Founded by a pair of passionate surgeon innovators, Osheru is a medical device company pioneering a new paradigm in eyelid surgery with bold, forward-looking technology. Osheru’s story began in 1987 when co-founders Drs. Patty and Knute Buehler met in medical school, eventually becoming partners in both life and business. Bonded by their curiosity and love for medical history, they often visited museums. During one such visit, an exhibit on ancient Egyptian medicine sparked the idea that would inspire the development of the Ziplyft device.
They came across an ancient text that described a method of removing excess eyelid skin by compressing it between two small twigs and tying off the ends. Deprived of blood supply, the excess skin would fall off within seven days. Similarly, circumcision is done all over the world using a compression clamp to remove this excess skin tissue without the need for cautery or sutures. Inspired by this simple yet effective technique, Dr. Patty Buehler, an eye surgeon, began reimagining eyelid surgery. After years performing traditional blepharoplasty and observing patients’ complications and lengthy recovery times, Patty envisioned a modern solution to revolutionize eyelid surgery based on an ancient idea.
Patty and Knute set out to create a device that would transform eyelid surgery for both surgeons and patients. They collaborated with a patent attorney, who was also an eye resident with Patty at the Casey Eye Institute as well as a design engineer and eventually receiving a patent for the idea in 2014. Raising kids, Knute’s political career and running their surgical practices put device development on hold. It wasn’t until 2020, when pandemic lockdowns slowed their busy lives, that the Buehlers revisited their idea and officially launched Osheru.
Since then, Osheru has made remarkable strides in their product development. During the pandemic, the Ziplyft prototype was refined in the Buehlers’ kitchen, progressing from experiments on chicken thigh skin to tests in a local cadaver lab. In 2022 the company had a breakthrough when they won the prestigious early stage company award at the Bend Venture Conference, the largest venture capital event in the Pacific Northwest, providing critical momentum to move the Ziplyft device forward.
In 2023, Osheru continued its winning streak, taking home the top prize at the ASCRS Eyecelerator Winning Pitch Competition for best early-stage company. With guidance from a growing network of mentors and advisors—including Gil Kliman, Dick Lindstrom, John Berdahl, Chirs Calcaterra and Gary Berman— Osheru further honed its vision and product. The company made history in 2024 by becoming the first company to win the Eyecelerator competition twice, securing the People’s Choice Award while competing against Fortune 500 competitors.
Supported by a $4.7M seed round from individual inventors and strategic partners including Nike co-founder Phil Knight , Business Oregon’s ToughTech BreakThrough Fund and SOPHINCAP, the Corporate Venture Fund of Laboratorios Sophia, Osheru has assembled a talented team of individuals, including John Muri as Chief Engineering Officer, Lauren Contursi as Director of Quality, and Alyssa Pineau as Product Development Manager. Together, our team is dedicated to reshaping the future of eyelid surgery.
At Osheru, we draw inspiration from ancient wisdom and modern innovation. The Ziplyft offers a safer, faster, and more effective solution for eyelid surgery for patients and surgeons alike, ensuring a more youthful, revitalized appearance and improved peripheral vision. With each new advancement, we continue to honor both the past and the future of patient care.
In March of 2025, Dr. Zach Keenum became the first oculoplastic surgeon and Dr. Deb Ristveld became the first general ophthalmologist outside of the founder to use the Ziplyft device in patients. As surgeons begin to integrate the ZipLyft into their practice, patients are experiencing faster recoveries and exceptional results.
Leading surgeons are now using the ZipLyft device and technique—a game-changing, sutureless approach to eyelid surgery. Designed for precision, efficiency, and patient comfort, ZipLyft is out in the world and redefining the standard of eyelid surgery for both patients and surgeons.
“I’m blown away by how gentle, precise, and efficient it is.” – Dr. Deb Ristvedt, DO., Ophthalmologist
What does Osheru mean? Osheru means the left eye (OS) of the Egyptian god, Horus, whose left eye was damaged in battle but restored and became a powerful symbol of healing and regeneration in Egyptian culture.