BOSTON, Dec 04, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- OrthofixInternational (NASDAQ: OFIX) (the Company) announced
today that its sports medicine division, BREG, has expanded its
successful line of FUSION(R) functional knee braces by
introducing the FUSION(R) Lateral OA Brace, which features an
ultra-thin low-profile hinge designed for individuals suffering from
lateral compartment osteoarthritis (OA).
The FUSION(R) Lateral OA Brace was developed to off-load knee
stress for individuals suffering with osteoarthritis, and the
low-profile hinge is designed to reduce interference during the wearer's
movement specifically on the inside, or medial, part of the knee. As the
newest member of the BREG family of FUSION(R) functional knee
braces, the new Lateral OA Brace is designed to provide support for the
anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL),
as well as protection for collateral ligaments, without hindering the
wearer's activity.
The FUSION(R) Lateral OA Brace features BREG's innovative
thumbwheel dial that allows precision off-loading adjustments without
any tools. The brace's frame also incorporates BREG's proprietary
ProForm(TM) technology, which uses Zytel(R), a strong yet flexible polymer.
This streamlined, lightweight frame was designed to conform intimately
to the leg, reduce migration, promote natural motion and provide
superior protection.
"Since the successful launch of FUSION(R) OA in 2006, the need
for OA bracing has grown steadily," said Alan Milinazzo, President and
CEO of Orthofix. "We are proud of our ability to develop and launch
innovative new products in response to the evolving needs of our
physician customers and their patients."
The U.S. market for OA knee braces is estimated to be approximately $82
million in 2010, with a compound annual growth rate of approximately 7%.
The full line of FUSION(R) braces, including FUSION(R),
FUSION(R) XT (for contact sports), FUSION(R) Women's,
FUSION(R) OA and FUSION(R) Lateral OA, are available
in custom and off-the-shelf versions. For more information about FUSION(R)
visit www.orthofix.com
or www.breg.com.
About Orthofix
Orthofix International, N.V. is a global medical device company offering
a broad line of minimally invasive surgical, and non-surgical, products
for the spine, orthopedic, and sports medicine market sectors that
address the lifelong bone-and-joint health needs of patients of all
ages-helping them achieve a more active and mobile lifestyle. Orthofix's
products are widely distributed around the world to orthopedic surgeons
and patients via Orthofix's sales representatives and its subsidiaries,
including BREG, Inc. and via partnerships with other leading orthopedic
product companies. In addition, Orthofix is collaborating in R&D
partnerships with leading medical institutions such as the
Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation, the Orthopedic Research and
Education Foundation, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New
Jersey and the National Osteoporosis Institute. For more information
about Orthofix, please visit www.orthofix.com.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This communication contains certain forward-looking statements under the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking
statements, which may include, but are not limited to, statements
concerning the projections, financial condition, results of operations
and businesses of Orthofix and its subsidiaries and are based on
management's current expectations and estimates and involve risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ
materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements.
Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences may include,
but are not limited to, risks relating to the expected sales of its
products, including products not yet launched, unanticipated
expenditures, changing relationships with customers, suppliers and
strategic partners, risks relating to the protection of intellectual
property, changes to the reimbursement policies of third parties,
changes to and interpretation of governmental regulation of medical
devices, the impact of competitive products, changes to the competitive
environment, the acceptance of new products in the market, conditions of
the orthopedic industry and the economy, corporate development and
market development activities, including acquisitions or divestitures,
unexpected costs or operating unit performance related to recent
acquisitions and other factors described in our annual report on Form
10-K and other periodic reports filed by the Company with the Securities
and Exchange Commission.
SOURCE: Orthofix International
OrthofixInternational
Dan Yarbrough, 617-912-2903
Vice President of Investor Relations
danyarbrough@orthofix.com
Copyright Business Wire 2009