NEW YORK, April 7, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Small Bone Innovations, Inc. (SBI) said that its innovative Artelon(r) spacer, used to surgically repair thumb joints affected by osteoarthritis (OA), will be featured in tomorrow's WCBS-TV broadcast at 1 p.m. (EDT) in New York of 'Healthy Living,' hosted by Chris Evert. The video is also available at: totalsmallbone.com/products/artelon.html.
The half-hour broadcast contains a three-minute segment on the use of Artelon(r) spacers featuring Maryland hand surgeon, Terrence O'Donovan, MD, and two of his patients discussing a surgical procedure designed to eliminate pain and restore function in the thumb. Since the product's introduction last year, SBI said more than 100 surgeons in the U.S. have performed the surgery.
Anthony G. Viscogliosi, SBI's Chairman and CEO, who is interviewed in the "Healthy Living" program, said: "Osteoarthritis in the thumb joint is increasingly common in females; in fact, one-in-four post-menopausal mothers exhibit symptoms of the disease. Use of the Artelon spacer originated in Sweden more than three years ago and indications are that the biodegradable material helps to eliminate pain soon after surgery but, importantly, enables the diseased joint to recover and restore function to the thumb -- the hand's pivotal digit."
According to SBI, almost half of the 44 million Americans who suffer from OA have problems in their hands that prevent or hamper their ability to perform everyday tasks such as gripping household objects or simply lifting their children or grandchildren.
"Healthy Living" is a regularly scheduled, syndicated program that features innovations in the field of health care.
About SBI
Small Bone Innovations, Inc. was founded in 2004 by Viscogliosi Bros., LLC, (VB), the New York-based merchant banking firm that specializes in the musculoskeletal/orthopedic sector. VB created SBI as the first company to focus purely on small bone & joint science. By integrating established companies and professionals in the field, SBI today offers a broad, clinically proven portfolio of products and technology to treat trauma and diseases in small bones & joints. VB's acquisitions and technology licenses include: Avanta Orthopaedics (hand/wrist/elbow arthroplasty and trauma products -- USA); Envision (implant manufacturing -- USA); Actipore(tm) (porous metal technology -- Canada); Artelon(r) (biologically active & biodegradable technology -- Sweden); Xtremi-T (resorbable trauma technology -- USA); and Fixano, S.A.S. (broad line of small bone & joint implants -- France).
Small Bone Innovations, Inc. (SBI) completed a Series B financing, raising a record total of $42.2 million, in January 2006, Based on data provided by Venture Source, this was the largest venture capital investment ever recorded in the field of orthopedic devices.
For more information on SBI, visit www.totalsmallbone.com.