available online at www.angesquebec.com/en/nouvelles
To keep track of news and activities, join Anges Québec on LinkedIn.com.
Source :
Anges Québec
François Gilbert
Président-directeur général
418-261-0011