In this episode of the BackTable Podcast, host Dr. Aaron Fritts interviews guest Dr. Ramsey Al-Hakim about the inception and journey of Auxetics, a med-tech company innovating in the vein stent market. Dr. Al-Hakim is the co-founder of Auxetics and the Section Chief of the Division of Interventional Radiology at Scripps Hospital in San Diego, CA. Dr. Al-Hakim covers the initial challenges of understanding the market and securing capital, the clinical significance of addressing stent-adjacent stenosis, and the process of developing a stent with a negative Poisson effect to counteract it. Dr. Al-Hakim highlights Auxetics' approach to combining cutting-edge interventional technologies with world-class imaging tools for enhanced procedural efficiency in venous interventions. The company’s progress through benchtop work, animal testing, and plans for first-in-human studies outside the U.S., aiming for commercialization within the next four to five years, is also outlined. Contributions from key figures in the vascular community and the role of mentorship and perseverance in navigating the complexities of medical device innovation are discussed as well. --- CHECK OUT OUR SPONSORS Varian, a Siemens Healthineers company https://www.siemens-healthineers.com/ Reflow Medical https://www.reflowmedical.com/ --- SHOW NOTES 00:00 - Introduction 03:11 - The Market and Problem Solving 12:13 - Journey of Creating a Stent 22:28 - Birth of Auxetics 26:53 - Learning Process and Support from the University 29:16 - Building the Dream Team 33:01 - Starting a Company 36:42 - Challenges and Triumphs of Fundraising 37:44 - Current Status and Future Plans 45:32 - Importance of Community and Mentorship --- RESOURCES Auxetics: https://www.auxeticsinc.com In-stent restenosis and stent compression following stenting for chronic iliofemoral venous obstruction: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34174500/ Venous Stenosis Animal Model Utilizing Endovenous Radiofrequency Ablation: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30717966/ The Messy Middle: Finding Your Way Through the Hardest and Most Crucial Part of Any Bold Venture: https://www.amazon.com/Messy-Middle-Finding-Through-Hardest/dp/0735218072