((L-R) L device 2, R device 2 | Photos courtesy of Ziplyft)
Bend Company Develops Innovative Medical Device
Osheru, a medical device company based in Bend, has secured $4.7 million in funding for the purpose of advancing an innovative new device called the Ziplyft, which provides both surgeons and patients a smoother eyelid surgery experience.
Osheru is headed by CEO and Founder Patricia Buehler, MD, MPH, along with Co-Founder and COO Knute Buehler, MD, MA. Between the two founders, there is more than 50 years of surgical experience, with Knute’s background being focused primarily on joint, and specifically knee replacement, while Patricia specializes in blepharoplasty; the procedure that Ziplyft greatly improves.
Blepharoplasty is a procedure that removes unwanted and excess upper eyelid skin, resulting in improved peripheral vision and appearance. As a result of nearly 30 years of expertise and a visit to the ancient Egyptian section of the MET where she learned about a similar, but more ancient method, she developed the Ziplyft.
“My innovation insight was inspired by an ancient Egyptian medicine exhibit showing how Egyptian healers removed excess lid skin by compressing the skin between two small twigs, depriving it of blood supply. The excess skin fell off within five days,” Patricia said. “Impressed by this compelling idea, I designed and patented the Ziplyft, a revolutionary device that enables the first minimally invasive surgery for eyelids.”
While Patricia patented Ziplyft in 2014, a very busy life and career would make it difficult to advance the technology. However, due to the pandemic and shutdowns of 2020, there was suddenly much more time to develop this new method. Patricia recalls practicing the procedure and early prototype devices on chicken thighs in her kitchen, and being very proud when she won the 2022 Bend Venture Conference with Ziplyft.
Eventually, Patricia got connected with the OSU-Cascades cadaver lab, where the device was successfully used on 62 eyelids across seven different labs. The results were all very successful, and the device began to be used on living patients in December of 2023. Now, with 48 successful procedures, the results are starting to speak for themselves. “We are super excited with all of the results,” Patricia said. “Patients have minimal bruising, faster recovery and a nice-looking healed incision with great symmetry.”
Not only does the patient benefit, but Patricia says that the procedure is also easier on the surgeons, “From their standpoint, the procedure is a lot faster (45 minutes down to ten), and there is no need for cauterizing or suturing.”
Osheru raised $4.7 million through a variety of donors, including Business Oregon, Nike Co-Founder Phil Knight, and SOPHINCAP, the corporate venture fund of Laboratorios Sophia, an international ophthalmology company that is considered a leader in industry innovation.
Osheru is hoping to begin selling the Ziplyft device to surgeons and medical offices in the third quarter of 2025.
