New Product News/News of the Industry

Two new wound imaging products launched

ARANZ Medical (Christchurch, New Zealand) added to its portfolio of smartphone-based wound imaging products. The easy-to-use and highly portable SilhouetteLite and SilhouetteLite+ mobile phone applications deliver accurate measurements and consistent images to the company’s proprietary cloud database, SilhouetteCentral, for reports and analysis.

The latter mobile app is currently being applied to several international studies: 20 units have been purchased by Promore Pharma AB (Solna, Sweden) for use in their 2-year venous leg ulcer study, and the Capital and Coast District Health Board (Wellington, New Zealand) added 44 units to their field nursing staff.

For more information, visit www.aranzmedical.com.

New diabetic foot ulcer treatment approved

Origin, Inc (Princeton, NJ), a biotechnology company, announced the US Food and Drug Administration approved the company’s request to conclude patient recruitment for the “GENESIS” Phase IIb trial of plasma-generated nitric oxide in patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). The conclusion follows positive interim analysis and evidence of healing in chronic DFUs in a sample of 83 randomized patients treated with topical application of plasma-generated nitric oxide. Data from the Phase IIb trial will allow the company to develop safety and effectiveness hypotheses needed to progress to Phase III trial design.

For more information, visit https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2018/04/18/1480838/0/en/Origin-Successfully-Achieves-Phase-IIb-GENESIS-Trial-Objectives-Ahead-of-Schedule-and-Announces-Early-Termination-of-Study.html.

Telemedicine aims to reduce wound care lawsuits

Telemedicine Solutions LLC (Schaumburg, IL) launched WoundRounds Defender, a feature set for its telemedicine platform for treating wounds. This new add-on helps skilled nurses automate documentation throughout a patient’s time in a health care facility, including photographing wounds. 

For more information, visit https://www.mcknights.com/products/new-telemed-add-on-manages-risk-aims-to-avert-lawsuits-in-wound-care/article/757574/.

Hyaluronic acid-based wound dressing developed

Researchers at Kaunas University of Technology (Kaunas, Lithuania) have developed a sponge-like wound dressing made with hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is used in other medical purposes such as ophthalmology and bone regeneration. This antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory wound dressing stimulates tissue regeneration by providing a net structure for cells to build upon. The researchers are currently testing the dressing prototype in vitro with different cells.

For more information, visit https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-04-regenerative-wound-foster.html.

Wound gel launched at SAWC

B. Braun Medical (Bethlehem, PA) introduced a new patient-friendly 1-oz tube of Prontosan Wound Gel X at the 2018 Symposium on Advanced Wound Care Spring in Charlotte, North Carolina. The gel, which contains betaine and polyhexanide to resist microbial colonization, facilitates autolytic debridement. The gel, now available in 1-oz and 250-mg tubes, is indicated for use in diabetic foot, leg, and pressure ulcers; first- and second-degree burns; partial- and full-thickness wounds; and surgical incisions. 

For more information, visit https://pilotonline.com/business/jobs/article_4690c325-5f6d-5f0c-9315-02a226532f0c.html.

Membrane wound covering introduced 

A new, aseptically processed, cryopreserved human amnion membrane by MTF Biologics (Edison, NJ) was introduced at the 2018 Symposium on Advanced Wound Care Spring in Charlotte, North Carolina. The product, AmnioBand Viable Membrane, is intended for use as an acute or chronic wound covering. A recent study published in the March 2018 issue of Wounds demonstrated the potential of the membrane as a treatment for nonhealing wounds in elderly patients.

In addition, the company sponsored a lunch symposium on placental and dermal innovations in wound care and featured 3 clinical and scientific posters presented at the conference.

For more information, visit www.mtfbiologics.org.

Fish Skin Treatment Garners Attention

Kerecis (Arlington, VA) presented the results of multiple studies of its fish skin wound treatment at the 2018 Symposium on Advanced Wound Care Spring. The company’s novel cod-based skin replacement was the topic of a lecture session and the focus of 7 posters displayed at the conference. 

For more information, visit www.kerecis.com.

Biological matrix effectiveness data presented

Covalon Technologies Ltd (Mississauga, Ontario, Canada) presented 2 clinical case studies demonstrating the effectiveness of its biological matrix products at the 2018 Symposium on Advanced Wound Care Spring in Charlotte, North Carolina. The products, ColActive Plus and ColActive Transfer, were presented as posters at the conference. In addition, these products and the company’s full line of advanced wound care dressings were showcased during the 3-day exhibit hall.

For more information, visit www.covalon.com.

