Cartiva
Cartiva is a medical device company that developed synthetic cartilage implants for treating osteoarthritis and hallux rigidus in the foot and ankle, serving orthopedic and podiatric surgeons; the company was acquired by Stryker in 2019.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersAlpharetta, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Cartiva does
Cartiva was a privately-held medical device company that developed and commercialized synthetic cartilage implant technology for the treatment of osteoarthritis and other degenerative conditions affecting the foot and ankle. The company's core technology addressed hallux rigidus (stiff big toe) by offering a motion-preserving alternative to traditional first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint fusion surgery, with the synthetic implant designed to restore articulation while relieving pain. Founded around 2006 and based in Alpharetta, United States, Cartiva operated with a small team (11–50 employees) and built a regulated, FDA-cleared product line that served orthopedic and podiatric surgeons performing foot and ankle procedures.
The company monetized through sale of its implants to healthcare providers (surgeons and hospitals) in the foot and ankle specialty, a classic regulated medical-device commercial model reliant on clinical evidence, surgeon training, and reimbursement coverage rather than software or subscription revenue. Cartiva's go-to-market was enabled by institutional venture backing — including New Enterprise Associates, Windham Venture Partners, and Silicon Valley Bank — across at least seven financings between 2011 and 2017, with leadership anchored by President and CEO Timothy J. Patrick.
In 2019, Cartiva was acquired by Stryker Corporation, a major strategic in musculoskeletal medical devices. Following the acquisition, the cartiva.net domain was redirected to Stryker's web properties and the brand operates within Stryker's Foot & Ankle portfolio. The extent of Cartiva's residual independent operations, brand retention, or product roadmap after absorption is not disclosed in the available source data.
Cartiva firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cartiva
- Legal name
- Cartiva
- Website
- https://cartiva.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Cartiva is a medical device company that developed synthetic cartilage implants for treating osteoarthritis and hallux rigidus in the foot and ankle, serving orthopedic and podiatric surgeons; the company was acquired by Stryker in 2019.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cartiva industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Orthopedic Medical Devices
- SIC
- Orthopedic, Prosthetic & Surgical Appliances & Supplies (3842)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Orthopedic Joint Reconstruction Implants (Hip/Knee/Shoulder/Elbow/Ankle) (HLAHAEAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Cartilage, Bone & Musculoskeletal Regeneration (HLAAAGAH)
Keywords
Where Cartiva is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Alpharetta
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Cartiva business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Cartiva product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cartiva developed and commercialized a synthetic cartilage implant used as a motion-preserving alternative to fusion surgery for the treatment of osteoarthritis, hallux rigidus, and other degenerative conditions of the foot and ankle, particularly the first metatarsophalangeal joint. The product was a biocompatible polymer implant designed to resurface damaged cartilage and preserve joint range of motion in patients with cartilage injuries and degenerative joint disease.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Cartiva Synthetic Cartilage Implant A biocompatible, hydrogel-based synthetic cartilage implant used to resurface the first metatarsophalangeal joint as a motion-preserving alternative to fusion surgery for patients with osteoarthritis, hallux rigidus, and cartilage injuries of the big toe; intended for use by orthopedic and podiatric surgeons in hospital and ambulatory surgical center settings.
Companies that use Cartiva
Customer profileIdeal customer profiles1 record
Cartiva technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Cartiva partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves4 records
Expansion highlights2 records
Cartiva competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Arthrex: Arthrex is a leading medical device company specializing in sports medicine, foot and ankle, and orthopedic implants. It directly competes with Cartiva's synthetic cartilage implant in the foot and ankle space, offering joint-preserving alternatives and serving the same surgical specialties.
- Wright Medical (now part of Stryker): Wright Medical was a specialist in foot and ankle orthopedic implants before its Stryker acquisition. Its cartilage repair and small joint implant products are directly comparable to Cartiva SCI and now sit alongside Cartiva within Stryker's portfolio.
- Integra LifeSciences: Integra LifeSciences has a dedicated foot and ankle orthobiologics and implants portfolio that overlaps directly with Cartiva's motion-preserving cartilage replacement therapy for osteoarthritis of the foot and ankle. It serves the same surgical specialties with comparable joint-preserving technologies.
- Anika Therapeutics: Anika Therapeutics develops hyaluronic acid-based viscosupplementation and regenerative cartilage therapies, including joint preservation products. It directly competes in the cartilage restoration and osteoarthritis treatment space that Cartiva's synthetic implant addresses.
Broad incumbents
- Stryker: Stryker is the parent company that acquired Cartiva in 2019 and operates the Foot & Ankle business into which Cartiva was integrated. It is the largest broad incumbent in orthopedic medical devices and houses Cartiva's technology within its commercial infrastructure.
- Zimmer Biomet: Zimmer Biomet is a global leader in musculoskeletal healthcare with a deep orthopedic joint reconstruction portfolio. While primarily focused on hip/knee, it competes in adjacent joint-preservation and cartilage repair categories relevant to Cartiva's synthetic implant.
- DePuy Synthes (Johnson & Johnson MedTech): DePuy Synthes offers broad orthopedic and sports medicine portfolios, including foot and ankle solutions. It competes with Cartiva SCI as part of its wider orthopedic joint reconstruction and extremities offerings.
- Smith+Nephew: Smith+Nephew is a global medical device incumbent with a substantial orthopedic and sports medicine portfolio, including foot and ankle reconstruction products. It offers overlapping joint-preserving capabilities as part of a broader portfolio rather than specializing narrowly in Cartiva's segment.
Emerging players
- MTF Biologics: MTF Biologics develops allograft and cartilage repair products used in orthopedic surgery, including osteochondral grafts for joint surface restoration. It represents an adjacent biological approach to cartilage damage repair that competes with synthetic alternatives like Cartiva's implant.
- Vericel: Vericel commercializes MACI, an autologous cultured chondrocyte implant for cartilage repair. While MACI is used in larger joints (e.g., knee), Vericel competes in the cartilage restoration space and represents an adjacent cell-based alternative to Cartiva's synthetic approach.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Cartiva social profiles
Digital presenceCartiva financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cartiva leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Cartiva funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds7 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cartiva M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cartiva
What does Cartiva do?
Cartiva developed and commercialized a synthetic cartilage implant used as a motion-preserving alternative to fusion surgery for the treatment of osteoarthritis, hallux rigidus, and other degenerative conditions of the foot and ankle, particularly the first metatarsophalangeal joint. The product was a biocompatible polymer implant designed to resurface damaged cartilage and preserve joint range of motion in patients with cartilage injuries and degenerative joint disease.
Is Cartiva a public or private company?
Cartiva is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Cartiva founded?
Cartiva was founded in 2006. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Cartiva based?
Cartiva is headquartered in Alpharetta, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Cartiva's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Arthrex, Wright Medical (now part of Stryker), Integra LifeSciences and Anika Therapeutics. Broad incumbents are Stryker, Zimmer Biomet, DePuy Synthes (Johnson & Johnson MedTech) and Smith+Nephew. Emerging players are MTF Biologics and Vericel.
Does Cartiva have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cartiva.
What industry is Cartiva in?
Cartiva's product category is Orthopedic Medical Devices. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAHAEAA, Orthopedic Joint Reconstruction Implants (Hip/Knee/Shoulder/Elbow/Ankle), with a secondary code of HLAAAGAH, Cartilage, Bone & Musculoskeletal Regeneration. Its SIC code is 3842.