May 3 2010
- The Company is Developing an Artificial Sphincter (the AOS-C1000) to Provide Bowel Control and Prevent Clinical Complications for People With Stomas.
Stimatix GI, located in the Misgav Venture Accelerator, has reported encouraging interim results in its animal trials of the AOS-C1000 artificial sphincter, designed to provide stoma patients with a new means of bowel control.
The interim results demonstrate that the AOS-C1000 artificial sphincter can restore voluntary control to people with stoma.
A stoma is the result of a surgical procedure that diverts the end of the bowel to an artificial opening ("stoma") in the abdominal wall. Bowel content and intestinal gases exit through the stoma. People with stoma lose the ability to control elimination and the contents of the bowel spill out uncontrollably. Consequently, a collection bag is always attached to the stoma.
There are many side-effects of using such a bag, including a significant change in lifestyle, an impact on self-image, problems reintegrating into society, unpleasant odors, leaks, and intrusive bowel noises. Additional clinical complications may arise in the long term, including severe skin rashes around the stoma and parastomal hernia.
Stimatix's artificial sphincter, the AOS-C1000, restores patients' control over the human elimination function. The sphincter is installed in a simple procedure during the creation of the stoma (or in a separate surgical procedure for those who already have a stoma).
The artificial sphincter, discreet and aesthetic, can significantly improve quality of life of stoma patients, while greatly reducing potential clinical complications.
According to David Hanuka, CEO of Stimatix GI, "The AOS-C1000 has the potential to improve the lives of stoma patients. Despite vast resources that have been invested over the last 50 years, no complete solution is available for patients whose quality of life and self-image are impaired. The interim results of the trial encourage us to continue developing the device to achieve the desired breakthrough."