The creators of a new medical technology developed in East Providence that they say could revolutionize how to  heal broken bones demonstrated their product at Ortho RI in Warwick on Friday.

The technology, according to IlluminOss chairman Mike Mogul, heals broken bones from the inside in a minimally invasive procedure.

The procedure consists of inserting a balloon with liquid gel inside into a broken bone. The balloon then expands to fill the space inside the bone. Following that, the surgeon giving the procedure turns on a blue light source, which hardens the gel in the balloon, essentially gluing the bone back together and stabilizing it.

Mogul said that the company’s founder, Bob Rabiner, came up with the idea for the treatment through his experience in the cardiovascular industry- and with using glue.

“They used the idea of the same kind of balloon that you’d use in a cardiovascular case to fix a fracture,” Mogul said. “And he knew a lot about glue, and had the idea of glue that would only cure with a certain kind of light, because one of the challenges, as you can imagine, with surgery is you don’t want to tell it to cure until you’re ready.”

Where IlluminOss’s procedure has perhaps its biggest impact, according to Mogul, is in recovery time. According to him, the process allows patients to recover quickly, and they do not need to use a cast or sling while recovering.

Since most patients that have had this procedure done are older- IlluminOss says that the procedure is best for those 55 and older- Mogul noted that lessening that recovery time can make a serious impact on improving their quality of life and avoiding time in

“Oftentimes, [patients will] be sent home in a boot or in a sling,” Mogul said. “If they’re not able to get around, they’re sent to skilled nursing for months. To be able to come to the surgery center, and same day do a small incision and have your fracture fixed and be able to move your arm and be able to go back home is life-changing.

One of those patients was Deborah Bathgate, who had the procedure done after she broke her arm falling off a ladder. While going to an outpatient surgical center in Attleboro, she was informed about the technology, and she decided to go ahead with the surgery.

Bathgate said that while she had limitations recovering, she was able to take care of herself shortly after the procedure. She has since fully recovered.

“I mean, I couldn’t drive, but I was able to take care of myself at home, and I didn’t have to have caregivers come in,” Bathgate said. “It’s good for someone like myself, because if I had to go into a skilled care facility, that’s not where you want to be. You can essentially take care of yourself, and you’re not on pain medication, which is very useful.”

Ortho RI President and CEO Michael Bradley said that IlluminOss’s treatment had a visible impact on patients that had been treated with it.

“We’ve actually run a study similar to Deb’s injury, trying to compare what happens after a fracture, with IlluminOss, how quickly people can move,” Bradley said. “We compared it to people without IlluminOss, and what we’re finding is these people [treated with IlluminOss] have more function quicker, which is exactly why we’re very excited.”

Another boon of IlluminOss, Bradley said, was the cost. He estimated that for a humerus fracture, the cost would be somewhere in between $1,500 and $2,000 for IlluminOss’s method, as opposed to $4-5,000 for a more traditional surgery to repair the bone.

Currently, Bradley estimates that the technology has been used in approximately 10,000 surgeries throughout the United States, Germany and the Netherlands. The technology was officially approved by the FDA in 2019, according to Mogul.

In attendance were representatives from Senator Jack Reed’s office, as well as Speaker of the House Joe Shekarchi. Shekarchi said that seeing innovations such as this made in the state was important in helping Rhode Island grow.

“This is exactly what we’re trying to do here in Rhode Island, is to nurture and grow companies like yours,” Shekarchi said. “A lot of good things are happening, and this is certainly a wonderful company that could be part of that growth as well.”

For Mogul, getting IlluminOss’s products to more patients and helping repair broken bones faster is of the utmost importance.

“What will really help is educating emergency rooms that you have another path other than sending the person home or immobilized or to skilled nursing,” Mogul said. “There’s another avenue to take other than immobilization for many months.”