The word on the street

01/03/07

Welsh firm spots symptoms of success

A medical device company helping to alleviate painful nerve and other muscular-skeletal disorders has its sights set firmly on UK expansion.

Rhymney-based Heritage Medical is a specialist importer and distributor of carpal ligament treatment, orthopaedic and other medical supplies.

The company recently introduced a new device which is used as an alternative to surgery in the treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS).

The device is currently being trialled by the prestigious Pulvertaft Hand Centre in Derby with an additional four top London hospitals looking at making it available to patients in the coming weeks.

Originally discovered in St Vincent Hospital, New York, C-Trac works by stretching the transverse carpal ligament located in the wrist.

When the person affected by CTS slides on the glove-like product and pumps it up, the inflated pneumatic pad inside creates a three point leverage system which lengthens the ligament. And by using the device for five minutes, three times each day for a month, most symptoms of CTS such as numbness, tingling and pain are relieved.

Medical staff or physiotherapists can then use this device to treat patients with CTS, instead of putting them on the waiting list for surgery.

Some patients have to wait as long as three years, enduring often extreme discomfort and a lack of sleep, which can result in irritability and affect normal home and work life.

Heritage’s C-Trac technology, in contrast, is so gentle and effective that patients are often amazed that a device used for such a short period, can bring an end to their suffering.

Founded in 1985, Heritage Medical has been supplying products used in operating theatres around the world.

The introduction of its C-Trac product signals a new chapter in the firm’s development and the company expects to create around 10 jobs as demand increases over the next 12 months.

Lynn Heritage, Managing Director of the company, said: “Any product which can be used instead or surgery is worth its weight in gold.

“As it can be used on either hand, it potentially saves up to two operations and can cut waiting lists and save NHS hospitals around £2,400 for each C-Trac used.

"Once the London trials are complete, the product should become more widely available and we have already received substantial interest from Scotland."

However, Mr Heritage says it is vital for the company to continue working with the Ministry of Health and other medical bodies, to raise awareness and ensure that the necessary budgets are made available for non-surgical devices such as C-Trac.

"We are very passionate about these capabilities and are keen to engage in dialogue with the necessary bodies and launch nationwide trials to ensure that our products help those that it was designed for."

Further information contact, M & M Communications on 079 5869 0659 or buzz@mandmcomms.com