Victhom Human Bionics
Medical Devices & Tech  Advamed Member
4780 rue Saint-Felix, Suite 105
Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, Quebec G3A 2J9 Canada
phone: 418-872-5665
fax: 418-872-5116
Symbol VHB
Exchange TSE
Founded 2000
Employees 70
www.victhom.com/index_en.htm
Research Sector Medical Devices & Tech
Summary Description
Human Bionics Devices to Restore Physical and Physiological Dysfunctions
Management
Normand Rivard, Acting CEO and Chief Financial Officer (CFO); Stephane Bedard, Founder, Chief Operating Officer (COO) Biotronix Unit; Nader Kameli, Chief Operating Officer (COO) Neurobionix Unit; Lana Fiset, Vice president - Legal Affairs, Human Resources and Secretary General
Ownership
Financials


* numbers in thousands

 
Keywords
bionic, leg, urinary, physiological dysfunctions,

Comment | Printable Version | Oct. 01, 2008
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Description
Victhom discovers, develops and manufactures bionic devices involved in the treatment of a variety of physical and physiological dysfunctions. The company is organized into two operational units: BioTronix develops products for the orthotics and prosthetics market which compensate for biomechanical dysfunctions of the human body. NeuroBionix is dedicated to the development bionic devices, such as sensors, artificial intelligence modules and dedicated stimulators. These technologies are used to stimulate the peripheral nervous system and to measure its signals precisely.
Products / Services
Victhom has an extensive portfolio of medical devices. Among them, the Power Knee is Victhom's motorized prosthesis designed to the necessary power to restore amputated lower-limb function during non-conventional portions of locomotion. The behavior of the prosthesis is determined through a combination of artificial proprioceptors. Victhom has also developed a completely implantable device, the Neurostep, capable of restoring the mobility of a patient affected by foot drop. The Neurostep enables artificial synchronization of the activation of the ankle's dorsiflexion movement through stimulation of the peripheral nerves related to the anterior muscles of the leg.
Technology / Differentiation
Human bionics integrates a mechatronic apparatus to the human body (i.e., using electronic, informatics and mechanic technologies in order to compensate for various physiological dysfunctions). It is a discipline dedicated to the creation of devices that can instantaneously interact with the human body to replace or restore biomechanical or physiological functions. To achieve this, the products must contain components capable of measuring the behaviour of targeted bodily functions, interpreting this measurement via artificial intelligence and providing instructions. The Neurostep uses neurosensing (i.e., the ability to sense and modulate the sensory and motor nerve signals selectively, which is executed via the Bionized CLS platform) and neurostimulation technological platforms in clinical development by Victhom.
Market / Customers
Foot drop, a condition where damage to the central nervous system causes patients to drag their legs, is a common occurrence in the more than one million Europeans and Americans suffering from stroke annually. The overall neurotechnology sector (which includes manufacturers of electronic devices that interact with the nervous system) is expected to grow from $3.6 billion in worldwide sales in 2008 to $8.8 billion in 2012, according to the results of a January 2008 study. Specifically, neurosensing systems are projected to reach $1.2 billion by 2012 and the neurorehabilitation device segment (including implanted muscle stimulators, neurorobotic training systems and cognitive rehabilitation tools) will grow from $289 million in 2008 to $914 million in 2012.
Status
On July 8, 2008, Victhom and the Centre hospitalier affilie universitaire de Quebec (CHA) announced the implantation of the Neurostep in the first patient in Quebec during a surgical intervention performed on June 27 at the Hopital de l'Enfant-Jesus. The patient is recovering well, according to the neurosurgeon. The company also announced its plans to commercialize the Neurostep in 2009.


2008-10-03-817