A very dynamic business environment
The field of medical technology is very diversified in Provence and involves primarily small and medium companies, innovative, responsive, and often in a position of leadership.
There are several strains of activities, including biomaterials for functional substitution and prostheses, miniaturized devices, functional imaging, computer assisted diagnosis and health care.
Home to leading businesses, Provence is at the core of the most advanced medical technology including:
- Bio-materials (implants): dental, eye, orthopedic, vascular implants
- Bio-materials (container): plastic bags for biological environments, plastic sterilization containers
- Imaging & Functional Exploration: optical endoscopy, disinfection equipment and products, video-endoscopy, videonystagmography
- Functional Assistance & Substitution: dialysis equipment
- Biological analysis: analysis equipment
- Public Health Engineering: medical fluid analyzers, medical waste containers, mobile systems for air treatment
- Physical Agent Therapy: hyperbaric chambers, electrotherapy
- Information & Communication Technology: computer assistance to health professionals, computer assisted diagnosis and healthcare, Internet, telemedicine
Comex
An expert in extreme environments, particularly in underwater environments, and a holder of numerous world records for deep sea diving, COMEX works in various sectors including hyperbaric chambers.
Specializing in the design and manufacture of hyperbaric chambers since 1972, it has acquired the expertise necessary to produce hyperbaric chambers for hyperbaric medicine applications. COMEX installs complete care facilities and provides training to the operating personnel.
Effer
A designer and manufacturer of medical and industrial endoscopes, Effer controls the whole manufacturing process with an integrated production of mechanical and optical components.
Effer’s know-how covers all the technologies involved in video electronic endoscopy (traditional optics, precision mechanics, fiber lighting, microelectronics, and video signal processing); as a result, Effer is one of the few companies in the world manufacturing its own full endoscopic product line.
Euros
A specialist in spine, hip, knee and shoulder orthopedic implants, Euros uses highly sophisticated CAD / CAM technologies, together with leading edge manufacturing equipment. In addition to its standard product line, the company makes custom prostheses within short deadlines.
Gemalto
Gemalto, a world leader in smart card-based solutions (11,000 employees including 2,500 in the department of Bouches-du-Rhône) is also active in the health sector. They have produced more than 60 million copies of VITALE smartcards (French social security cards), one million cards to health professionals and 60 000 smartcard readers.
Their “eHealthcare IT solutions” are used in Algeria, Germany,Azerbaijan, Belgium, China, Finland, France, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Slovenia and United Kingdom.
Intervascular
Intervascular, a subsidiary of Datascope American Group, specializing in the manufacture of vascular endoprostheses and artificial arteries, set up its manufacturing unit and headquarters in La Ciotat in 1990.
The manufacture and distribution of products for the international market is handled from the La Ciotat site.
Sartorius Stedim Biotech
Sartorius Stedim Biotech is a leading supplier of equipment and services for the pharmaceutical industry. It offers integrated solutions in the fields of fermentation, filtration, purification, storage of fluid and laboratory technologies.
Sartorius Stedim Biotech is headquartered in Aubagne. It has production and R & D sites in Europe, North America and Asia and an international distribution network.
SuperSonic Imagine
SuperSonic Imagine has developed an innovative medical technology based on ultrasound to measure and visualize tissue elasticity. The technology will provide a much more efficient tool for detecting cancerous lesions, whether or not palpable, and improve the quality of the diagnosis through better categorization of lesions and develop new solutions in the rapidly growing sector of non-invasive therapies (High Intensity Focused Ultrasound - HIFU)
Waid
Waid, a Softway Medical Group company, is the largest provider in France of radiological information systems and imaging software.
Waid’s management software is designed for X-ray centers, hospital technical departments and nuclear medicine services.
Waid has also developed expertise in the field of imaging, and designed solutions for storage, engraving and stations for major manufacturers of acquisition solutions.
More:
- Ekkyo, a photomedecine company which develops new laser-based systems for skin scar prevention and reduction.
- Graftys is specialized in synthetic bone substitutes and biological repair of cartilage and intervertebral discs, via resorbable bioactive cements and intelligent biomaterials.
- Novatech, a leader in interventional pulmonology, a manufacturer of tracheal and bronchial stents.
- Olea Medical designs software applications for optimizing medical imaging and diagnostic aid, particularly in the field of emergency neurology.
- Protomed designs, develops and markets instruments and implants for mini-invasive vascular surgery, as well as systems for rapid suture.
- Sopro (Acteon Group) specializes in the development and manufacture of dental and medical imaging systems.
- Synapsys develops and markets a revolutionary medical exploration tool for ophthalmologists and ORL doctors called Video Nygstamo Graph (VGN).
