X-Bolt Orthopaedics could be snapped up by a major player

Dr Brian Thornes had a light bulb moment when using a bolt to fit a TV on a wall. He’s now reaping the rewards, says Trish Dromey.

As an orthopaedic surgeon, Brian Thornes might have performed hundreds of hip operations but, as the inventor of a new hip fixation device, he will very likely be responsible for fixing hundreds of thousands of hips, without even being there.

Called the X-Bolt, his invention has been patented in Europe, trialled in more than 250 patients in the UK, and is expected to secure approval from the US Food and Drug Administration soon.