Category Archives: MarketMechanics
April 2020
Remington Products Acquires Foot Petals
Remington Products, Wadsworth, OH, manufacturer of aftermarket insoles and orthopedic soft goods, has acquired the Foot Petals brand of foot cushions and inserts from RG Barry Corporation, Pickerington, OH. The acquisition will allow the companies to merge their complementary strengths and collective resources. Continue reading
March 2020
CGS Introduces Modifier Recommendation Tool
CGS, the Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Contractor (DME MAC) for Jurisdictions B and C, has introduced a modifier recommendation tool. The Advanced Modifier Engine was designed by CGS to assist suppliers in billing proper Healthcare Common Procedure Coding Systems (HCPCS) codes and modifier combinations. Continue reading
March 2020
Jurisdiction D DME MAC Conducting Targeted Probe and Educate Reviews
Noridian, the Jurisdiction D Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Contractor (DME MAC) is conducting Targeted Probe and Educate (TPE) reviews for several specialties, among which are ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs), knee orthoses, and therapeutic shoes. The quarterly edit effectiveness results from October 2019 through… Continue reading
March 2020
Soft Exosuit Designed to Help Seniors Walk
A new line of wearable robotics developed by The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) and The City University of New York, City College (CCNY) could keep seniors on their feet longer. A prototype developed by Hao Su, PhD, an assistant professor at CCNY, and tested by Gerard Francisco, MD, and Shuo-Hsiu (James) Chang, PT, PhD, of… Continue reading
March 2020
O&P Techs Collaborate on Children’s Book About a Boy and His New AFO
Three graduates of the Prosthetic-Orthotic Technician Program at George Brown College, Ontario, Canada, have collaborated on a new children’s book, which was recently published and is available for sale on Amazon. Beau and His New AFO: A Children’s Guide to Ankle Foot Orthoses was written by Stephanie Blunt and illustrated by Amelia Levick and Katrina Whitmell. Continue reading
March 2020
MediKaki Opens in Penang, Malaysia
MediKaki, a new shoe store “that is offering more than shoes,” recently opened in Penang, Malaysia. A team lead by Mogan Naidu, MD, will be screening and assessing patients and will also provide a range of affordable house shoes, depth shoes with custom orthotics, and full custom footwear. Naidu is a wound care provider, head of… Continue reading
March 2020
CSF2 Merges with Solati Health
Custom Silicone Fabrication of San Francisco (CSF2), a company that develops custom silicone products for amputees and prosthetic solutions, has merged with Solati Health, Reno, NV. The addition of CSF2 will be the foundation of Solati’s interface liners and fabrication capabilities. The merger will enable Solati to expand its line of prosthetic products and technologies. Continue reading
March 2020
Sensor Medica Opens First US Biomechanical Clinic in Idaho
Sensor Medica USA has opened its first biomechanical clinic at its North American headquarters, located at 919 South Utah Ave, Idaho Falls, ID. The clinic uses the company’s own technology to offer complete gait and motion analysis, posturographic analysis for balance control, fall risk assessment, range of motion evaluation of all the articulations, a running lab using baropodometric and… Continue reading
February 2020
Battery-Powered Headgear Could Short-Circuit OA Joint Pain
Hyochol “Brian” Ahn, PhD, ANP-BC, an associate professor with Cizik School of Nursing at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), believes knee pain can be stopped by administering tiny electrical charges to the brain’s primary motor cortex. The brain is an electrochemical organ that processes pain, according to Ahn, and his team is trying to desensitize the areas tied to knee pain. Continue reading
February 2020
Virginia Tech Researchers Developing Smart Prosthetic Socket to Improve Comfort, Performance
A Virginia Tech research team, led by Associate Professor Michael Philen, PhD, of the Kevin T. Crofton Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering, and Professor Michael Madigan, PhD, of the Grado Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, has received a $400,000 National Science Foundation grant to study residual limb volume loss and develop smart prosthetic sockets to improve comfort and performance in prostheses. Continue reading
February 2020
CMS Adds New L-Code for 2020; Updates Therapeutic Shoe Modification Codes
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have announced the following updates, which are effective for dates of service on or after January 1, 2020: New L-Code: A new lower extremity–related Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code has been added. Continue reading
February 2020
Hanger Promotes Regina Weger to SPS President
Regina Weger has been promoted to president of SPS, Alpharetta, GA; the company is a subsidiary of Hanger, Austin, TX. Weger has been with SPS for over 20 years, starting in the customer service function. She most recently served as vice president and general manager. Continue reading
February 2020
Ottobock Approved for €100 million in Financing for Product Development
