Israel Active

The ExAblate focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) from Israel’s Insightec is already in use in London, destroying uterine fibroids that cause pain and infertility. MRgFUS has now been installed at Solihull’s Spire Parkway Hospital in the West Midlands of England.

The “robotic trousers” from Israel’s ReWalk that help paraplegics to walk, have attracted interest from the TV channel that usually doesn’t have very nice things to say about the Jewish State.

(Thanks to Uri) Israeli biotech Amorphic has developed Amorphous Calcium Carbonate (ACC) that the body absorbs far better than the crystalline form. Amorphic produced synthetic ACC after studying the crayfish, which uses natural ACC to build its bones in low calcium conditions.

Israeli start-up Alcobra set out to develop a pill that would reduce blood alcohol but came up with a treatment for Attention Deficit Disorder. Alcobra claims metadoxine has all the benefits of Ritalin, Concerta, and Strattera without their drawbacks.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is running a conference this coming week to analyze how Israel eliminated malaria from pre-State Palestine. Lessons learned could help remove the scourge of malaria prevalent currently in Africa.

At Haifa’s Rambam hospital, the first Israeli has been cured of essential tremor using ExAblate Neuro – the non-invasive focused ultrasound treatment from Israel’s InSightec. Also a recent BBC program featuring the treatment, but no mention of the name of the equipment, or that it is Israeli.

Israeli start-up Qure has developed a smartphone app that allows doctors worldwide to locate and communicate with their fellow professionals. Qure maps physicians globally with a navigation tool to find a particular expert. It then provides a closed network for private communications.

Israel’s emergency service Magen David Adom in Jerusalem has introduced unique ICU motorcycles. These are fully equipped with rescue and ICU capabilities so that MDA paramedics can get to patients faster and stabilize them until ambulances arrive to evacuate them to hospital.

Israel is a pioneer of the medical properties of cannabis / marijuana. A study by scientists at Tel Aviv University and Kfar Saba’s Meir Hospital has shown it to give Crohns’ disease sufferers significant relief from their symptoms. Some of them said the disease went into remission. An estimated 0.3 percent of the general population suffers from Crohn's disease.

Another Israeli medical products mentioned last week is the UNFO foot brace. The device is worn below the ankle and rectifies infant foot deformities (metatarsus adductus or metatarsus varus) within six weeks. It is far superior, safer, and less stressful than a cast or full leg braces.