Muscle-Mapping Device Will Hit the Markets in Europe, Canada

iTech Medical, Inc., a medical information technology company, received CE Mark approval for the commercial sale of the Company's Muscle Pattern Recognition (MPR) System in Europe.

The MPR System is a "clinical tool that can be used to analyze muscle function in patients presenting with back pain. MPR analyzes patterns of muscle recruitment — the engagement of muscles in order to perform specific body movements - and provides detailed, objective physiological information on muscle function." The tool is designed to "assist in the diagnosis and treatment of back and neck injuries and illness."

The approval allows for the marketing and sale of the device in the European Union (EU) and all countries recognizing the CE Mark. The MPR System is a non-invasive clinical assessment tool being developed to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of back and neck pain, one of the most common chronic conditions in the industrialized world.

On Dec. 13, 2010, the Company reported that it had received Health Canada approval to begin sales and marketing of the MPR System in Canada.

“Back and neck pain cases are one of the greatest health problems in the European Union, with direct and indirect treatment costs in excess of 100 billion Euros a year.

“The achievement of the CE Mark for our MPR System represents another critical milestone in the history of iTech Medical,” said Wayne Cockburn, president and CEO at iTech Medical, through a press release.

It is estimated that 80% of the European population will suffer back pain at some time in their lives and in excess of one third of the European workforce currently suffer from low back pain. Although many cases resolve within two to four weeks, many patients will have recurring pain within one year following the first episode of back pain.

“Back and neck pain cases are one of the greatest health problems in the European Union, with direct and indirect treatment costs in excess of 100 billion Euros a year,” Cockburn said. “Our device has the potential to benefit a large number of patients that suffer from neck and back pain while at the same time reducing the costs related to diagnosing and treating this condition. We are extremely pleased with this approval and we look forward to introducing the MPR System in the European Community in 2011.”

iTech Medical is engaged in the research and commercial development of healthcare information systems and technologies. To date, the Company has focused on developing a proprietary platform called Muscle Pattern Recognition (MPR), a unique clinical tool for the analysis of muscle function. iTech Medical is ISO 13485:2003 certified for the production and sale of surface electromyography (sEMG) diagnostic devices for clinical use.

Source: iTech Medical

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medGadget also covered this news:

“iTech Medical of Huntington Beach, California has developed a system that detects the activation of multiple muscles and constructs a representation of their overall motion pattern. The company has just received the European CE Mark for its Muscle Pattern Recognition (MPR) system. The electromyography device is used to help physicians diagnose back and neck pain."

Featured at medGadget is also a video with medical director of iTech Medical explaining the prices.