A novel product for hernia prevention
Principal Investigator: Hobart W. Harris, M.D., M.P.H.
Challenge
Five million open abdominal operations are performed each year in the U.S. While most patients recover without incident, between 10% and 25% subsequently develop an incisional hernia. Beyond the cosmetic deformity, incisional hernias can lead to intestinal obstruction, bowel ischemia, enterocutaneous fistulas and significant limitations on a patient’s physical activity, overall health and well-being, and gainful employment. Consequently, there are over 400,000 incisional hernia repairs each year, making it one of the most common procedures performed by general surgeons and adding over $15 billion in annual U.S. health care costs.
Solution
MYOSEAL is a disruptive technology with the potential to shift the clinical focus of surgeons, payers, and the medical device industry from incisional hernia repair to incisional hernia prevention, ultimately certifying a new standard of care for abdominal surgery. Compelling preclinical data have demonstrated that MYOSEAL, a proprietary combination of silver microparticles plus a fibrin tissue sealant, prevents incisional hernias through enhanced wound healing. Once available, it is expected that surgeons will readily adopt the prophylactic application of MYOSEAL following every open abdominal operation since the product is safe, quick and easy to use, and handles like currently available tissue sealants.
Funding
CTSI Catalyst (Fall 2011, Fall 2014, Fall 2017)
Featured Media
The Future Of Translational Medicine -- Lessons Learned In Therapeutics - Forbes - December 23, 2013