LifeHealthcare

Chondro-Gide Approved For Use in Australia

LifeHealthcare has established itself as the leading innovator of biologic regenerative technologies in Australia. LifeHealthcare’s biologic innovations span across musculoskeletal applications for orthopaedic surgery, sports medicine & spinal surgery, and are clinically differentiated to provide Australian patients with leading innovations in bone healing and soft tissue regeneration.

LifeHealthcare is now pleased to announce that its portfolio of biologic innovations has now expanded following the approvals for the provision of Chondro-Gide – the innovative cartilage regeneration technology from Swiss partner, Geistlich Surgery AG. Chondro-Gide is now available for use in Australia following the successful applications to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and Prosthesis List Advisory Committee (PLAC) for regulatory approval and private product reimbursement respectively. This is a milestone for LifeHealthcare and Geistlich Surgery AG as Chondro-Gide is now the only cartilage regeneration technology with both regulatory approval and private reimbursement in Australia.

Chondro-Gide provides a protective environment for cell attachment, differentiation and production of new cartilage to repair chondral defects. Chondro-Gide consists of a bilayer collagen matrix that when used in conjunction with the innovative procedure called Autologous Matrix Induced Chondrogenesis (AMIC), provides an ideal environment for cartilage regeneration. Autologous Matrix Induced Chondrogenesis (AMIC) is a single step procedure that utilises the body`s own healing potential in treating focal chondral and osteochondral grade III/IV defects.

Both LifeHealthcare and Geistlich Surgery AG are working with Australian clinicians and hospitals to develop and expand on the established clinical history of Chondro-Gide and AMIC. This approval and subsequent launch marks the beginning of another innovation partnership for LifeHealthcare in which it is leading the market in biologic regenerative technologies.

Finnan’s Gift unveils overwhelming community achievement

Former Winter Olympian Alisa Camplin and her husband Oliver Warner presented a remarkable gift to The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne (RCH) today in memory of their son Finnan.

Alisa and Oliver visited the RCH to unveil a $300,000 state-of-the-art echocardiology scanning machine, supplied by Philips and LifeHealthcare, and purchased with funds generated by the couple’s appeal, Finnan’s Gift.

Finnan Maximus Camplin-Warner was born prematurely on 10th March 2011 after doctors diagnosed him with in-utero congenital heart disease (CHD).  After bravely enduring six open heart surgeries, Finnan passed away at just 10 days of age.

To honour their son and help other babies and families avoid the same anguish, Alisa and Oliver established Finnan’s Gift in May 2011 to raise awareness and much needed funds through the RCH Foundation.  In just three months the couple reached their target enabling the purchase of this crucial piece of cardiac equipment.

Alisa says she cannot thank enough the 3000 individuals, families and organisations who gave so generously after being touched by her family’s story.

“Oliver and I are completely overwhelmed by the charitable warmth of all the generous people who’ve contributed to Finnan’s Gift,” Alisa said.

“We are so proud that collectively Finnan’s Gift has been able to purchase vital medical equipment that will help save lives, and it has helped us start rebuilding ours too.  We never anticipated how spirit renewing the process of achieving this goal would be, and feel indebted to all who helped us,” she said.

RCH Director of Cardiology, A/Professor Michael Cheung, says the leading-edge technology will make a difference for many RCH patients with CHD.

“Congenital heart disease affects approximately 1 in 100 children and is one of the leading causes of death in young children in Australia,” A/Professor Cheung said.

“Some of these children will need treatment in the first few days of life and account for some of the very sickest children in our hospital. On average half of the patients admitted to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit have heart problems.

“A new echocardiography machine will allow better access to the best equipment possible to assess heart structure and function in children of all ages. The machine is a significant upgrade of the echocardiography machine that is currently in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit,” he said.

Finnan’s Gift will continue to raise funds to support RCH doctors, nurses, surgeons and specialists instrumental in Finnan’s care.  Each year, on Finnan’s birthday, a grant will be awarded to an RCH department to directly support patients and families through excellence in leadership and education, technology and equipment, and medical research.

“The team at The Royal Children’s Hospital are truly marvellous and they deserve the absolute best in their ongoing quest to support our children and their families.  Finnan’s Gift will now keep giving, with a targeted annual grant program in place to make a lasting difference,” Alisa said.

Over 3000 families and individuals donated to Finnan’s Gift, including major contributions by: The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation, The Pratt Foundation, Glenn Archer and HeartKids Victoria, Chain Reaction Challenge Foundation, 60 Minutes, Women’s Day, Philips, Collingwood Football Club, Victorian Institute of Sport, Victorian Olympic Council and the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia.  

Donations can be made at www.finnansgift.com.au.  Every little bit helps.  

www.finnansgift.com.au
www.rchfoundation.com.au

Finnan’s Gift to the Cardiology Department

Finnan’s Gift is a fundraising project set up by Olympic champion, Alisa Camplin and her husband Oliver Warner.  Launched in May 2011, Finnan’s Gift will raise much needed funds for state-of-the-art equipment in the Cardiology Department of The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne.

An Australian Olympic champion

Alisa Camplin is a superstar of Australian sport, and the first Australian skiier to win medals at consecutive Winter Olympics.  Many of us remember her breathtaking aerial manoeuvres that won her gold at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, and the bronze at the Turin Olympics four years later.

Finnan’s story

Celebrated for her resilience and mental strength, Alisa and her husband Oliver Warner and are now facing the hardest possible tragedy, having lost their 10-day-old son, Finnan Maximus Camplin-Warner, on 20 March 2011.

Finnan was prematurely brought into the world six weeks early.  Doctors at The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne had identified that something was wrong with his tiny heart. He was diagnosed with a congenital heart condition and endured six operations in his short life before his death.

Finnan’s doctors said he lived up to his gladiatorial name and was truly heroic during his short battle. In a statement, Alisa said: ‘Finnan was loved dearly and will always be remembered for his immense bravery, courage and unbelievable fighting spirit.’ She thanked the team of cardiac surgeons, doctors and nurses working in the intensive care units of the Royal Women’s and Royal Children’s hospitals.

To honour their courageous son and to ensure other babies and their families don’t endure this same pain, Alisa and Oliver have set up Finnan’s Gift Appeal through the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation.

How you can help

With your help, ‘Finnan’s Gift’ to The Royal Children’s Hospital Cardiology Department will be a much needed $300,000 echocardiology scanning machine.

This machine has been identified as crucial to improving the diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart disease by Director of Cardiology Dr Michael Cheung.

Dr Cheung said: ‘Ultrasound machines such as this are the main way in which we are able to diagnose heart problems and examine heart function in children. In Australia, 6 babies are born every day with heart problems and congenital heart disease is one of the major causes of death in infancy. Ready access to equipment such of this improves our ability to look after these children.’

Alisa and Oliver hope that with cutting edge equipment and the wonderful doctors and nurses at The Royal Children’s Hospital – others will have a fighting chance at a good life.

Donate now

To help Finnan’s Gift Appeal reach its goal, please donate now. Every little bit helps. Follow this link to read a special message from Alisa & Oliver, and to make a tax deductable donation.