The head of the Arthroscopy Unit at the Ney Arias Lora Public Hospital, Dr. Rafael Ben, received a FDA patent in February 2014 for the orthopedic device he invented in order to help poor patients at the Ney Arias Lora Public Hospital. The device costs half as much as the imported version.
Hospital director Dr. Felix Hernandez proudly made the announcement during the 4th Scientific Meeting organized by the hospital last weekend on the occasion of the center’s fourth anniversary. Dr. Hernandez said that the new device costs around RD$50,000, while the market price for imported devices is RD$125,000.
The device makes it possible to fix a fracture and ensures the patient will keep the length of the affected limb.
He said they have already used around 70 of the devices with excellent results.
Dr. Ben studied medicine at the state Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo and specialized in orthopedics at the Frank Pais Orthopedics Hospital in Havana, Cuba.