THIS ISSUE
Surgeons develop their own products
Ten British surgeons and others from abroad are developing their own medical products thanks to a £2 million (e2.5 million) investment fund launched to speed medical inventions to market. The fund, established in 2007 by manufacturing company Xiros (Leeds, UK) has already attracted more than 50 new product ideas, many from overseas surgeons and equipment manufacturers. The ideas are now being trialled and assessed. David Beevers, the company’s Business Development Director, said, “Who is better placed to understand what products are needed to improve surgical techniques?” Products under development include refinement of an existing Xiros polymer tape for the repair of massive rotator cuff tears in the shoulder. Atif Nada, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at Nevill Hall Hospital (Abergavenny, UK), who is developing the product, said, “The process of bringing products to market is daunting without support. But the advice and guidance that comes with working as part of an experienced team makes it possible to take ideas conceived in theatre and see them come through into reality.” He added, “We hope to see firm results from the trials of the prototype products over the coming months, and early results are very favourable, so hopefully they will be used in procedures in 2009.” Under the scheme, the company undertakes to cover all research and development costs, removing the need for significant outlay by the idea originator, before moving into precision manufacturing. www.xiros.eu.com
Cardiac implants in demand
The need for cardiac implants in the United States is expected to grow by 8.8 per cent per annum to reach $16.4 billion (e11.3 billion) by 2012, according to a report from Freedonia. This growth will be driven by next generation models with improved technologies and materials as well as shortcomings in existing drug therapies. New drug eluting stents with improved design and a reduced risk of complications will boost the market for cardiac stents and stent related implants to more than 10 per cent per year by 2012. Endovascular stent grafts, femoral and related stents, and carotid stents are also expected to do well. However, pacing devices will remain the top selling cardiac implant group because of the breadth of indications they serve. www.freedoniagroup.com
Partnership in molecular imaging
A feasibility study into setting up a technology platform in different fields of molecular imaging is being undertaken by GE Healthcare and the Alsace BioValley cluster (Alsace, France). The platform will focus on research and translational medicine and will be accessible to the region’s scientists and industry partnerships. GE Healthcare will share its knowledge of the various imaging solutions and the different types of platform currently in operation in academia and industry. “We chose Alsace as a partner because it has a unique international position in the field of science and technology applied to research and biomedical development,” said Dominique Blanc, General Manager France of GE Healthcare. www.gehealthcare.com, www.alsace-biovalley.com
