Empi's Hybresis Solves 'Pain Points'

For years, physical therapists have relied on iontophoresis as a safe, reliable and effective drug delivery method. At the same time, most PTs have suffered the drawbacks of traditional dose controllers, lead wires and patch-only iontophoresis systems. This traditional system also includes extensive wear times, patient patch sensitivity and imprecise dosage delivery, which can all lead to unpredictable results. The industry's first wireless hybrid iontophoresis system, Hybresis, is a convenient, needle-free drug delivery system that allows clinicians to treat more patients while improving overall care by reducing patient discomfort and inconvenience.

According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), more than 50 million Americans annually suffer from chronic pain. Traditional pain management treatments include needle injections of anti-inflammatory drugs, narcotics, time-consuming in-clinic treatments or surgery -- all of which often result in unnecessary pain, side effects, anxiety or inconvenience for patients. Hybresis significantly reduces the total in-clinic time, enabling PTs to help move more patients through the clinic faster. Ultimately, PTs can spend more time on providing care.

PTs, including Rick Mewes, OCS, who works in a sports medicine clinic in Minneapolis, have reported that the Hybresis system offers the power of the traditional dose controllers and lead wires, with the flexibility of a patch. "With Hybresis, my patients can be treated effectively in less than half the time it takes for traditional iontophoresis," said Mewes. "My patients have also responded favorably -- opting for the convenience that Hybresis offers over other methods. The greatest benefit I've seen from using Hybresis is that I can now spend more time providing therapy, rather than wasting the time that's required for other iontophoresis treatments to be administered."

The Hybresis system consists of a charging station with four controller bays, a wireless, rechargeable controller and an iontophoresis patch. The patches have an internal battery, which powers the delivery of the medicine during and upon removal of the external Hybresis device. The Hybresis Dose Controller connects to the patch and powers a three-minute initial treatment, allowing for increased absorption that leads to more controlled therapy. After three minutes, the Dose Controller is removed and the Patch is powered to deliver the remainder of the therapy to the patient -- providing patients with the mobility to leave the clinic. After approximately one to two hours, the treatment is complete and patients should remove and discard the patch.

Hybresis patient benefits include:

--