The European Investment Bank (EIB) is providing financing of up to €100 million to Ottobock SE & Co. KGaA, Duderstadt, Germany. The company will use the funds over the next three years to fund new product development and product improvements with a focus on prosthetics, orthoses, and human mobility. The loan is backed by a guarantee from the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI). Continue reading
February 2020
Cascade Orthopedic Supply Announces Investment by Ottobock North America
Cascade Orthopedic Supply, Chico, CA, announced an investment made in the company by Ottobock North America, Austin TX; details of the transaction were not disclosed. The investment aims to strengthen the collaboration of the two companies to further improve access to product for all orthotic and prosthetic (O&P) customers and… Continue reading
February 2020
Master of Science in P&O Program Approved for Kennesaw State
The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia has approved a Master of Science in Prosthetics and Orthotics (P&O) at Kennesaw State University. It will be housed in the Department of Exercise Science and Sport Management in the WellStar College of Health and Human Services. Continue reading
January 2020
Integrity Orthotics Joins LBG Medical/Strive Footwear
Integrity Orthotics has joined the LBG Medical family of companies. Based in the United Kingdom, LBG Medical has been a leading orthotic provider for over 40 years and is the largest custom orthotic laboratory in Europe. Continue reading
January 2020
Engineer Receives Grants to Further Develop Utah Bionic Leg
Engineers at the University of Utah (UofU), Salt Lake City, have developed and have been trialing a computerized bionic leg to help amputees walk faster, easier, and with better balance. Now, mechanical engineering assistant professor Tommaso Lenzi, PhD, who heads the project developing the Utah Bionic Leg, has received 2 grants to further advance the technology. Continue reading
January 2020
Handheld Fluorescence Imaging Device for Wound Management Receives FDA 510(k) Clearance
MolecuLight, Toronto, Canada, has received 510(k) clearance from the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for its i:X handheld fluorescence imaging device for use in the detection of wounds containing bacteria. The MolecuLight i:X enables real time point-of-care visualization of fluorescence in wounds and measures wounds and digitally records all images and area measurements. Continue reading
January 2020
Study: Student Athlete Safety Is Not a Priority in US High Schools
A recent study showed that one-third of public and private high schools in the US have no access to athletic trainers and that lack of appropriate sports medicine care is even greater for private schools where parents are traditionally paying for what they perceive as a better and safer experience. Continue reading
January 2020
Researchers Land Funding to Further Study Diabetic Ulcer Drug
Researchers at the University of Notre Dame recently received $4.6 million from the US Department of Defense to help fund studies for a drug they developed for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. The compound, called (R)-ND-336, is a topical gel. It was developed by Mayland Chang, PhD, research professor in the Department of Chemistry and… Continue reading
October 2019
Stevens, Bonbouton Sign Exclusive Agreement to Further Develop Smart Insole
Stevens Institute of Technology (Stevens), Hoboken, NJ, has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with health and technology company Bonbouton, New York, giving Bonbouton the right to use and further develop a graphene sensing system that detects early signs of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) before they form. Left untreated, DFUs can cause severe tissue and bone damage and may ultimately lead to amputation. Continue reading
October 2019
Humans, Like Salamanders, Can Regrow Joint Cartilage
Cartilage in human joints can repair itself through a process like that used by creatures such as salamanders and zebrafish to regenerate limbs, researchers at Duke University Health System (Duke Health), Durham, NC, found. In their article, published online in the journal Science Advances, the researchers identified a mechanism for cartilage repair that appears to be more robust in ankle joints and less so in hips. The finding could potentially lead to treatments for osteoarthritis, they said. Continue reading
October 2019
O&P Assistant Standards, Guidelines Approved
The Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Education Programs in Orthotist and Prosthetist Assistant were approved by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) board. CAAHEP accredits programs upon the recommendation of the National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education. Standards are the minimum requirements to which an accredited program is held accountable. Continue reading
September 2019
Proof-of-Concept Prosthetic Leg Has Proprioception, Reduces Phantom Limb Pain
Two people with transfemoral amputations have been able to feel their prosthetic foot and knee in real time via 4 intraneural sensors that connect to residual nerves in the thigh. The resulting neurofeedback reduces the physical and mental strain for prosthetic users and has been shown to reduce phantom limb pain. Continue reading
September 2019
Noridian Updates RA Modifier Guidelines for DMEPOS
Noridian, the Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) for Jurisdictions A and D, has updated its guidelines regarding use of the RA Modifier, which is to be used for replacement of a DME, orthotic, or prosthetic item. Continue reading
