As founder of the American Migraine Center, Bahman Guyuron sees about 3,000 migraine sufferers per year. Potential treatments range from pain medications and Botox injections to full-blown surgery, the latter of which Dr. Guyuron pioneered as Chair of the Department of Plastic Surgery at University Hospitals.
But not all of his patients desire medication or are good candidates for surgical intervention. For those migraine sufferers, the doctor developed a portable heating and cooling device that relieves pain on contact. "The efficacy of heating and cooling therapy in alleviating pain has been recognized for years within the medical community and amongst patients," explains Guyuron.
Along with Brad Pulver, the doctor founded Innovative Medical Equipment, the Cleveland-based company that sells the SootheAway Thermal Therapy System. Unlike traditional heat and ice packs, which are messy, clumsy and inconsistent, this small device -- it measures in at just 11 inches by four inches by four inches -- circulates thermostatically controlled water through therapeutic pads. Various pads target specific areas of the body, such as the forehead, eyes and neck.
Started just six months ago with two principles, Innovative Medical recently launched a website and is already filling orders from around the country.
"We're growing rapidly," says Pulver. "We are already up to five employees, and will be adding sales and marketing staff soon."
As SootheAway expands into other markets, namely orthopedics, physical therapy, and pre- and post-surgical, additional jobs will likely follow.
The company also markets Laser-Seal, a gel-based wound dressing that Guyuron invented.
Sources: Brad Pulver and Bahman Guyuron, Innovative Medical Equipment
Writer: Douglas Trattner