A new shock wave regenerative device intended for orthopaedic, trauma and sports injury therapy has been launched in Europe following CE Mark approval.

The orthoPACE from Sanuwave Health incorporates the company's Pulsed Acoustic Cellular Expression (PACE) technology platform, which delivers shock wave technology to treat a range of conditions in hard and soft tissue.

The device's high-energy electrohydraulic shock waves activate biological responses such as revascularisation, helping to restore the body's normal healing processes and promote tissue regeneration.

The orthoPACE has a compact, portable design that allows treatments to be performed by a single operator in the hospital or office. The device's unique applicator may reduce (or even remove) the need for anaesthesia.

Treatment of orthopaedic conditions such as tendinopathy with the orthoPACE device have a success rate equal to or greater than that of surgery - usually with a single 15-minute procedure. The treatment is non-invasive, so there is no risk of infection or scarring.

Christopher M. Cashman, President and CEO of Sanuwave, said: "The orthoPACE device offers significant enhancements to our past successful legacy orthopaedic products. [It] offers the best aspects and the same solid clinical efficacy, along with new features and expanded treatment potential. [It] has been well received by our European distributors and clinicians, and we expect the product to continue to gain visibility and momentum in 2010."

The orthoPACE will initially be used to treat tendinopathy and acute and nonunion fractures. It can also be used as an adjunctive treatment to fixation, fusion and grafting.

Sanuwave Health is an emerging company that supplies biological response-activating devices for tissue repair and regeneration.