As a distinguished board-certified orthopedic spinal surgeon and diplomat of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, Dr. Gary K. Michelson has dedicated his existence to improving the lives of millions of people afflicted with spinal ailments with inventions and by influencing patent reform legislation.

Discontent with the low success rates and unreliability of the spinal surgical procedures in the 1980s, Dr. Michelson spent the next 20 years developing implants, surgical procedures, and instruments that would enable spinal surgeons to successfully cure a vastly greater proportion of spinal conditions. Dr. Michelson’s technological breakthroughs, most of which are related to instruments, methods and devices advancing spinal and orthopedic surgical procedures, have made spinal surgery safer, faster, more effective and less expensive.

Michelson is most known for the $1.35 billion settlement he received from medical device maker, Medtronic, in 2005. He spent years in litigation over his patents before the settlement was reached. He has seen the good, the bad and the ugly in the US patent system up close and personal and he wants to see the US patent system improve. For the benefit of all independent inventors, the American economy and to promote real job growth.