As seasoned professionals in the cardiac device field, Jim Collins and Ted Schulte spent decades supporting thousands of electrophysiologists and interventional cardiologists across the country. Through their work—spanning procedure labs from coast to coast—they heard the same concern echoed again and again: chronic back pain and orthopedic injuries caused by prolonged lead apron use were compromising both career longevity and quality of life for medical professionals.

Recognizing the widespread toll this issue was taking, they knew something had to change. With firsthand insight into the rigors of the cath lab and a deep understanding of medical device innovation, they combined their experience and determination to create a better solution. The result is OrthoVest—a simple, elegant advancement designed to protect the people who protect others.

The idea behind OrthoVest was born on the hiking trails of the Adirondacks, where Jim Collins, an avid High Peaks hiker, knows firsthand the importance of proper weight distribution. Carrying a heavy backpack for miles makes one thing clear: without shifting the load to the hips, it's simply unsustainable. That principle—well known to serious hikers—sparked a thought that led to OrthoVest: why not apply the same concept to lead aprons?

With Ted Schulte’s decades of experience designing and patenting advanced medical devices, the concept became reality. Together, they created OrthoVest—a lightweight support that shifts 100% of lead apron weight to the hips, reducing strain without compromising mobility. While not a medical treatment, many users say they won’t wear lead without it.

Jim Collins

Ted Shulte