Birmingham firm signs North America distribution deal

Biomedical startup Adapttech has formed a strategic partnership with Cascade Orthopaedic Supply, a North American distributor of orthotics and prosthetics products.

Under the terms of the agreement, Cascade will provide Adapttech’s Insight system through its distribution network across the US and Canada.

A wholesale distributor of orthotics, prosthetics, materials, and equipment for nearly 50 years, Cascade serves O&P practitioners across the US from four strategically located distribution centres, and in Canada through its subsidiary, OrtoPed.

John Cronin, director of sales and marketing, Cascade, said: “We target the latest advancements in technology to provide practitioners the products they need quickly and efficiently. With technology like Insight that aims to reduce the time needed for clinical evaluation and prosthesis fitting, there has never been a better time for this type of product. Patients spend less time in the clinical environment, and with a better fitting prosthesis, each patient can take control of their own daily activities and overall health. We are looking forward to bringing the Insight System to our customers.”

Insight is designed to improve the socket fitting process involved with lower-limb prostheses. It combines a 3D scanner, sensors, wearable technology and a mobile app to make it faster and easier to reach a comfortably fitting prostheses and monitor a patient’s rehabilitation process. Following successful outcome studies at two US prosthetics clinics, the Insight system is now being made available to the broader North American market.

The US study was conducted at two independent clinics – De La Torre Orthotics and Prosthetics in Pittsburgh, PA, and Prosthetics & Orthotic Associates in Middletown, NY. Validated outcome tests for health, function, satisfaction and pain level were utilised to substantiate results produced by the Insight system.

Frederico Carpinteiro, founder, Adapttech, said: “The positive results from our US clinical trials led to our decision to offer Insight to the whole North American market. We have shown that, using Insight, clinicians spend less time attending to patients with limb-socket problems; consume fewer hours fitting, assessing and refitting sockets; and patients spend less time visiting and re-visiting the clinic. Increasing the socket comfort for patient has increased their activity level and our initial tests have shown over 30% of patients going from a K3 to a K4 activity level.”

Peter Dines, chief operating officer, Mercia Asset Management, added: “We’re delighted about this partnership with Cascade. Mercia was an early investor in Adapttech and has been very much a part of its incredible breakthrough and journey that will now see its medical device made available to patients in both the US and Canada. This is an important market for Adapttech, but equally, it is gratifying to know patients in these countries will have access to Insight to provide them with an improved quality of movement, less pain and have more control over their health.”