New Products and Industry News

Connection found between dressing and decreased pressure injury 

A recent study found a clear association between prophylactic use of Mepilex (Mölnlycke Health Care, Norcross, GA), a 5-layer foam dressing, and reductions in pressure injury rates. The border sacrum dressing was found to be an effective component of pressure injury prevention protocol.

The study used billing claims data to evaluate the dressing’s real-world effectiveness in reducing hospital-acquired pressure injury rates among more than 1 million patients treated at 38 medical institutions. On average, a pressure injury reduction of 1.0 cases per quarter was identified using Patient Safety Indicator #3 (stages 3, 4, and unstageable). In addition, pressure injury treatment costs per patient decreased from $120 to $43, saving hospitals between $200 000 and $600 000 per year in addition to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services penalties.

For more information, please visit: www.molnlycke.com. 

Incision management system reduces cesarean delivery-related pain

A recent study found that PREVENA Incision Management System (Acelity, San Antonio, TX), a closed incision negative pressure therapy (ciNPT), could be helpful for reducing postsurgical complications. The system was shown to significantly reduce postoperative pain and narcotic use in obese patients undergoing cesarean delivery. Compared with standard dressings, ciNPT also decreased the number of surgical site occurrences, such as unanticipated local inflammatory response, prolonged drainage, fluid collection, dehiscence, and surgical site infection.

For more information, please visit: www.acelity.com. 

Over-the-counter skin care brand launched

SkinSmart Antimicrobial (Edina, MN), a new skin care brand, launched 2 over-the-counter solutions for eczema and wound care. The products use hypochlorous acid, formerly only available as part of a prescription or specialized treatment, to help heal chronic skin conditions, wounds, and burns. Eczema Therapy, a steroid-free treatment, can be used on any skin, including eyelids, with no limit on usage. Wound Therapy is ideal for a daily antimicrobial cleansing of at-risk feet and also helps heal wounds, infections, rashes, and other minor skin conditions. Both products come in an easy-to-use, hypoallergenic spray that dries like water.

For more information, please visit: www.skinsmartantimicrobial.com.

Nanotechnology tested for wound care

Researchers at the Ohio State University (Columbus, OH) are developing a nanotechnology chip aimed at helping the body heal wounds. The method, tissue nanotransfection (TNT), reprograms the cell through a cuff link-sized chip. This chip will noninvasively deliver reprogramming factors such as preprogrammed DNA into living skin cells through a high-intensity, focused electrical field; using the stimulation, the chip can convert the cells into whatever type is needed for healing. 

The technique has been previously tested in mouse models and showed an ability to promote limb regrowth. Approval for safety and efficacy trials in humans is expected within a year.

For more information, please visit: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/scientists-unveil-healing-wounds-future/story?id=49080255.

Saliva shown to have wound healing potential

A recently published study found that histain-1, a peptide found in saliva, may promote faster wound healing. Researchers from Chile analyzed saliva at 3 levels: human endothelial cell cultures, chicken embryos, and samples from healthy donors. In each model, histain-1 increased blood vessel formation. The study also found the peptide’s molecular mechanisms increased endothelial cell migration and adhesion. The results highlight the differences in oral and skin wounds and could lead to better approaches to healing.

For more information, please visit: www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170807110331.htm.

Smart mat detects early signs of ulcers

A new startup company has developed a smart mat that may help catch diabetic foot ulcers sooner. Podimetrics (Somerville, MA), cofounded by a team of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA) graduates, equipped a mat with sensors that can detect temperature spikes around the foot that normally precede the formation of ulcers. A patient stands on the mat for ~20 seconds, once per day, and the smart mat sends the temperature measurements to the “cloud.” If an ulcer is suspected, the patient’s physician is alerted in order to start a treatment plan.

For more information, please visit: https://news.mit.edu/2017/smart-mat-detects-early-warning-signs-diabetic-foot-ulcers-0816. 

