Mr Adrian Chojnowski, a consultant hand surgeon at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital

Yesterday, at Technopolis Helsinki-Vantaa, I had a long talk with Seppo Nevalainen, Director Sales & Marketing at Mediracer Ltd., about how to penetrate the European market with a low cost and portable method for carpal tunnel diagnostics.

UK is one of the target markets due to very good results at the Leicester University Hospital.

"The British-Finnish CTS-collaboration has produced excellent results. As you know, princess Anne from the Royal family visited the 'CTS One-Stop Clinic' run by Blue Sky Orthopedic. Their service has received high-profile attention for an innovative approach including nerve conduct testing and surgery at the same clinic. But we as an organization have tons of work to do to get this message to general practitioners, hospital and health care administrators and occupational health service providers," Seppo Nevalainen explains.


Princess Anne, the patient and Mr Pankaj Pathak with Mediracer Device in his hand are seen in this picture.

The patient at the right (see hand and electrodes) is ready for testing with Mediracer.

• Easy to use
• Low cost
• Portable
• GP's and nurses can use
• Suitable for occupational health
  

(Operating Nurse Malcolm Clarke, Mr Timothy Green are not seen in this picture)

Blue Sky Orthopaedic Ltd arose as a direct result of the success of the Carpal Tunnel Service set up in Leicester, UK in 1999.

The service, specializing in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome was an overwhelming success, leading to interest from other centers that wanted to duplicate the service.

The group of clinicians, Malcom Clarke, Chris Kershaw, Tim Green, Martyn Newey and Pankaj Pathak felt they could offer something unique. A more formal organisation was required and so Blue Sky Orthopaedic was set up in December 2003, to provide surgical and medical services.

"Mediracer and Blue Sky Orthopedic have established a close collaboration over the years. Now this concept 'should or could' be adopted by new locations with a similar operational model. We can provide patients faster diagnostics. Mobile CTS diagnostics can be taken to work sites for mass screening as well," Director Seppo Nevalainen explains.

We also discussed the challenge of penetrating the European and global market.

"Mediracer needs to find motivated and specialized partners who know the health care market, neurophysiological testing devices and hand surgery. First, we have a lot of work still in the Nordic countries, Balticum, UK and Central Europe. The global challenge is waiting behind the next corner," says Mr Nevalainen.

Doctor Chojnowsky is based at Norfolk and Norwich University NHS Trust Hospital in Norwich

Seppo Nevalainen, I found this video on the NHS Choices website and thought you'd be interested. About three in 100 people have carpal tunnel syndrome: pain, tingling or numbness in the hand, which can cause sleepless nights. Exercises and medication can help reduce the discomfort, but often surgery is the only option.

This short video from NHS Choices (September 2007) caught my interest. Doctor Adrian Chojnowsky is explaining the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment, including hand surgery, in a 03:42 minutes video.

We should asked Mr Adrian Chojnowski, a consultant hand surgeon at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust, Norwich, what he would want to know if he had Mediracer for fast carpal tunnel syndrome diagnostic.

Princess Anne and Handsurgery in Leicester

Princess Anne visiting the Leicester Hospital and following hand surgery performed by Malcolm Clarke.

Hi Helge, Princess Anne visiting "CTS One-Stop Clinic" by Blue Sky Orthopaedic ( Operating Nurse Malcolm Clarke, Mr Timothy Green and Mr Pankaj Pathak with Mediracer Device, in picture 2778)

http://www.blueskyortho.co.uk

Malcolm wrote 9.3.2008: "Have enclosed some photographs of the recent Royal Visit to Syston.
Hope you like them best wishes Malcolm."

BRITISH SOCIETY FOR SURGERY OF THE HAND ABSTRACT SUBMISSION

Thank you for your submission.

You should be aware that your abstract is not "submitted" until it has been downloaded and received in the Society Secretariat. The Society endeavours to notify authors of success or failure of submissions as quickly as possible after the closing date has passed. Please refrain from telephoning the Secretariat for this information unless it is a matter of extreme urgency. The Society cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage caused as a result of it not receiving abstracts submitted via its website.

