CleveX hires new chief executive to focus on sale of new device

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Cleveland Clinic spinoff CleveX has hired a new chief executive officer as it tries to sell its disposable lesion-removal tool, the ExiClip.

Sam Finkelstein said he was in Florida on Monday meeting with clients and other business partners and a release from the company stated he would focus on sales. Finkelstein is the former chief executive of Riverain Medical, which makes chest imaging software to detect lung cancer.

He replaces Gary Smith, who will serve as CleveX’s president and also said he will focus more on sales and marketing of the ExiClip, according to Columbus Business First.

CleveX launched the ExiClip in March. It had raised $1.4 million last year to help finish commercialization of the product. Smith told Business First the company expected $1 million in revenue next year.

The ExiClip, with the help of a hook to raise the skin, quick snips off a lesion for a biopsy and then automatically seals the wound shut with a metal clip, which is removed in about two weeks. The EciClip is disposable and sells for $350 for a pack of 10, according to the company Web site.