After 13 years of research and development that cost $25m. NESS, an acronym for Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Systems (NESS) Ltd. is well on its way to commercialize its flagship product "The Handmaster".
The Handmaster, is a non-invasive system for paralyzed hands. It incorporates and integrates advanced upper limb rehabilitation technologies in a single system for patients' independent use.
FES or Functional Electrical Stimulation is a rehabilitation technology using electric current impulses applied to the neuromuscular system that activate the muscles and negotiate movement, increases local blood flow while lessening spasticity.
It is the first in a line of a planned range of products whose aim is to provide comprehensive treatment of the paralyzed hand and eventually other parts of the body.
The Handmaster consists of a size-adjustable splint that incorporates an integral electrode system and is connected by a cable to a small and user-friendly electronic control unit. The splint is easily applied and removed by the user and is designed for independent use at home.
The underlying technology was developed by Professor Roger Nathan of Ben-Gurion University who continues to guide the development program of the company.
Prior to the development of the technology by NESS, electricity has been used to reduce pain. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a technique sometimes used to relieve pain. Electrodes are attached to the skin and they send low amounts of electricity to the nerves. The TENS technique is of low intensity and does not have any effect on muscles
Interestingly enough, the use of electricity in pain control dates back to the pre-Christian era, when electric eels and torpedo fish were applied to painful areas. Benjamin Franklin also experimented with electricity as an analgesic tool.
The Egyptians used an electric fish from the Nile River. They placed the fish over a painful area much like the electrical stimulator of today. While the use of electricity may reduce pain it does not relieve the symptoms of paralysis or allow for a return of movement.
NESS backers will be called on again to supply funds of both marketing and the further expansion of research and development.
The company has proved its ability for obtaining financial backing. Early on in its history it was awarded a grant from the Office of the Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Industry and Trade. A year ago it received a grant from the BIRD-F Bi-National Research and Development Foundation.
"Our strongest backers are our investors who have provided us with the funds needed to reach our milestones," says Samuel Shany, the company's CEO, during an interview with IHTIR.
He was referring to NESS' shareholders that include Teuza, an Israeli public venture capital fund associated with US-based Fairchild Group, Johnson and Johnson Development Corporation, ABN AMRO, Life Science Partners, a Dutch VC fund, and Dow Chemicals.
Equally important to the company's progress have been the approvals obtained from governmental and regulatory bodies. NESS's technology is patent protected. Its products have proved successful in clinical trials, and are cleared for use by FDA and European Union (CE Mark).
The Handmaster is already in use in the Netherlands. It is approved there for full reimbursement, and has
attracted wide interest from patients and therapists, alike.
More than 1,000 Handmasters have been delivered to individuals and rehabilitation organizations. "The response has been very positive and I estimate that our sales will be in the millions of dollars, in the foreseeable future," predicts Shany.
The market for Ness' products is made up of individuals who have lost the use of their limbs as a result of paralysis caused by brain or spinal cord damage through injury or disease. Based on research and studies conducted in the US and Europe, the following are the relevant numbers of patients in developed countries per patient category:
The market for the company's products, based on generally accepted statistics, is massive. For the time being it is wide open to Ness, as there are no competitors in sight.
The big prize for Ness would be an entry into the American market. "We will not try to independently market our products in the U.S.A. Our goal is to find a marketing partner. I believe that it is a goal that we will reach in the near future", stated Samuel Shany.
NESS' core technology is based on the use of computerized "functional electrical stimulation" (FES). This can be used to activate paralyzed muscles and to restore partial movement. FES works by creating electrical pulses that are carried by small nerve fibers to the muscles, and cause the muscles to contract and release. This helps to relieve the effects of paralysis and facilitates the development of pathways for voluntary control