Our skeleton is one of the most important organs in the human body. Our bone integrity plays a critical role in our overall wellbeing. The integrity of our bones can greatly affect the physical health of people as they age. Despite playing a critical role in our health, collecting data about the current state and quality of an individual’s bones has not always been a simple task. This was the case until Active Life Scientific entered the market. The medical device company developed a modern and accurate technology that assesses bone health. Their goal is to help physicians and patients maintain a healthier and active lifestyle.
Active Life Scientific was founded in 2007 by UC Santa Barbara (UCSB) physics undergraduate student Alexander Proctor based on a fundamental discovery by Professor Paul Hansma, PhD. from the Department of Physics. Dr. Hansma discovered the “glue within our bones” and invented the Reference Point Indentation (RPI) method for clinically measuring tissue material properties, which inspired Proctor to apply for a research assistant position in the professor’s lab. There, Proctor produced the first prototypes for this technology, which were entered into UCSB’s New Venture Competition, ultimately winning two of the top awards. Proctor started the company after graduating college.
The Santa Barbara based company used RPI technology to develop OsteoProbe®, a portable handheld medical device that measures bone tissue directly. OsteoProbe® uses a single-use, acupuncture-like tip that makes a microscopic subcutaneous measurement on a patient’s shin. By gently touching the bone, OsteoProbe® quantifies physical resistance of bone tissue directly. A direct, physical measurement of bone tissue in a clinical exam has never been possible before. Unlike OsteoProbe®, the current standard of care uses x-ray radiation, called the DEXA scan. The DEXA scan is a surrogate measure of bone mineral density or BMD. DEXA is excellent at identifying patients with low bone mass; in other words, patients who do not have enough mineralized calcium in their skeleton. However, DEXA misses over 50% of the patients who fracture. BMD changes slowly, and it can take over a year for a DEXA scan to reveal changes as a result of disease or treatment. OsteoProbe® brings another key element to bone health assessment: the quality of the bone material itself. Just like better quality or stronger building materials for your home, good bone material is critical for a healthy skeleton. Bone material quality has never been measurable in a clinic. OsteoProbe® is the first medical device to measure physical properties related to the quality of bone.
Rather than using intrusive methods like incisions or biopsies, the OsteoProbe® is an easy, safe, and radiation-free assessment to measure more about your bone health. Results are immediately obtained after the five-minute procedure. The output from the device is called the Bone Score™ which shows where a patient’s bone falls on the Bone Material Strength index. In November 2017, Active Life Scientific was established as an ISO 13485 medical device manufacturer and obtained the European regulatory approval CE Mark. In 2021, the company obtained clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration for OsteoProbe’s® clinical use in the United States. The Company also applied for and received a reimbursement code (CPT III) from the American Medical Association for the procedure. OsteoProbe® is well on the way to aiding patients and physicians better understand bone health. Visit www.bonescore.com to learn more or to find a physician offering the procedure.