Thursday, 14 June 2007 | Levent OZLER
NESS L300 Wins Prestigious Gold Medical Design Award
 Bioness Inc. announced today the NESS L300 wireless system for foot drop is the recipient of the prestigious 2007 Medical Design Excellence Award (MDEA). A combined panel of healthcare and medical design experts selected the NESS L300 for the Gold award from hundreds of entrants worldwide.
The NESS L300 is recognized for its innovative design and ability to assist in lifting the foot to compensate for foot drop, a condition caused by weakness of the muscles that can lead to instability and difficulty in walking. The technology may also provide other important benefits such as the prevention of muscle atrophy and improved joint range of motion and blood circulation.
Foot drop is often present in persons suffering from conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and incomplete spinal cord injuries. Prior to the availability of the NESS L300, patients typically relied on rigid plastic braces that restrict ankle movement and sometimes lead to additional injuries.
"Although the NESS L300 System has been available only for a short time in the United States, the feedback from patients learning to walk again and the professional community has been enormous and overwhelmingly positive," said Yitzhak Zilberman, CEO, Bioness Inc. "We're honored that the NESS L300, which has the potential to improve the quality of life for millions of individuals worldwide, has received this level of recognition."
 The NESS L300 device integrates state-of-the-art electronics into a compact, wireless system. The lightweight NESS L300 is worn on the leg and is designed to deliver stimulation to nerves to contract the muscles that lift the foot while walking. Used in acute or outpatient therapy and then transitioned to home and community environments, the NESS L300 may save therapy time, may improve function and may help patients to take charge of their recovery.
The NESS L300 was judged by the MDEA panel and declared a winner based on its superior product innovation, design sophistication, and enhanced healthcare benefits delivery.
How the NESS L300 Works
The NESS L300 treats foot drop by stimulating the nerves in the leg that contract the muscles to lift the toes and prevent the foot from dragging. The wireless system is comprised of the following components that together are designed to assist patients to achieve greater independence.
Intelli-Sense Gait Sensor: The low-profile pressure sensor, called the Intelli-Sense gait sensor, is placed in a shoe and detects when the heel is on or off the ground. The sensor wirelessly transmits signals to the stimulation device that is worn below-the-knee and is designed to stimulate the muscles at just the optimal time to compensate for foot drop. The system automatically adjusts to variables such as walking surface and speed through software analysis of the gait sensor data.
Simulation Device: The innovative and lightweight electronic device is designed to be easy to apply to the affected limb and comfortable to wear. The low-profile shape with integrated electrodes helps to assure accurate electrode placement for stimulation of the target muscles.
Control Unit: This portable hand-held unit enables the user to conveniently turn the stimulation on and off when sitting and fine-tune the stimulation intensity for fatigue or fluctuations in muscle tone often present in stroke survivors. The wireless control unit also gives the clinician the unique ability to have "on-demand" stimulation in different therapeutic activities. When combined with the Clinician's Programmer, the therapist can simultaneously perform visual gait analysis and make real-time adjustments to stimulation parameters while the patient is walking.
Bioness
Bioness harnesses the power of Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) to deliver innovative wireless technologies designed to assist stroke and other patients with neurological injuries to recover faster and regain function in their affected limbs. These time-saving technologies allow patients to use them in their homes and in the community, and allow therapists to easily monitor patient compliance.
Bioness: http://www.bioness.com
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