President's Message

It is my distinct pleasure to welcome you to Orpyx®.  Thank you very much for taking the time to visit our site and to express interest in our pioneering company. I hope you will take the time and enjoy a tour of our site. Here is a bit of a snapshot into the company and where it began:

Why it began

Orpyx® came in to existence to help address a huge problem that we in medicine and surgery face on a daily basis—the problem of diabetes and complications of diabetes.  My name is Dr. Breanne Everett and I am a resident in the Section of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Calgary.  We get consulted regularly to help deal with the problem of diabetic foot complications (including ulcers and infection).  Many of these problems stem from one of the main complications of diabetes, “peripheral neuropathy” (or, numb feet).  Without feedback, people are unaware when damage is being done and complications develop.

I found myself quite touched by a young man (about 40 years), who was recently admitted to the hospital for a infected diabetic foot ulcer.  He was one of the sweetest, most genuine patients I have had the pleasure of caring for over the course of my medical career to date.  This was his fourth admission for a similar problem, and with all of his foot complications, he was now bedbound.  His physical limitations and his life spent majorly in the hospital meant that his whole social support network had dissolved around him.  Despite heavy antibiotics, wound care and surgery, the team caring for him was not able to wean him back to health and this admission was to be his last.  He passed away several months after being brought into hospital.

This and many other experiences have left me wondering what we are doing wrong and if there is a better way to address the problem.  And it’s a huge problem.  In Canada and the US, 7% of people are diagnosed with diabetes; half of all diabetics develop peripheral neuropathy. Click here to get an idea of the projected global diabetes prevalence data for 2025 (map from the International Diabetes Federation).  I came to the conclusion that, on the healthcare side of things, we are terrible at dealing with peripheral neuropathy.  We often wait until complications develop before anything is (or can be) done.  Orpyx® was born out of trying to find a preventative (not reactionary) solution to this problem.

What it does

Our inaugural product, the SurroSense Rx™ system, is a state-of-the-art, pressure-sensing insole designed with the diabetic in mind.  The insole takes that information and is able to tell the user when damage is being done to the feet.  Our goal is to put an end to some of the worst foot complications of diabetes before they start.  It’s time to stop being afraid of these dreaded complications; it’s time to start living again! Our second product, the SurroGait Rx™ system, is based on the concepts of neuroplasicity and sensory substitution, and enables the user to actually feel his or her feet again, but through a pad worn on the back.   

We were recently named the “A100 One to Watch” and believe, with our innovative pipeline and the right execution, our devices will change diabetic footcare from the reactionary practice it is to a highly dynamic, preventative discipline.

That’s it in a nutshell.  Let’s keep in touch via our monthly e-newsletter (sign-up here to receive e-news), blog and twitter.

I look forward to meeting you all.

Breanne Everett, MD, MBA
breanne@orpyx.com
Resident, Section of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, University of Calgary
CEO & President, Orpyx® Medical Technologies Inc.