The evolution of the industry can partly be traced, like a lot of sectors here, to the military. One of the other big Israeli success stories in recent years is Given Imaging, which created a pill-size video camera that can provide doctors with a fairly comprehensive view of the human digestive system. The "pillcam" was invented by Gadi Iddan, a missile scientist at the Arms Development Authority.
The multidisciplinary approach is further reflected in the educational system. The Technion, the country's premier engineering and technical school, has its own medical school, a rarity for tech colleges. Spinouts from the university include Regentis, which has developed a human-synthetic protein that will enable people to regrow cartilage.
Then there is the contradictory status of doctors in Israel. On one hand, the profession remains revered.
"Every Jewish mother wants her boy to be a doctor," said Zeev Holtzman, chairman of Giza Venture Capital.
The country, though, is awash in M.D.s. Some are homegrown, while others have emigrated from the former Soviet Union. As a result, salaries are relatively low. A new doctor fresh out of training might start at $60,000 to $70,000 a year, less than his or her U.S. counterparts.
"It is not a good life being a doctor, unless you are a specialist or at a private clinic," said Chen Porat, CEO of UC-Care Medical Systems, which has devised a catheter for male patients. To escape, many try to form medical device companies.
Syneron's technology essentially cuts down the health risks associated with traditional systems for hair and blemish removal. Today, most of these systems use lasers or IPL to roast a follicle.
Light, though, gets absorbed by pigments in the skin and results in burning. To get around that, Syneron's systems beam down light, either laser or IPL, as well as conductive Radio Frequency (RF) energy. By using both, doctors don't need to derive as much energy from light and therefore reduce the risk of burning.
"To put it roughly, light initially heats up an object (to be removed) and the RF concentrates on the preheated areas," Eckhouse said.
The tasks of Syneron's machines, which range in price from $50,000 to $150,000, vary depending on the configuration. To expand its market, the company is marketing not just to dermatologists, but to general practitioners as well. Outside of the U.S., the systems can be operated in some places by nonphysicians.
"There has been an acceptance of aesthetic procedures in the last 10 years," Eckhouse said.
The VelaSmooth system for cellulite and wrinkles differs slightly from the units made for hair and skin. The basic technology is the same, but it also comes with a module to move internal tissue around.
Unlike liposuction, the system does not eliminate fat, Eckhouse clarified. Instead, it sort of melts it and shifts it around so that it won't be as noticeable.
Redistribution of the fat can reduce the diameter of thighs and other body parts, the company said. The procedure, which takes multiple doctor visits, is also far less invasive than liposuction and can iron out some wrinkles.
"With liposuction, you end up with very loose skin," Eckhouse said. "Yes, I got rid of five pounds of fat, but now my skin looks horrible. Vela is actually effective in post-liposuction treatment. Doctors are buying it to tighten the thighs."
Nonetheless, Syneron and others are looking at ways to eliminate fat noninvasively, possibly with ultrasound waves.
"The challenge is, OK, you dissolved a large amount of fat. How do you get rid of it?" Eckhouse said. "The fat will go into the bloodstream, which is not the dream of anybody. It's a very delicate issue. We are right now in the R&D stage." |
