SPARKS, Md., Feb. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- BioniCare Medical Technologies, Inc. today announced a partnership agreement with RS Medical to expand sales coverage of its physician-prescribed pulsed electrical stimulation device for osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee - the BIO-1000(TM) System - to more than 150 metropolitan markets across the United States through the 300 sales people of RS Medical.
“RS Medical has a deep understanding of our marketplace and customers evidenced by the most comprehensive physician and patient services network in the industry, making the company an ideal partner for BioniCare,” stated Thomas Zizic, M.D., president, CEO and co-founder of BioniCare. “This partnership greatly increases our ability to improve the lives of OA patients across the country,” Dr. Zizic added.
As part of the agreement, the RS Medical team will begin offering the BIO-1000 System on February 23rd at the Congress of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. “We are pleased to add BioniCare’s unique technology to our therapy options for patients, further enhancing our position in physician-prescribed electrotherapy devices,” said Randy Murphy, Vice President, Marketing of RS Medical.
The BIO-1000 System: A Product with an Uncommon Clinical Profile of Safety and Efficacy
The BIO-1000 System works through low amplitude electrical stimulation, and is the first and only non-drug, non-invasive treatment option available. In one four-year study conducted at Johns Hopkins University, 62% of candidates for total knee replacement were able to defer surgery; this was true for only 7% of patients in a control group. In addition, no patient has suffered a serious adverse event using the BIO-1000 System. Its benefits include the following:
-- Targeted, durable relief of pain and associated symptoms -- Substantial improvement over baseline anti-inflammatory medications -- Excellent safety profile -- High patient acceptability -- Ease of use Osteoarthritis: A Large and Growing Unmet Need
Twenty-one million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis. Most debilitating is osteoarthritis of the knee, which afflicts over 10 million Americans. The incidence of the disease is increasing at a rate of 5-10% per year, due largely to the aging of the Baby Boomers. Although the disease affects men and women equally, women received 75% of the approximate 400,000 total knee replacements performed last year. In addition to an average cost of $32,000, knee replacement surgery can mean prolonged hospitalization and carries a small risk of mortality. Most recently, the lack of effective non-surgical treatments for pain and other symptoms of osteoarthritis was exacerbated by the recent recall of Vioxx, and the questions raised about the entire class of drugs known as Cox-2 inhibitors.
About BioniCare Medical Technologies, Inc.
BioniCare Medical Technologies, Inc. develops and markets devices to meet the growing needs of more than 70 million Americans who suffer from the painful complications of arthritis and related musculoskeletal diseases. Through application of its patented technology, BioniCare is dedicated to the discovery of non-invasive devices for the regeneration of musculoskeletal soft tissues to significantly improve the quality of patients’ lives.
For more information about the company and the benefits of BioniCare’s non-invasive, non-drug option for treating OA, please visit http://www.bionicare.com/.
About RS Medical
RS Medical is America’s leading provider of physician-prescribed home electrotherapy devices. More than 500,000 patients have been treated with its stimulators since the company was founded in 1990. RS Medical products are supported by the most comprehensive physician and patient services in the industry. An employee sales force of approximately 300 Account Managers serves physicians in more than 150 metropolitan markets. For more information please visit http://www.rsmedical.com/.
CONTACT: Kristina Broadbelt 215.928.2364 kbroadbelt@dorland.com
BioniCare Medical Technologies, Inc.
CONTACT: Kristina Broadbelt, +1-215-928-2364, kbroadbelt@dorland.com,for BioniCare Medical Technologies
Web site: http://www.rsmedical.com/
Web site: http://www.bionicare.com/