BACKGROUND
Persistent neck pain and headaches affect millions of individuals each year. In 2002, in the United States, physicians and outpatient departments recorded over 10 million visits from patients complaining of neck pain. Over five percent of the general population suffers from either chronic migraine or tension-type headaches, or medication overuse headaches.
Current treatments for head and neck pain have proven ineffective for many patients. Medication, invasive procedures, physical therapy and additional methods (exercise and acupuncture) can produce undesirable side effects. As many patients do not respond well to these treatments, there is a clear need for new solutions.
TECHNOLOGY & PRODUCT
Occiflex™, an innovative, patent-pending medical device by Headway, has proven to be an effective treatment for patients suffering from chronic headaches and neck pain.
Computer-controlled and programmable to meet individual patients' needs, Occiflex is designed to gently move the head along a three-dimensional course predefined by the practitioner. Occiflex’s unique head cradle can be adjusted to fit a patient’s head and neck.
Occiflex is indicated for patients with various types of neck pain (i.e., whiplash, myofascial pain syndrome, cervical facet joint disorder, post-spinal surgery) and headaches (i.e., migraines, tension-type, cervicogenic, medication overuse, myofascial pain syndrome).
ADVANTAGES
Occiflex offers significant features and benefits over other solutions in the market:
- Device therapy: Non-invasive, naturally therapeutic, gentle and safe
- Muscle treatment: Restores normal neck muscle activation patterns
- Treatment optimization: Uses real-time patient data to provide optimal treatment
- Pain reduction: Passive movement, enabling a significant decrease of head and neck muscle activation which is crucial for a full span of muscle relaxation
- User experience: Positive experience leaves the patient eager to return
- Cost-effective: Flexible and portable – easily attaches to treatment tables
TARGET MARKET
Occiflex is designed for healthcare professionals such as physical therapists and pain specialists. Headway plans to develop a personal, home-based version of Occiflex for the consumer market.
TEAM
Headway is led by a talented team of professionals with extensive backgrounds in neurology, physiology, rehabilitation, medical devices and business development.
- Isaac Rodan, Chairman. Twenty years' experience in international healthcare business, including management and business development
- Tamir Levital, CEO. Research experience in physiology and biotechnology
- Yaron River, M.D., Founder. Internationally recognized researcher in headache and migraine treatment
- Avner Amir, Co-founder. Many years of business leadership in the medical device industry
- Steve Rhodes, Director. Chairman, The Trendlines Group; CEO, Misgav Venture Accelerator
- D. Todd Dollinger, Director. CEO and chairman, The Trendlines Group
- Oded Elish, Engineering. Decades of management experience in hightech R&D projects, including positions as head of the Mechanical R&D Dept. at Aran Engineering.
MEDICAL ADVISORY BOARD
Headway’s medical advisory board is comprised of well-respected thought leaders in pain and rehabilitation medicine.
- Prof. Miles Belgrade. Medical director, Fairview Pain Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
- Prof. Eilon Eisenberg. Head, Pain Relief Unit, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel; former chairman, Israel Pain Association.
- Prof. Robert Gerwin. Medical director and president, Pain and Rehabilitation Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland.
- Dr. Jan Dommerholt (PT). Director, Recognized expert in the physical therapy diagnosis and treatment of persons with chronic pain syndromes and whiplash associated disorders
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Founded: 2006 by Dr. Yaron River, a leading neurologist and internationally acclaimed researcher on headache and migraine treatments.
BUSINESS MODEL
For healthcare professionals, the Occiflex product, accessories, and disposables will be marketed through a network of medical device distributors. For the consumer market, the Company will market an over-the-counter device through home medical equipment and other specialized stores.
Updated business plan, including regulatory and reimbursement plans available.
MILESTONES
Q2/2009: Beta prototype in use for a safety and efficacy pilot trial
Q4/2007: Alpha prototype tested successfully on healthy volunteers
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Q2/2009: National phase applications: U.S., Europe, Canada, Australia, and Korea
Q4/2007: Submission of U.S. PCT, based on provisionals
Q2/2007: Submission of provisional and Israeli patent applications
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Medical Devices