BioMedical Enterprises, Inc. Announces Patent Award for System and Method of Controlling Nitinol Implants

SAN ANTONIO, July 31 /PRNewswire/ -- BioMedical Enterprises, Inc. (BME), global leader in orthopaedic memory metal implant technology, announced today that the U.S. Patent Office awarded BME with the patent for "System and Method for Force, Displacement and Rate Control of Shape Memory Material Implants." Covering 61 claims, patent number 7,240,677 provides protection for BME's innovative OSSforce(TM) Implant Controller technology.

The issued patent provides BME market exclusivity for years to come for the control of memory materials used in medicine. The patent covers instruments, methods and thus implants formed of shape memory material where the shape change is controlled. This patent covers any form of heat energy source such as, electrical resistive heating, conductive heating or inductive heating. This advanced technology for the use of shape memory materials, including nitinol, allows the surgeon for the first time to fully control a shape changing implant.

BME's OSSforce(TM) Implant Controller is BME's first product utilizing the features described and claimed in the issued patent. These features give surgeons control over BME's extensive line of bone fusion devices such as the OSStaple(TM) and OSSplate(TM). These devices, formed from nitinol, have a pre-programmed shape. When implanted in one configuration the OSSforce(TM) controls the extent of return of the implant to a second configuration.

The musculoskeletal application of the OSSforce(TM) Implant Controller gives surgeons the ability to control the activation rate of the implant and the forces applied across the bone fusion interface. Implant forces can be decreased in osteoporosis cases to protect against iatrogenic fractures or can be increased in the healthy skeleton to provide maximum bone fixation. In the correction of deformities, the surgeon can change the shape of the implant to adjust for the growing adolescent. These variables are controlled while keeping the implant temperature below the point of thermal necrosis of tissue.

BioMedical Enterprises, Inc. (BME) is a medical device company that addresses the changing needs in musculoskeletal medicine. BME focuses on minimally invasive orthopaedic instrumentation and implants that elicit a biologic response. BME's focus on memory metal internal fixation implants is changing the shape of orthopaedic medicine. Its specialized history of musculoskeletal research services will continue to produce unique, state of the art orthopaedic products that provide better outcomes for patients and more convenience to surgeons. For more information visit http://www.bme-tx.com.

CONTACT: Eric Marcano, Marketing Manager of BioMedical Enterprises, Inc.,+1-210-677-0354, fax, +1-210-677-0355

Web site: http://www.bme-tx.com/