Osstem Implant conducts evaluation technology training for the 'hybrid magnetic-free tissue expander' developed for breast cancer patients requiring breast reconstruction at Asan Medical Center in Seoul on the 27th of last month. The presenters, including Jang Il-seok, Head of the Morphological Material Development Office (fifth from the right in the photo), along with Osstem Implant employees and Professor Han Hyun-ho (fourth from the left in the photo) and the plastic surgery medical staff at Asan Medical Center, are taking a commemorative photo. /Courtesy of Osstem Implant

Osstem Implant announced on the 3rd that it will conduct a national project to develop a 'tissue expander,' a core medical device for breast reconstruction surgery for breast cancer patients, in collaboration with Asan Medical Center until 2028.

Breast reconstruction surgery is a procedure to overcome breast mastectomy, a major process in breast cancer treatment, which involves the insertion of implants. However, there are often cases where the area of skin and tissue lost from the resection leaves insufficient space for implant insertion.

The tissue expander works by expanding as it is filled with an expanding material like saline through an internal injection site, gradually stretching the skin and tissue in the reconstruction area.

The injection site of this device is made of metal to quickly locate it using magnetism, which makes it difficult to use diagnostic equipment such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and there has been significant interference in imaging capture, complicating cancer follow-up monitoring.

In response, Osstem Implant developed a 'hybrid magnetic-free tissue expander' that does not use metal materials for the injection detection method, and has confirmed its detection capability and safety through animal testing.

On the 27th of last month, Osstem Implant conducted evaluation technology training for the surgical staff of Asan Medical Center to introduce the developed products and agreed to jointly conduct efficacy and safety evaluations.

The company plans to actively pursue the localization of tissue expanders, which are currently entirely dependent on imports, through technology transfer and commercialization involved in the project.

Professor Han Hyun-ho of Asan Medical Center's plastic surgery department said, "The hybrid magnetic-free tissue expander has fundamentally resolved the issues associated with metal use, and significantly reduced the potential for side effects for patients through surface coating technology," and added, "I expect that breast cancer patients will be able to undergo breast reconstruction surgery more safely in the future."

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