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MANSFIELD - A second highly touted medical firm that obtained tax breaks to locate in the Cabot Business Park apparently has closed.

Innovative Spinal Technologies has dismissed its remaining staff, according to a former employee who asked to remain anonymous. The high-tech Web site Xconomy reported that the firm, which made devices used in spine surgery, shut its doors Friday.

Earlier, Spherics Pharmaceutical abruptly shut down its Mansfield operation last year, scarcely three years after obtaining an agreement allowing the company to pay reduced local property taxes.

Telephone calls to Innovative Spinal Technologies went unanswered Wednesday, and the company's Web site was no longer operating.

When a reporter visited the IST facility Wednesday afternoon, the plant was vacant except for a woman who came to the door, but declined to give any information. IST renovated a former Texas Instruments warehouse three years ago and turned it into a research, marketing and manufacturing center for products used in minimally invasive spine surgery.

The company initially expanded from a core of six employees to about 80 workers after receiving a package of tax incentives to locate in the industrial park.

At the time, the company's arrival was hailed as an upgrade from a low-wage warehouse location to a workplace for highly paid engineers and marketing personnel.

It was considered a possible model for converting aging warehouse structures elsewhere in the park. The company's profile said the firm employed between 50 and 250 workers.

VentureDeal, a data base for venture capital investments, reported that IST received an $18 million infusion of investment capital as recently as last September.

Spherics, which received a $2.5 million state loan to locate in Mansfield in 2005, shut down last summer after venture capital sources apparently shut off the money spigot.

RICK FOSTER can be reached at 508-236-0360 or at rfoster@thesunchronicle.com.