BEDFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--We are pleased to announce that Otto Bock HealthCare GmbH and BionX Medical Technologies, Inc. have agreed to collaborate closely. Effective immediately, Ottobock is the exclusive distributor of the BiOM prosthetic ankle in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Scandinavian markets.
The BiOM prosthetic ankle is the world's first and only commercially available device with powered propulsion in the mechatronic ankle prosthetic class. The motor-driven ankle system expands Ottobock's product portfolio of highly modern prosthetic feet and offers additional degrees of ankle movement to amputees.
"We are very pleased about our partnership with this innovative company," says Dr. Helmut Pfuhl, Head of the Prosthetics Business Unit at Ottobock. He emphasizes that both companies share similar values and have entered into a partnership built upon strong collaboration. "BionX and Ottobock are a good fit. Our shared goal is to keep offering new possibilities to amputees through innovative products and personalized fitting options, helping them be more mobile in their everyday life, work and leisure time", says Dr. Helmut Pfuhl.
Taras Rebet, President Western Europe Region at Ottobock, is positive about this partnership as well: “I’m very confident and pleased that our local Sales and Marketing organizations in the selected countries are well prepared and eager to contribute successfully to this partnership. Ottobock has been well established in those countries with its own sales organizations for many decades now and we act with the suitable strength of a local player supported by the international structure of the Ottobock Group”.
“We are very excited about our partnership with Ottobock, a pioneer and market leader in orthotics and prosthetics,” said Charles Carignan, MD, President & CEO of BionX Medical Technologies, Inc. “This partnership will further expand our ability to offer normalized limb function and improved quality of life to enable more people around the world to realize their full potential.”
About Ottobock:
For people with limited mobility, Ottobock
develops medical technology products and fitting concepts in the fields
of Prosthetics, Orthotics, Mobility Solutions (wheelchairs,
rehabilitation aids) and MedicalCare. Ottobock has been a family-managed
company since it was founded in 1919. Today it has subsidiaries in 55
countries with more than 6,300 employees. As the global leader in
exo-prosthetics, products particularly in this area are constantly
setting standards in the prosthetic care of people with disabilities.
HealthCare Deutschland GmbH is responsible for distribution in Germany,
Austria and Switzerland. Sales in Scandinavia are regulated by
Scandinavia AB.
About BionX:
BionX is a leader in the field of prosthetic
devices with their flagship product the BiOM Ankle, the only lower-limb
prosthesis with powered propulsion for enhanced mobility. Privately held
and headquartered in Bedford, Mass., BionX was originally founded in
2007 as iWalk by Dr. Hugh Herr, Director and Principal Investigator of
the Biomechatronics Group of MIT’s Media Laboratory, and funded by
leading investment firms including WFD Ventures, General Catalyst
Partners, Sigma Partners, and Gilde Healthcare Partners. The company has
also received funding and support from the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs and the U.S. Army’s Telemedicine and Advanced Technology
Research Center (TATRC).