Biotech company receives infection study grant

Arrevus, Inc (Raleigh, NC), a biotechnology company focused on fighting antibiotic resistance, received a $300 000 grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health. The grant will support further research for ARV-1502, a chaperone protein inhibitor with the potential to combat antibiotic-resistant infections. Data from a mouse model showed a single dose of the peptide accelerated wound healing, decreased bacterial burden, and stimulated immune response.

For more information, visit www.arrevus.com.

Wound care software company snags funding

Swift Medical (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) secured $11.6 million in funding from American and Canadian investors. The oversubscribed Series A fundraising will be used to expand the company to more skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, and hospitals across North America. The company’s smartphone software, Swift Skin and Wound, captures images and measurements, including depth, without touching the wound or the use of any extra equipment. The product already is used by more than 1000 health care facilities with more than 100 000 beds.

For more information, visit https://swiftmedical.com.

Frozen placenta can close pressure ulcers 

A study published in the March 2018 issue of Wounds (HMP, Malvern, PA) is receiving attention from McKnight’s Long-Term Care News regarding success in closing a hard-to-heal pressure ulcer. The case series used Grafix (Osiris Therapeutics, Inc, Columbia, MD), a cryopreserved human placental membrane, for the treatment of wounds of various etiologies. Most notably, the membrane was applied to a heel pressure ulcer that received 18 weeks of unsuccessful standard of care treatment; after 2 applications and 4 weeks, the pressure ulcer was completely healed.

For more information, visit https://www.mcknights.com/news/cool-research-pressure-sore-closed-with-frozen-placenta/article/756988.

Stoma care assets purchased 

Stimatix GI Ltd (Misgav, Israel), an international developer of low-profile colostomy management solutions, disclosed B. Braun Medical (Bethlehem, PA) as the acquirer of its assets. The transaction took place November 2014, in which the seller sold its stoma care assets to B. Braun Medical SAS. Under the agreement, the purchaser acquired the assets and agreed to sell the ostomy-related products worldwide. A high-volume manufacturing line for the production of the products is expected to be introduced to the market later in 2018.

For more information, visit www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stimatix-gi-discloses-b-braun-medical-sas-as-acquirer-of-its-assets-300630143.html.

SAWC Breakfast Symposium address biofilms

Next Science (Jacksonville, FL) hosted an advanced educational forum on its state-of-the-art technology at the 2018 Symposium on Advanced Wound Care Spring in Charlotte, North Carolina. The company-sponsored symposium featured a presentation titled “Solutions to Resistant Biofilm-based Wound Infection and Colonization,” which explained the technology behind BlastX Antimicrobial Wound Gel, a biofilm-disrupting wound treatment. The gel deconstructs a biofilm matrix and then destroys the bacteria while maintaining a moist environment.

For more information, visit www.nextscience.com.

Shockwave technology exhibited at SAWC

SANUWAVE Health Inc (Suwanee, GA) presented the company’s flagship wound care device, the dermaPACE System, at the 2018 Symposium on Advanced Wound Care Spring in Charlotte, North Carolina. The display was the company’s first opportunity to present the device since receiving US Food and Drug Administration clearance for marketing in December 2017. The system uses a focused electrohydraulic shockwave technology to treat diabetic foot ulcers.

For more information, visit https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2018/04/10/1467789/0/en/SANUWAVE-Announces-Attendance-and-Exhibition-at-SAWC-Visit-Us-at-Booth-Number-108.html.

Web portal launched for medical students

HMP (Malvern, PA), a leading health care event and education company, announced a new web portal for medical students through its Why Wound Care? initiative. The initiative educates medical and nursing students, recent graduates, and faculty about careers in wound care while offering resources to supplement current academic curricula. This newly launched portal has complimentary evidence-based resources such as video modules on wound care fundamentals, downloadable PDFs of Chronic Wound Care: The Essentials, and information on other resources such as conferences and journals. 

For more information, visit www.prweb.com/releases/2018/04/prweb15396095.htm.

Undergrad wound care startup wins collegiate competition

University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA)-based undergraduate startup InMEDBio took first place and earned the People’s Choice award at the ACC InVenture Prize competition held at the Arts at Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta, GA). The undergraduate team pitched their diabetic foot ulcer dressing, Phoenix-Aid, to a panel of judges at the Atlantic Coast Conference competition. After making it to the final 5 teams, the undergraduate startup came away with the top prize of $15 000 as well as an additional $5000 for the People’s Choice award. Most recently, the startup plaed third at the Collegiate Inventors Competition in October 2017.

For more information, visit https://www.news.virginia.edu/content/uva-entrepreneurship-team-wins-acc-competition.