MARL, GERMANY — (Marketwire) — 06/22/11 — IlluminOss Medical has announced that one of the leading trauma surgeons in Germany, Dr. Thomas Gausepohl, has performed the first forearm case in the world utilizing the innovative IlluminOss Medical Photodynamic Bone Stabilization System. Dr. Gausepohl treated the patient, a 91-year-old woman with a fractured ulna, quickly and easily. Within two hours of the procedure the patient was able to move her entire arm without a motion-limiting external cast.
“In my opinion we entered a new era of fracture fixation today, with a clear solution to the limitations of today’s metallic implants,” Dr. Gausepohl said. “I was able to stabilize the bone using a minimally invasive catheter, avoiding the large incisions associated with today’s devices. Since elderly patients typically have poor bone quality, they are often casted, limiting their movement. With the IlluminOss system, my patient required no cast, was moving her arm within two hours post-procedure, and left the hospital wearing only a gauze bandage on the arm.”
The minimally invasive IlluminOss Photodynamic Bone Stabilization System is used in treating fractures through a small entry into the bone. The flexible balloon catheter is inserted into the bone and placed across the fracture site. A proprietary liquid monomer is then infused through the catheter, expanding the balloon that assists in the alignment of the fractured bone. A special light source is then used to illuminate the monomer inside the balloon, converting it into a hardened polymer implant. The result is a customized implant that provides strength and stabilization during bone healing.
After closing the tiny skin incision, a patient has mobility without the need for heavy external plaster casts. The minimally invasive approach reduces injury to surrounding skin, muscle and soft tissues.
The IlluminOss System is unique in that the implant can be inserted through a single tiny incision into the bone, and then is dramatically expanded to treat any bone in the body.
Dr. Gausepohl continued, “The procedure today was simple, fast and elegant, and is uniquely suited for the challenges in treating an elderly population with poor bone quality.”
Scott Rader, president and CEO of IlluminOss Medical, said, “We are very pleased to be working with Dr. Gausepohl and his team at the Paracelsus Klinik. This case represents a major milestone for IlluminOss in extending its patented platform to new clinical applications in the arm and beyond. We believe this is the first of many exciting advances to come in the near term from IlluminOss that will dramatically advance fracture treatment. The IlluminOss Photodynamic System has the unique potential to treat a wide variety of fractures patterns and provide patients with great cosmetic results from a minimally invasive procedure.”
About Paracelsus Klinik, Marl (Klinikum Vest GmbH)
The Paracelsus Klinik is one of the leading hospitals in Germany. The Department of Trauma Surgery, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery is one of the most respected in Germany, and is well known for offering leading-edge solutions to challenging orthopedic problems.
About IlluminOss Medical
IlluminOss Medical is a privately held medical device company dedicated to the development of minimally invasive orthopedic systems for the stabilization and treatment of bone fractures. The IlluminOss Photodynamic Bone Stabilization System utilizes a photodynamic (light-curable) polymer system designed to eliminate the need for traditional methods of bone fixation with external pins, plates and screws.
The company has developed the IlluminOss Photodynamic Bone Stabilization System for treating fractures. The Company has CE Mark approval for the use of its product in low load bearing bones in the metacarpal, radius, ulna, distal radius, olecranon, clavicle and fibula.
The IlluminOss platform technology is presently being extended to applications in weight bearing bones, spine, sports medicine, cranial-maxillofacial fields and site-specific therapeutic drug delivery.
Founded in 2007, IlluminOss is headquartered in East Providence, RI, and funded by Foundation Medical Partners, New Leaf Venture Partners, and Mieza Capital. For more information about IlluminOss Medical, please visit www.illuminoss.com.
