Dr. Kurt Ruffieux studied mechanical engineering at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Switzerland, with a major in light weight structures and aircraft statics. In his master thesis, 1992, he worked on materials development to transfer carbon fiber composite technology from aeronautics into the field of orthopaedic surgery. During his PhD-thesis from 1992 to 1997, he got involved in the development of resorbable polymers for medical applications. He transferred his results into the development of a plating system for maxillo-facial surgery, which is marketed under the brand of ResorbX by KLS Martin since 2000.

During 1995 to 1999, Kurt Ruffieux was appointed senior research assistant at ETH Zurich, leading a group of researchers in the field of degradable polymers for medical and environmental applications.

In 1999, Kurt Ruffieux founded Degradable Solutions AG with the mission: “After a successful medical therapy no foreign implant material should remain in the body”. The Swiss based company is thus focused on finding answers to clinical needs by the use of degradable / absorbable materials. So far, he has developed over 10 products, which are marketed in the field of CMF, trauma, spine, foot and shoulder surgery. As of 1995, he got involved in the development of synthetic bone graft substitute materials. Goal of his work is to overcome the need for allografts and xenografts in surgery.

Due to the many years of experience in the development of absorbable implants, Dr. Ruffieux has become an opinion leader in his field and is consulted by numerous companies and surgeons especially in Europe.

Kurt Ruffieux enjoys travelling, scuba diving, skiing and hiking in the mountains with his family.

Education

2004	Diploma in Management of Small and Medium Size Enterprises at University of St-Gallen, Switzerland
1997	Dr. sc. tech. at Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich). Ph-D-thesis in biomaterials.
1992	Master of Mechanical Engineering at ETH Zurich
1984	High School Diploma, Oakdale High School, California, U.S.A.

Scientific Societies
Member of the Executive Committee of the Swiss Society for Biomaterials (2005-present)

Xpert:

Kurt Ruffieux