The Worst-Performing Medtech IPOs Of 2014The Worst-Performing Medtech IPOs Of 2014

A grand total of 18 medical device and diagnostic companies have debuted on the public markets this year, according to Renaissance Capital, an IPO investment and research firm.

According to the company's data, the top-performing IPO has been Nevro. The Menlo Park, California firm had a return of 90% after its initial offer price of $18 was buoyed by investors eager to support its implanted device to treat leg and back pain through spinal cord stimulation. 

But there were some duds as well in a year where many more medtech IPOs occurred than in the recent past. 

Here is a slideshow of the five worst-performing IPOs of the year, in ascending order. The data comes from IPO ETF manager Renaissance Capital. [Roka Bioscience, that uses molecular diagnostics to test food safety company falls within Renaissance Capital's classification of medical device and diagnostic companies, but has been excluded from this list of badly-performing IPOs]

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[Photo Credit: iStockphoto.com user AtnoYdur]