EAST PROVIDENCE, RI and DORDRECHT, THE NETHERLANDS--(Marketwired - Mar 24, 2015) - IlluminOss Medical, a commercial stage medical device company focused on minimally invasive orthopedic fracture repair, today announced that the first patient has been enrolled at Albert Schweitzer Hospital in the Netherlands as part of its EU Light Fix Proximal Humerus Fracture Repair Trial for the treatment of osteoporotic and fragility fractures. The trial at Albert Schweitzer Hospital is being led by Dr. Paul Vegt, M.D., Ph.D., and is an expansion of IlluminOss' technology into the treatment of osteoporotic and fragility fractures most common in the elderly.
IlluminOss Medical designs, develops and markets orthopedic fracture repair products that leverage its proprietary bone stabilization technology, the IlluminOss System. This minimally invasive technology allows for fracture fixation through revolutionary patient-specific intramedullary implants. The IlluminOss System utilizes a light-curable polymer, contained within an expandable balloon catheter, to achieve bone stabilization. The simple, percutaneous surgical approach enables surgeons to create a patient-conforming implant. The Latitude Radiopaque markings are IlluminOss' newest product development; implant radiolucency provides clear visualization of the cortex and a 3D profile of the implant is simultaneously provided.
The first patient treated at Albert Schweitzer Hospital with IlluminOss' bone stabilization system was an elderly female with a fracture of her Proximal Humerus resulting from a fall.
"She was able to return home one day post-surgery with only a small sling and reported being nearly pain-free," said Dr. Paul Vegt.
"The growing elderly population has many people concerned about quality of care and healthcare costs," added Dr. Vegt. "The IlluminOss System -- which I have been using on a regular basis in my clinical practice -- may prove to be the answer to making healthcare less expensive for fracture sufferers by potentially enabling them to leave the hospital sooner, regain their independence more quickly without the hindrance of a hard cast, and require less post-procedure care once they are discharged. I am excited by this new product, as IlluminOss' technology expands the surgical indications that I am now able to treat in this minimally invasive way."
Benefits observed from the use of the IlluminOss product in patients include smaller incisions, shorter procedure times, and more rapid post-procedure patient mobility with reduced hospital stays and lower complication rates. The small diameter of the flexible catheter enables greater freedom of surgical approach. Once cured, the implant provides longitudinal strength and rotational stability over the length of the implant. In many cases it allows the patient to get back to daily activities more quickly without the need for a hard cast.
"We are pleased to have the wonderful team of Albert Schweitzer Hospital participating in the Light Fix Trial and are excited that Dr. Vegt has chosen to use our technology on a regular basis in his practice for treating a variety of fractures," said Robert Rabiner, president of IlluminOss Medical. "Dr. Vegt is highly regarded for his expertise and use of innovative techniques in the treatment of patients and we are confident that his work will further validate the benefits of the IlluminOss System for repairing fractures resulting from osteoporosis and fragility fractures. Based on the outcome of this trial, we hope he will be able to use the IlluminOss System as a regular part of his treatment regimen."
About Albert Schweitzer Hospital
Albert Schweitzer Hospital is a general, non-academic teaching hospital in the city of Dordrecht with more than 250 medical specialists and residents, and a total staff of almost 4,000. It services a population of about 400,000 and practices almost every branch of medicine. Every year approximately 35,000 patients are admitted and another 40,000 receive care without requiring overnight admission. The number of outpatient visits is 200,000 on an annual basis.
The hospital was named 'Best Hospital in The Netherlands' two subsequent years (2013 and 2014) by the renowned public rating system 'AD Hospital Top 100,' issued by the second largest newspaper of the country ('AD'). This test compares all kind of data regarding quality, knowledge & experience, safety, hospitality, complications and mortality.
About IlluminOss
IlluminOss Medical is a privately-held, commercial stage medical device company focused on designing, developing and marketing orthopedic fracture repair products that leverage its proprietary bone stabilization technology, the IlluminOss System. This minimally invasive technology allows for fracture fixation through patient specific intramedullary implants. The system utilizes a light-curable polymer, contained within an expandable balloon catheter, to achieve bone stabilization. The revolutionary procedure is made through a small percutaneous surgical approach providing patients and clinicians with a fast, patient-specific, method of orthopedic bone stabilization. The company currently markets its products in international countries under a CE Mark for approved clinical applications through both a direct sales force and distribution networks.
Learn more at www.illuminoss.com.
The IlluminOss products are Investigational Devices; limited by Federal law to Investigational Use and are not approved for sale in the USA.
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Media Contact:
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SVM Public Relations
(401)490-9700