Introduction

Measurement of sensory latencies across the wrist in carpal tunnel syndrome can now be performed by non specialists using commercially available devices. One such device, (Mediracer) has been suggested by the UK Department of Health as being worthy of further assessment. (Transforming clinical neurophysiology diagnostic services to deliver 18 weeks - DoH 2007)

Our study compared this device against standard neurophysiological measurements.

Methods

Sixty three subjects were recruited. All were referred complaining of symptoms in one or both hands such that it was thought they might have carpal tunnel syndrome. They were consented to receive bilateral traditional nerve conduction studies carried out by neurophysiologists and new device measurements carried out by Orthopaedic staff. The study was approved by the ethics committee.

Results

The latency differences between ring finger stimulation evoked median nerve peak latency (4PM) and ulnar nerve peak latency (4PU) were compared using regression analysis. The latency differences between index finger stimulation evoked median nerve peak latency (2PM) and ring finger stimulation evoked ulnar nerve peak latency (4PU) were compared using the same analysis.

4PM-4PU latency difference between traditional studies and the new Mediracer device had a correlation coefficient of 0.88 (p<0.0001), and 2PM-4PU latency difference 0.95 (p<0.0001)

The new device produced comparable results in 119 out of 126 hands tested. (Sensitivity 94%) If only symptomatic hands were tested, the sensitivity rose to 97%. There were no false positives.

Conclusion

We conclude that the Mediracer device demonstrates a high degree of concordance with currently available nerve conduction testing.

THANK YOU TIMO!

THE BRITISH SOCIETY FOR SURGERY OF THE HAND SPRING MEETING: 1/2 MAY 2008 LEICESTER CITY FOOTBALL CLUB LEICESTER

OUTLINE PROGRAMME

POSTERS

7 Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Validation of a Clinic Based Nerve Conduction Measurement Device Mr T Green, Dr M Kallio, Dr V Lesonen, Professor U Tolonen, Mr M Clarke, Mr P Pathak (Leicester/Oulu)

POSTER PRESENTATIONS AND POSTER PRIZE
Posters will be displayed in the Foyer area of the Great Hall.
Authors of posters are asked to ‘man’ their posters during the second half of lunchtime on Thursday and/or Friday in order to provide opportunity for discussion between delegates and authors. A prize of £250 will be awarded to the best poster.

MEDICAL AND TECHNICAL EXHIBITION
Firms supplying instruments, appliances, materials and books will be exhibiting throughout the two days in the Keith Weller Lounge, where refreshments and luncheon will be taken. It is hoped that everyone will support this exhibition.

Kindly
Veijo


Veijo Lesonen
CEO
Mediracer Ltd.
Mobile: +358 40 5535917
http://www.mediracer.com

Royal mediracing at University Hospital Leicester, UK

Hi Helge, Princess Anne visiting "CTS One-Stop Clinic" by Blue Sky Orthopaedic (Operating Nurse Malcolm Clarke, Mr Timothy Green and Mr Pankaj Pathak with Mediracer Device, in picture 2778). The patient at the right (see hand and electrodes) is ready for testing with Mediracer.

Blue Sky Orthopaedic Ltd arose as a direct result of the success of the Carpal Tunnel Service set up in Leicester, UK in 1999.

The service, specializing in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome was an overwhelming success, leading to interest from other centres that wanted to duplicate the service.

The group of clinicians, Malcom Clarke, Chris Kershaw, Tim Green, Martyn Newey and Pankaj Pathak felt they could offer something unique.

A more formal organisation was required and so Blue Sky Orthopaedic was set up in December 2003, to provide surgical and medical services.

• http://www.blueskyortho.co.uk

Malcolm wrote 9.3.2008: "Have enclosed some photographs of the recent Royal Visit to Syston. Hope you like them best wishes Malcolm."

Helge: Thanks for the Royal mediracing photos and the information about Blue Sky Orthopedic. I've a photograph of the Carpal Tunnel Surgery that will be covered in my next blog posting.

PS: The mediracer is a new carpal tunnel syndrome testing device. For more information see mediracer.com.