In short
Insightra Medical has announced that its new Freedom inguinal hernia system has been cleared by the FDA. The device aims to address post-op chronic pain associated with traditional meshes by avoiding rigid fixation.
Background
More than 800,000 inguinal hernia repairs are performed each year in the United States, with a majority of surgical procedures involving some form of prosthesis such as surgical meshes or plugs. These systems are often fixed in place using sutures, tacks or other methods that hold the devices firmly in place. This “fixation” is thought to be one of the reasons for the syndrome of postoperative chronic hernia pain. Flat meshes have been shown to shrink up to 30%, while plugs are as high as 70%. In both cases the implant can pull on the fixation, become rigid or feel like a hard, fibrotic foreign body.
Insightra’s new system is based on what the company calls ProFlor™, which it describes as a flower-shaped implant made of polypropylene that possesses an open structure that recoils when compressed. Using a dedicated delivery device, the implant is loaded under compression and then released into the inguinal hernia defect where it stabilizes in the tissues without the need for fixation.
A key to the Freedom Inguinal Hernia System is the relatively simple implantation technique that can be performed through a small incision under local anesthesia. The delivery device helps to deliver a small pre-peritoneal disk attached to the implant core, which helps to cover the defect from behind.
Insightra plans to conduct ongoing studies and begin a U.S. training program for physicians. In conjunction with the release, the company has hired sales executive Todd Perz as its Vice President of North American Sales, and is building a North American sales force.
Source: Insightra Inc., PRWeb
