Omniguide Names New CTO

Tracy Campbell Accardi has been named Omniguide Inc.’s new chief technology officer. She brings 20 years of medical device experience with her to the Cambridge, Mass.-based commercial stage medical device company.

“OmniGuide has developed a truly innovative technology that addresses critical clinical needs in the advanced surgical energy device market,” Accardi said. “The delivery of CO2 laser energy through a flexible fiber has the potential to significantly enhance clinical outcomes for patients and improve the operating room experience for surgeons. I am excited to work with our customers and the OmniGuide team to deliver enhanced surgical solutions based on precision access and control.”

Accardi is describing Omniguide’s BeamPath CO2 laser surgery tools, such as its optical laser scalpels. CO2 surgery uses the gas to power lasers for surgery, and the CO2 method is considered the most useful.

Accardi was most recently vice president of global research and development for the Vascular Therapies division at Covidien. She oversaw more than 140 engineers in the United States and Japan, and led the development of acute and chronic dialysis catheters, vascular compression devices, pharmaco-mechanical thrombolysis treatment catheters and vein ablation catheters.

Accardi has worked with several major medical device companies besides Covidien, including Johnson & Johnson, Philips Healthcare (a subsidiary of Royal Philips Electronics), and GE Healthcare. She held executive-level leadership positions at all these companies, leading international teams of engineers and scientists to develop products and therapies in the neurovascular and cardiovascular spaces.

She holds dual bachelor’s degrees in mechanical engineering and engineering and public policy from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pa. She also earned her master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y.

Accardi sits on the board of “A Better Chance” a nonprofit organization based in New York City committed to the education of academically talented and promising young women of color from underserved communities.

OmniGuide’s products are sold under the BeamPath brand and are focused in the gynecology; ear, nose and throat; and neurosurgery spaces.