Health Enterprises and Edison Nation Medical Seek Innovative Therapeutic Foot Care Products

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Edison Nation Medical, the premier healthcare innovation marketplace, and Health Enterprises, Inc, a leading manufacturer and distributor of branded and private label consumer healthcare products sold in retailers worldwide, today announced a worldwide open innovation search to uncover disruptive new product ideas for relieving pain and providing proper structural and functional support to the feet.  Idea submissions involving externally-applied devices, wraps, structural supports, hot/cold therapy, or other product ideas are welcome and will be reviewed by Edison Nation Medical's team of medical, intellectual property and market commercialization experts.

The most promising ideas uncovered through this search will be presented to Health Enterprises for potential licensing and Edison Nation Medical will share royalties with inventors of any technologies that are successfully commercialized. The search is open to the public and individual inventors or small businesses from around the world are encouraged to submit ideas through the confidential portal at www.EdisonNationMedical.com/FootCare now through November 4, 2014.  

"There has been limited innovation in the retail foot health category in recent years and the products that exist today for consumers are all very similar," explained Brendan Leonard, President of Health Enterprises.  "Given how widespread the need is for quality therapeutic foot care products, Health Enterprises is committed to finding innovative new products to help consumers."

The human foot is a complicated structure with 24 bones, 33 joints and over 100 muscles, ligaments, tendons and nerves. About 75% of Americans will experience foot pain at some point in their lives and the sources and causes of foot pain may include disease, fallen arches, poor circulation or poor posture. Key factors driving the market including aging baby boomers and the growing number of diabetic patients.  

With the global foot care products market forecasted to reach $3.2 billion by 2015, ideas for the search may include, but are not limited to, the following types of products:

• Innovations addressing inflammation, such as hot/cold therapies that provide relief beyond the standard gel and clay products sold in retail pharmacies today
• Therapeutic devices for relieving foot maladies such as plantar fasciitis, bunions, spurs, hammer toe, and mallet toe
• Products to address sports injuries to the feet
• Innovations that improve blood circulation or reduce the impact of nerve damage in the feet
• Products for running enthusiasts
• Ideas involving creams, powders, sprays and topical ointments are not included as part of this search

"Given the impact that improvements in foot care can have on overall quality of life, we are excited to have the opportunity to partner with a market leader such as Health Enterprises for this search." shared Robert Grajewski, President of Edison Nation Medical.  "They have the capabilities necessary to take the disruptive innovations we uncover and quickly manufacture and distribute those innovations out into the marketplace, reaching millions of people."

Eligible submissions may be submitted through the confidential and secure portal at www.EdisonNationMedical.com/FootCare now through November 4, 2014.  Edison Nation Medical and Health Enterprises will review each submission and work to commercialize the best ideas.  

For more information or to submit an idea, go to www.EdisonNationMedical.com/FootCare.

About Edison Nation Medical:
Edison Nation Medical is a healthcare innovation marketplace with deep expertise in open innovation, product development, and healthcare. Born out of collaboration with Carolinas HealthCare System (the second largest public health system in the United States), Edison Nation Medical's mission is to break down the barriers to healthcare innovation. We make this a reality by providing a clear and easy pathway through our open innovation platform for anyone — physicians, nurses, entrepreneurs, even patients and caregivers — to submit a medical invention idea for full evaluation and potential commercialization.

Edison Nation Medical innovation headquarters is in Charlotte, NC with satellite offices in San Francisco and New York City. For more information, please visit www.EdisonNationMedical.com.

About Health Enterprises, Inc.:  
Health Enterprises is a leading consumer healthcare company. From their start over 40 years ago their mission is unchanged – to design, develop and deliver innovative healthcare products that positively impact the lives of people throughout the world. Health Enterprises products are available in leading retailers under the Acu-Life® Brand and Private Label. Headquartered in North Attleboro, MA, Health Enterprises partners with customers in over 50 countries across the globe. For more information, please visit www.healthenterprises.com.

SOURCE Edison Nation Medical