Victhom Human Bionics Inc. "Victhom" (TSX: VHB) is pleased to announce that the Company was awarded the Mercure technological innovation trophy for its POWER KNEE(TM), the world's first bionic leg. The trophy was presented by the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec (FCCQ) during the 26th Mercuriades gala, which was held on April 19 at the Palais des congrès in Montreal.
"It is with pride and enthusiasm that Victhom accepts this prestigious award from Quebec's business community. At Victhom, first level innovation remains one of our major objectives. Our distinguishing feature is our execution capacity to turn this technological innovation into commercial products to significantly improve the quality of life of individuals suffering from physical dysfunctions. "I am very proud of the efforts invested and the work accomplished by our team with whom I share this trophy. This honour awarded by Quebec's Chambers of Commerce encourages us to persevere in the development of other innovative technologies," said Mr. Stéphane Bédard, Victhom's founder, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
Victhom's technological platform lies in the development of an artificial intelligence unit working in closed loop with captors/neurosensors and with actuators/neurostimulators mechanisms to create bionic devices that target the neurostimulation and orthotic and prosthetic markets. In 2006, the Company expects to file an authorization request to the Therapeutic Products Directorate of the Medical Device Bureau in Canada to launch the clinical investigation for its product "Neurostep(TM)". This investigation aims at evaluating the "Neurostep(TM)" performance to restore neuromuscular functions to the locomotion system suffering from neurological disorders.
About the Mercuriades Competition
The Mercuriades competition, organized by the FCCQ, aims at recognizing and highlighting the successes of private companies in Quebec. The technological innovation category primarily honours achievements related to new products or procedures that are the fruit of effective and efficient research and development programs. This includes the design, technical development and finalization of a process or technology.
About Victhom
Victhom Human Bionics (TSX: VHB) researches, develops and delivers bionic devices that treat a variety of physiological dysfunctions. With 88 employees and three research units: BioTronix, NeuroBionix and MetoBionix, the Quebec, Canada-based company is redefining bionic and neuromodulation technologies.
Victhom manages a portfolio of 25 issued or pending patent families filed in various countries and 12 registered or pending trademarks worldwide. The Company has established an ongoing process to ensure the protection of its intellectual property and aggressively pursue new filings.
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known and unknown risks, uncertainties or other factors that may
cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to
be materially different from any future results, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
For further information: Victhom Human Bionics: Stéphane Bédard, Founder, Executive Vice President and COO, (418) 872-5665, ext. 116, stephane.bedard@victhom.com; Media relations: Frédéric Tremblay, HKDP Communications and Public Affairs, (514) 395-0375, ext. 234, ftremblay@hkdp.qc.ca; Web site: www.victhom.com; Source: Victhom Human Bionics Inc.