The humerus proximal endoprosthesis will significantly cut medical costs for patients needing an artificial device.

“The quality of the locally-made humerus proximal endoprosthesis is as good as the imported ones,” Dr Piya Kiatisevi, an orthopaedist at the Lerdsin Hospital, said on Friday.

“The locally-made device has proven practical for all 10 patients in approved human trials.”

He said that patients have not developed any complication from the device and have not reported dislocations over the past two years.

The Thai humerus proximal endoprosthesis was made possible through collaboration with  Lerdsin Hospital, the Royal College of Orthopaedic Surgeons of Thailand, the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) and the Cosmo Meditech Company.

Dr Kriskrai Sitthiseripratip, a senior researcher at the NSTDA National Metal and Materials Technology Centre, said Cosmo Meditech was in the process of seeking a patent from the NSTDA.

“After it gets a patent, it will apply for industrial standard certification before producing the innovative device for commercial purposes,” he said.