Leaders from Fulmer Instruments visited the Alabama Capitol recently to highlight the state’s growing role in medical technology and advanced manufacturing. Dr. Benjamin Fulmer, founder of the company, along with Scott Cochran, board member and medical marketing expert, and Braden Garrison, senior project engineer, met with state officials to share how the Birmingham-based team is designing and building next-generation surgical tools—right here in Alabama.

The discussions centered on innovation, workforce development, and the future of American manufacturing, emphasizing how Alabama’s engineers, students, and manufacturing base are helping position the state as a hub for medical device innovation.

“Alabama has the talent, the infrastructure, and the drive to lead in this field,” Dr. Fulmer said. “Our goal is to show that world-class medical technology can be designed and manufactured right here at home.”

The visit underscored Fulmer Instruments’ commitment to building not only transformative devices but also a stronger, more competitive future for Alabama’s innovation economy.

Excitement is building at Fulmer Instruments as the team takes the F1 prototype for its first hands-on test in the lab. Designed to redefine surgical precision, the F1 combines cordless convenience, intuitive handling, and cutting-edge performance—all engineered right in Alabama.

For the Fulmer team, testing isn’t just about functionality—it’s about seeing their vision come alive. “Every time we pick up the F1, we see the future of surgical tools in action,” Fulmer said. “It’s more than a device—it’s a new way to think about surgery.”

The lab sessions mark a milestone on the journey from concept to real-world impact, showcasing Fulmer Instruments’ commitment to innovation, quality, and delivering tools that empower surgeons worldwide.

By Tyler Patchen – Health and Technology Reporter
January 20, 2022, 06:45am CST

More than $1 million in seed funding has been invested in local doctor-led startup for work on a medical device.

Fulmer Instruments LLC, has raised $1.115 million, according to the Form D documents.

Headed by CEO Benjamin Fulmer, a Birmingham-based neurosurgeon who has been practicing for 21 years, the company is developing two medical devices which are modifications on existing devices.

Fulmer said the company had a smaller raise around three years ago, and the company is now trying to ramp up to the final prototype for their first device. Then, the company will submit the device to the FDA for 510(K) clearance. The company also has two patents related to ubiquitous devices that are currently used in surgery.

The company has three founding members, five board members and local investment interest.

Fulmer said the seed round funding came from people in Birmingham with some dollars coming from out of state. The funds will go toward finishing research and development and pursuing the 510(K) approval. Fulmer said the company will not pursue a Series A for now.

As Fulmer continues to ramp up growth, he does plan to keep the project and company Alabama centric.

“We just are very excited about it. It’s potentially a high-volume production-type entity. I grew up in Mobile; still have a lot of friends in Mobile and Fairhope,” Fulmer said. “I really want it to be Alabama centric. I really want to try to do as much of it as we can in the state, including possibly some contract manufacturing in Birmingham or Huntsville. I want it to be an Alabama pursuit.”

Fulmer Instruments has had a breakthrough in the circuitry and battery systems necessary to power its next-generation surgical devices—overcoming a longstanding challenge in the operating room. Currently, many surgical instruments rely on bulky wired power to meet the high demands of OR procedures. Fulmer Instruments’ engineers have now delivered cordless power that matches traditional wired systems. This is the first step on the company’s journey to transform how surgeons work.

At the heart of this achievement is Gene Eighmy, Fulmer Instruments’ lead engineer, whose expertise in electronics and system design made the innovation possible. “Getting the right power output in a compact, reliable form was one of the toughest engineering challenges we’ve faced and had to be done first,” Eighmy said. “We had to rethink every component—from circuitry to battery build—to create something that will work in the OR.”

The breakthrough will next be worked into a handheld, cordless prototype to combine precision, reliability, and mobility. By replacing outdated wired instruments with advanced cordless technology, the breakthrough is the first step on Fulmer Instruments’ journey to change the way surgeons operate.

This milestone underscores Fulmer Instruments’ commitment to pushing the limits of medical innovation, leveraging Alabama-based engineering talent to deliver tools that could redefine surgical technology worldwide.