Biolux gets grant for new orthodontic product

Aug 16, 2009

Biolux Research will receive $205,000 Canadian ($185,000 U.S.) from the National Research Council Canada's Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) over the next 18 months to help accelerate the development and commercialization of a new light treatment device for orthodontics.

The new product will be designed to "significantly accelerate tooth movement during orthodontic treatment, and thus radically reduce treatment times and improve the experience for patients," the company said.

The NRC-IRAP funds will help Biolux clinically test and validate the effectiveness of the technology and develop a high-quality, manufacturable product, according to the company. NRC-IRAP will also provide technical and business-oriented advisory services.

"This financial support from the government of Canada through NRC-IRAP is very positive for Biolux, and enables us to pursue our research and development of our new orthodontics product in a timely manner and accelerate the commercialization of the product into the market," said Kevin Strange, president and CEO of Biolux, in a press release. "Orthodontics is a very large and important market for us, and is adjacent to the implant stability market for our initial product, the OsseoPulse Bone Regeneration System. There is a clear need for reducing treatment timelines for all orthodontic patients, which are typically 12 to 36 months, and we strongly believe that our technology will lead to a revolutionary approach to orthodontics."

The OsseoPulse uses near-infrared light emitting diode (NIR-LED) therapy (photobiomodulation) to stimulate bone healing and production, according to the Biolux Web site.