The Pretenders – Imitation and Counterfeit Vilim Balls
The Pretenders – Imitation and Counterfeit VILIM balls are unfortunately online catching out unsuspecting users. Their life cycle follows a similar pattern: they’re sold on popular websites for a few months, then get banned for safety issues or other problems. There are a number of risks and frustrations for customers purchasing or even trying imitation or counterfeit devices.
Whilst imitation is the best form of flattery, there are some important differences between Vilim Ball and the No Name imitators, that people, should be wary of. The table adjacent gives you a quick snapshot.
This article is dedicated to explaining 3 main arguments against going with a counterfeit or imitation Vilim Ball – namely your safety, the device’s efficacy, and accountability to you the customer.
The Pretenders are dangerous!
Counterfeit devices are not tested against safety standards, they are not TGA approved and are often made from poor-quality materials. This means they could easily catch fire, burn, or electrocute users. We all have heard stories of phones catching fire because of battery malfunctions. Cheap counterfeit devices carry the same risks but at a much greater level. For example, one counterfeit device was acquired and disassembled, revealing alarming findings. The internal battery lacked a protection circuit, and the wires were poorly soldered and hanging all around the internal elements. The risks associated with such devices make it a matter of when, not if, accidents will occur. Users have also reported the device exploding in their hands!The VILIM ball is designed and manufactured to comply with the highest safety requirements. This has been proven by rigorous testing according to various safety standards, such as the EN EIC 60601 series. The internal
battery contains many levels of protection and complies with a well-known safety standard EN IEC 62133. Compliance with the IP22 ingress protection level guarantees required water and dust protection for safe home use. Finally, overall device quality is guaranteed by compliance with the EN ISO 13485 quality management standard.Examples on what can happen when the device is manufactured in a cheap and dangerous manner can be found easily on the internet. The image adjacent is an example of a counterfeit device. This is a review on a popular e-shop that was written specifically for a product that tried to copy the Vilim Ball in a cheap and dangerous manner…the poor user reported that “the ball blasted my sister’s hand!’ – with the picture posted showing shoddy workmanship and quality resulting in this scary result for the unsuspecting user.
The Imitators really do not work very well
Cheap counterfeit devices are often made to look similar on the outside – with some even having very similar names and packaging…duping people into thinking it is the same thing as the Vilim Ball.
However, the insides differ significantly. The logic and working mechanism behind tremor reduction through mechanical stimulation is a complex task. VILIM ball involves many sensors that measure hand tremors and the trembling generated by the device. Vilim Ball therapy entails the use of many artificial intelligence (AI) and signal processing algorithms, that individualise and adapt therapy to each individual. Vilim spent many years researching and developing the logic and hardware to reach the current level of efficacy. Devices that simply generate random vibrations are unlikely to have a positive effect on hand tremors. Cheap copies usually do not have any logic at all. They are simply vibrating balls; therefore, the tremor reduction is unlikely and a matter of luck or coincidence.
Look out for the ways in which these counterfeit devices are advertised. Descriptors will tend to be misleading. For example one device advertised states that “87-90% of people feel the effect”. What does that actually mean? It doesn’t talk to the efficiency, nor the clinical record of the device.
This is opposed to the Vilim Ball which has undergone clinical testing. Vilim Ball has a high efficiency rate with 4 out of 5 users having a reduction in their hand tremor.
Counterfeit devices offer very little accountability for customers
Companies who specialise in copy and re-production of various medical devices are “no names”. This means they hide their true identity through a chain of fake companies and individuals. This setup makes it very hard to contact sellers or manufacturers. Moreover, no one can be held accountable if any serious accidents occur. The is opposed to Healthport, based in Adelaide, Australia; who has sought TGA approval and works alongside Vilimed in Europe who have developed and manufactured the Vilim Ball according to the European Union regulations and rules set by Australia. Healthport provide user support, repair guarantees, and all the accountability any user expects to receive.
No name devices have not got TGA approval – they have not got the evidence, nor the standards to list the product in this manner.
It is important that customers are aware about the differences between the ‘pretenders’ and VILIM Ball. If you have any further questions about the VILIM Ball you can visit our Australian based website www.healthport.com.au or contact us via [email protected]. Healthport’s Australian based team, pride ourselves in providing personalised service and will very happily answer any questions you may have.