Mobile battlefield software keeps information handy

United States Air Force pararescue jumpers need to keep health data close at hand when out in the field, and a new wrist-mounted device keeps them connected. The Battlefield Assisted Trauma Distributed Observation Kit (BATDOK; Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, OH), an Android smartphone with wireless sensors that display health status, provides instant alerts to the wearer if certain patient vital signs drastically fluctuate. The technology is also a documentation tool that records the patient’s wound type, location, and cause; it also allows medics to assign degrees of urgency to multiple wounded patients and send the patient data to the military’s electronic health record system.

For more information, please visit: www.healthdatamanagement.com/news/battlefield-software-supports-medics-with-care-documentation.

International Wound Congress set for 2020

The World Union of Wound Healing Societies (WUWHS; Turin, Italy) has announced details for the sixth edition of its quadrennial conference on wound healing. The WUWHS Congress will take place from March 8 to March 12, 2020, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. This conference will focus on “global healing changing lives,” continuing the organization’s aim to create a common shared language for the wound care community.

 For more information, please visit: www.wuwhs2020.com. 

One million allografts distributed

MiMedx (Marietta, GA) announced its newest milestone: distribution of more than 1 million allografts for wound, burn, surgical, orthopedic, spine, sports medicine, ophthalmic, and dental care. The biopharmaceutical company, a developer of human placental tissue allografts, also will be making a donation to a charity recommended by the physician who applied the landmark allograft. 

For more information, please visit: www.mimedx.com.

Biotechnology company acquisition complete

Tissue Regenix Group plc (Leeds, United Kingdom) recently completed its acquisition of CellRight Technologies LLC (Universal City, TX) for $30 million. The latter company, a specialist in regenerative osteoinductive bone scaffolds, will expand the UK-based company’s presence and more than double sales in the US health care market.

The acquisition will merge 2 portfolios focused on regeneration of soft tissue and bone and will give Tissue Regenix access to CellRight’s exisiting tissue bank in San Antonio (TX), where the former currently has a subsidiary. Over time, CellRight will become the main base for US operations.

For more information, please visit: www.tissueregenixus.com. 

Biopharmaceutical company divests bone grafting business

MiMedx (Marietta, GA), a regenerative and therapeutic biologics developer, announced its definitive agreement with former stockholders to divest its subsidiary, Stability Biologics (Nashville, TN), back to those stockholders. Acquired with a combination of cash and stock, Stability develops and processes bioactive bone graft products and materials as well as tissue allografts for burns and traumatic wound care.

The announcement follows MiMedx’s decision to transition into a biopharmaceutical-first company. The transaction is expected to reach completion in the third quarter of 2017.

For more information, please visit: www.mimedx.com. 

New wound care subsidiary created

NuLife Sciences (San Clemente, CA), a biomedical research and technology company, announced the establishment of a wholly owned subsidiary, NuLife Medical (San Clemente, CA), to extend the company’s portfolio into the wound care market. The newly created subsidiary will focus on applying the parent company’s proprietary, patented technology (NuLife Technique) exclusively to wound care. Preliminary application of the technology has shown potential to help patients and health care providers with a solution for addressing chronic wounds.

For more information, please visit: www.nulifesciences.us/press-releases/detail/11/nulife-announces-establishment-of-wound-care-subsidiary. 

Aid provided to Harvey victims 

HMP (Malvern, PA), a global hub for health care working across a wide spectrum of therapeutic areas, has started a professional group to connect first responders and other health care professionals to help with the Hurricane Harvey disaster relief effort. The network can be found online and all are who are looking to aid the effort can share information and stories to this public group. Additionally, the company also has started a fundraiser titled “HMP Help for Harvey” to benefit the Houston Food Bank.

For more information, please visit: www.facebook.com/groups/HMPHelpforHarvey. 

This article was not subject to the Ostomy Wound Management peer-review process.