The Lubo cervical collar has demonstrated to be 100% effective in a preliminary efficacy study. The results were announced by Hadasit - the technology transfer company of Hadassah Medical Organization , and Ramot at Tel Aviv University Ltd., the technology transfer company of Tel Aviv University, as researchers at both institutions collaborated in the development of the product.
The study was registered with the National Institute of Health (NIH) and operated under the guidelines of both the NIH and the Israeli Ministry of Health.
“We now know that LuboCollar is not only safe but that it also works. LuboCollar enables medical personnel to quickly and safely evacuate from the field semi-conscious and unconscious patients, who can’t breathe on their own. It simultaneously secures the spine and equally, if not more importantly, prevents suffocation.” said Dr. Omri Lubovsky, a physician in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Hadassah University Hospital.
Trauma is the number one killer of people between the ages of 5 and 40, and trauma patients are at risk for cervical spine instability and air blockage. Though existing cervical collars ensure cervical spine stabilization, they do not protect the airway of the patient, which is opened by invasive means when necessary.
LuboCollar is designed to protect the neck and to maintain an open airway in a non-invasive, simple and quick to operate manner. It does so by using a “jaw-thrust”-like knob to maneuver the mandibles, pushing them forward in the direction of the chin.
The study examined ten generally healthy people who were scheduled for fracture surgeries at Hadassah University Hospital. Dr. Yuval Meroz, an anesthesiologist at Hadassah University Hospital and part of the clinical team of the LuboCollar explained that the results showed that "LuboCollar was 100% successful in securing the airways of the seven patients who lost muscle tone after receiving general anesthesia. To generate more safety data, LuboCollar was also employed during the surgeries of the three patients who were able to breathe independently after anesthesia. In all cases, no adverse side effects were reported. We are now waiting for approval from the Ministry of Health of Israel to extend enrollment numbers in order to further study the efficacy of the product”.
Hadasit CEO Dr. Rafi Hofstein pointed out that “LuboCollar is one of many examples of promising medical technologies in development at Hadasit available for licensing. Our scientists and physicians are inspired daily by their own experiences to create devices and pharmaceuticals that will help improve healthcare worldwide. Just last week, in a series of panels at Facing Tomorrow: the Israeli Presidential Conference 2008, the leaders in the life science community discussed the future of medicine in the world. Hadasit is a committed and integral part of this future" .
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on May 22, 2008
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