BOSTON, Dec 09, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- OrthofixInternational (NASDAQ: OFIX) (the Company) announced
today that its sports medicine division, BREG, has launched an
innovative new line of foot and ankle products. Vectra(TM)
Premium Air Walker Boots are designed to provide patients with
post-surgical support and stabilization while also improving comfort and
allowing increased wear time in order to promote post-surgical healing.
The new line of Vectra(TM) Premium Air Walker Boots features
three patent-pending technologies designed to improve patient comfort
and promote better compliance and healing.
- Fold-Over Air Pump and Release Valve - The walker boots
integrate a pneumatic pump and valve into the boot liner using a
unique fold-over collar that allows the patient to move the collar to
the most comfortable position. This is designed to eliminate painful
pressure against the leg, which can occur with some walker boots when
the patient tightens the top adjustment strap.
- Removable Heel Clip - The Vectra(TM) boot is the only
walker to feature a removable heel clip, allowing it to accommodate
both closed and open heel applications.
- Dual-Axis Rocker Bottom - TheVectra(TM) boot is
also the only walker with a dual-axis rocker bottom designed to
improve patient gait by mirroring a normal walking pattern from
lateral heel strike to medial toe-off propulsion. Additionally, the
large foot-bed can accommodate post-operative dressing and bandages.
"The Vectra(TM) Premium Air Walker Boots were designed to be
differentiated within the marketplace and set a new standard in
post-operative care of the foot and ankle by improving patient
compliance and healing through increased comfort," said Alan Milinazzo,
President and CEO of Orthofix. "This addition to our broad product
portfolio demonstrates our continuing commitment to provide our
physician customers with new technology to enhance the post-operative
treatment of their patients."
The U.S. market for pneumatic walker boots is estimated to be
approximately $115 million in 2010, with a compound annual growth rate
of approximately 5%.
The line of Vectra(TM) Premium Air Walker Boots also includes a
lightweight version with a low-profile foot-bed design and
full-circumferential strapping for stability. It incorporates a
contoured liner and aluminum uprights to provide a custom fit, and a
moisture-wicking inner layer to enhance patient comfort.
The full line of Vectra(TM) Air Walker Boots includes Vectra(TM)
Premium Air, Vectra(TM) Premium and Vectra(TM) Lite,
available in tall and short profiles and various foot sizes.
For more information about Vectra Walker Boots 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
Orthofix International N.V.
Dan Yarbrough, 617-912-2903
Vice President of Investor Relations
danyarbrough@orthofix.com
Copyright Business Wire 2009