Israel—a Nation of Innovators

May 28, 2013

We learned that 25 years ago, there was not much activity in Israel in the medical field. Now one-third to one-half of the new medical devices in the world come from Israel which leads the world in medical device patents per-capita and is number two in new bio-tech patents. Israelis have a knack and special creativity for “thinking outside the box” to solve problems. Typically these solutions are innovative, involving a brand new approach rather than a “me too” incremental step, whether developing a new vaccine or pioneering a new technology to improve the closure of surgical wounds.

Breakthrough Hepatitis B Vaccine

www.scigenil.com SciGen Israel, a biopharmaceutical company located in central Israel, has pioneered a vaccine for hepatitis B (HBV), an infectious disease which affects the liver. This disease leads to 1.2 million deaths each year and is one hundred times more infectious than HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). Although developing countries have been vaccinating for HBV since 1982, conventional vaccines have proven ineffective for many patients and the disease remains a major public health problem.

The company’s aim was to use nature itself, rather than artificial methods, when developing its vaccine. As a result, SciGen’s third generation Sci-B-Vac™ vaccine closely resembles the actual hepatitis B virus itself. Through genetic engineering technology, this vaccine contains the same three proteins as the HBV virus but, in their “vaccine” form they actually elicit antibodies to fight the virus and stimulate a cellular immune response.

The vaccine has proven to act more quickly and protect a higher percentage of those vaccinated. In addition, lower doses of Sci-B-Vac™ are required to achieve the same effect as other vaccines on the market. SciGen’s vaccine has reduced the occurrence of HBV in Israel since its introduction in 2005. Most Israeli babies receive Sci-B-Vac™ on the day they are born. For more information: www.scigenil.com

Plasma Tissue Welding

Demonstration of the Bioweld1 device
www.ion-med.com Stitches, staples, and even glue are common methods used to close surgical incisions. But welding—now that brings to mind another mental picture altogether! The heat, sparks, and melting solder we see when two pieces of metal are welded together don’t seem to be compatible with the thought of joining together delicate human skin after a surgical procedure.

IonMed borrowed the technology of plasma welding from the semi-conductor industry and adapted it for use in the medical field. Plasma welding, though not at the 1000 degree heat used for semi-conductors, is now being used to close external surgical incisions. There are many benefits to the process, including better esthetic results (less scarring), faster healing times, and to top it off, the plasma welding process disinfects the incision area which results in fewer infections.

Surprisingly portable—about the size of a shoe box—and simple to use, the Bioweld1 unit has the potential to revolutionize the field of surgical incision closures. Not only is the process of closing the incision faster than with more traditional methods, it is less painful for the patient and there is no need to return for removal of the staples or stitches. Currently, the device is only used on external incisions but a company representative said the technology could, in the future, be adapted for internal incisions as well. For more information: www.ion-med.com

Source: Janet Aslin, BFP Staff Writer