PROVIDENCE, R.I., May 25 /PRNewswire/ -- ITEM New Product Development, a turnkey product development company, today announced that its design and engineering contributions have helped the NDO Surgical Full-Thickness Plicator(TM) to be recognized with the prestigious Medical Design Excellence Award (MDEA). The winning design facilitates an entirely new treatment option for more than 15 million Americans suffering from severe heartburn associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
The premier award for the medical technology industry, the MDEA honors those products that best improve health care delivery, provide enhanced benefits to the patient, and improve the manufacturer's profitability. Presented by Canon Communications llc and now in its 7th year, the program has a long history of identifying some of the most revolutionary and transforming devices that elevate the standard of health care.
"We are continually impressed by the output of innovative products from the medical device industry," said Steve Halasey, group editor at Canon Communications. "These awards recognize the full impact of truly creative problem solving -- on patients, doctors and nurses, scientists, and even hospital purchasing agents."
NDO Surgical faced several design and engineering challenges in creating an endoscopic device that that could provide patients a trans-oral, outpatient alternative to existing laparoscopic surgical anti-reflux procedures. The NDO Surgical team partnered with ITEM to create an ergonomic control handle that would give physicians feedback throughout the procedure. Three months later, NDO Surgical had a fully functioning, compact, intuitive, and comfortable hand-held device that combines sophisticated precision, leverage, and safety features.
NDO Surgical's Plicator is designed to grasp, retract, fold and fixate tissue near the weakened lower esophageal sphincter to restore the natural anti-reflux barrier -- all under direct endoscopic visualization. Procedures typically take 20 minutes or less conducted under conscious sedation, allowing most patients to return home within a few hours of treatment.
"Partnering with an industrial design consultancy like ITEM has delivered considerable value to our product development efforts, and has resulted in a product that better meets the users' needs," said Jeffrey Cerier, vice president of product development, NDO Surgical. "Great industrial design that takes all users' needs into consideration is increasingly a competitive differentiator."
ITEM New Product Development's industrial design solutions hurdle product development challenges, such as human factors, brand aesthetic and assembly costs. The firm offers services to propel product innovation, whether that entails initial market research and "ideation," design and engineering services, or even manufacturing supply. Because of this holistic approach to new product development, ITEM has a long tradition of partnering with market- makers.
"The medical device industry is constantly moving," said David Robson, development director at ITEM. "Whether market leaders or start-ups, the companies that invest in R&D in a timely way stay on top. Reaching the market first can have an incredible ripple effect on the business, compounded with every month gained on the competition."
A full list of the award winners is available at: http://www.devicelink.com/mddi/archive/04/04/004.html.
About ITEM New Product Development
ITEM creates, develops and supplies successful consumer and industrial products as a turnkey product development service provider. By infusing product innovation, the company helps major brands cultivate loyalty, energetic start-ups tap market vacancies and manufacturers enter new product categories. ITEM is privately held and headquartered in Providence, R.I. For more information, visit http://www.itemnpd.com/ or call (401) 272-3885.
About NDO Surgical
NDO Surgical, located in Mansfield, MA, is a privately held medical technology company dedicated to the development of endoscopic solutions for gastrointestinal disease. For more information, visit http://www.ndosurgical.com/.
ITEM New Product DevelopmentCONTACT: Megan Boyaval, Communications Director of ITEM New ProductDevelopment, +1-401-272-3885 ext. 158, meganb@itemnpd.com; or Jeffrey Cerier,Vice President, Product Development of NDO Surgical, +1-508-337-8881 ext. 102,jcerier@ndosurgical.com
Web site: http://www.itemnpd.com/
