Ossatec's Bone Growth Stimulator: a new way of healing bones

Wendy Persoon of BOM was able to catch Harrie Boogers just before he was leaving for China again and spoke with him about his cooperation with CenTrial on the PEMF Bone Growth Stimulator.

Who are you?

I am Harrie Boogers, shareholder and director of Ossatec Benelux B.V. We are based in Uden, where we have offices and a small warehouse.  Ossatec Benelux B.V. is a small company with the focus on medical devices. Our devices are used in hospitals by Orthopaedic doctors and Surgeons and are used for non invasive bone management (healing). Our core products are a PEMF Bone Growth Stimulator, a Cast with an open structure for increased wellness and shoulder slings which is a great help for when having a broken arm. We develop new devices, we produce them and sell them. We have sales in The Netherlands, Belgium, UK, and China.

What are you going to do with the FASILIS voucher?

We are aiming to have sales in Germany for our Bone Grown Stimulator. This PEMF (Pulsed Electro Magnetic Field) system is not (yet) accepted in Germany. A recent study stated that PEMF will help the growth of broken bones but German hospitals need proof (Wo ist die Evidenz?). Although we have treated over 5000 patients with a success rate of 86% and an average healing period of 12,7 weeks, we will now facilitate a first class study on the treatment of broken bones with the PEMF Bone Growth Stimulator. Currently our PEMF Bone Growth Stimulator is mainly used for delayed and non unions of bones, this will hopefully change with this project.
We have gotten into contact with CenTrial GmbH, an affiliate of the University of Tübingen. Part of CenTrial’s invoice will be paid for by the FASILIS voucher.

Why did you choose to work with CenTrial?

CenTrial has a broad experience in setting up first class studies on medical care. They also have an extensive network to be able find candidate surgeons for the study. 40 scientists are currently working with them on all kinds of projects. CenTrial is a for-profit organisation, they do not loose time, are direct and they can really accelerate when projects are progressing too slow. Before the end of the year CenTrial will set up a synopsis for a study. A hospital and a specialist joining this study will be contracted and CenTrial will manage the study as well.

What is the fit with Ossatec's innovative activities?

As our PEMF Bone Growth Stimulater up to now is used for delayed and non unions, we are anxious to know whether the treatment on fresh fractures will shorten the period of healing. This means a shorter recovery time. Questions we will be asking: What is the effect on the treatment of a patient who has gotten an operation? By using the PEMF Bone Growth Stimulator, do we get less non unions? The answers are not only important for the wellness of the patient but also for being able to monitor medical costs. Perhaps we can avoid an operation and have the same result. The use of the PEMF Bone Growth Stimulator is cheaper and not invasive, with less chance on infections. This is the first study in the world on fresh Tibia fractures, and with good results it will take away negative prepossessions of a lot of surgeons have.

What will the future look like?  

We of Ossatec Benelux B.V. think that the study will open the eyes of specialists and experts to a new way of working. This will lead to less surgery, lower medical costs, improved patient care and a good running business for us...