New Products and Industry News

Single-use NPWT helps prevent infections

A new meta-analysis study demonstrated the effectiveness of the PICO Single-Use Negative Pressure Wound Therapy System (Smith & Nephew, London, UK) in preventing surgical site complications versus standard care. The analysis reviewed results from 10 randomized controlled trials and 6 observational studies of 1863 patients with 2202 incisions from a variety of surgical indications, such as wound care and orthopedic surgery. The use of the negative pressure system reduced surgical site infection rates by 58%, dehiscence by 26.4%, and hospital length of stay.

For more information, visit www.smith-nephew.com. 

Clinical evidence may compromise patient safety

A recently published study examining bioengineering and clinical evidence on prophylactic dressings found data extrapolation could compromise patient safety. The pressure ulcer-focused study argues for stricter regulation on parts of the medical device industry’s development of clinical evidence and its use in marketing. The study also found that Mepilex Border (Mölnlycke, Gothenburg, Sweden) is the only line of dressings with robust cost-effectiveness data at an individual hospital and national level, with more than 70 supporting clinical studies.

For more information, visit www.molnlycke.com. 

New hydrocolloids have ostomy applications

A new range of ostomy accessories using the Scapa Soft-Pro Hydrocolloid technology (Scapa Healthcare, Windsor, CT) is now available as ready-to-market solutions. Among the new portfolio are Ostomy Flanges, a foam-backed liner with a hydrocolloid adhesive contact layer; Ostomy Flange Extenders, a moisture-absorbent second adhesive layer; and Ostomy Seals, featuring a hydrocolloid technology to protect from stoma leakage. The products come in multiple sizes and are designed to provide prolonged wear times while protecting sensitive skin. 

For more information, visit www.scapahealthcare.com. 

New line of foam dressings available

Coloplast U.S. (Minneapolis, MN) launched new Biatain Silicone dressings with 3DFit Technology to the United States market. These foam dressings are designed to conform to the wound bed, minimizing dead space and exudate pooling. All of the dressings promote an optimal moist wound healing environment, and the multishape and sacral products can be used as part of a prophylactic protocol to prevent pressure ulcers.

For more information, visit www.biatainsiliconeus.com. 

University researchers develop skin printer

A group of researchers from the University of Toronto (Ontario, Canada) has developed a handheld 3-dimensional skin printer that can deposit an even layer of skin tissue over wounds. This new device is believed to be the first device of its kind to form tissue in situ within 2 minutes and could potentially be an alternative to the standard of care, split-thickness grafting, which requires sufficient healthy donor skin.

Resembling a white-out tape dispenser, the skin printer uses a microdevice that forms tissue sheets to create “bio ink” stripes to be applied directly to a wound. The device requires minimal training and eliminates the washing and incubation stages required by conventional bioprinters.

For more information, visit www.utoronto.ca/news/u-t-researchers-develop-portable-3d-skin-printer-repair-deep-wounds. 

Wound research alliance launched

Wound Care Advantage (Sierra Madre, CA), the Southwestern Academic Limb Salvage Alliance (SALSA; Los Angeles, CA), and Gen 1 Research (Austin, TX) have partnered to launch Advanced Discovery, an investigative research alliance dedicated to evidence-based patient care. This new alliance will offer access to an international network of advanced wound and hyperbaric treatment centers in which approved manufacturers and research facilitators can evaluate wound healing modalities. The partnership has an extensive, deidentified clinical database of >42 000 patients and 880 000 wound assessments spanning 16 years; additional data also will be provided through universities and colleges affiliated with SALSA.

For more information, visit www.thewca.com. 

New president elected for Wound Care Alliance

The National Alliance of Wound Care and Ostomy (NAWCO; St Joseph, MI) Board of Directors announced the election of Ottamissiah Moore, RN, WCC, DWC, GC, CSD-LTC, as its new president. With more than 30 years’ experience in the field, Ms. Moore has earned certifications in wound care, intravenous therapy, gerontology, hospice care, and long-term care staff development. She previously served as a President of the National Federation of Licensed Practical Nurses and is a lifetime member of the National Black Nurses Association.

For more information, visit www.nawccb.org. 

New partnership forged for US wound products

The companies behind Endoform (Aroa Biosurgery, Auckland, New Zealand) and Hydrofera Blue (Hydrofera, Manchester, CT) have teamed up to launch Appulse on June 1, 2018. The partnership comes after Hollister Inc (Libertyville, IL) divested the products, which were purchased back by their original manufacturers. These products, popular in the wound care market, will continue to be represented by the current sales team from Hollister. For more information, visit www.appulsemed.com. 

Partnership aims to improve wound therapy adherence

One Call (Jacksonville, FL), the nation’s leader in workers’ compensation care management services, has partnered with Acelity (San Antonio, TX), one of the top global advanced wound care companies, for the use of iOn PROGRESS Remote Therapy Monitoring (KCI, an Aclity Company, San Antonio, TX). This endeavor aims to help home health providers engage with patients during real-time dips in therapy adherence. The monitoring system works in conjunction with ACTIV.A.C. Negative Pressure Wound Therapy System (Acelity) and is useful in aiding compliance with home use.

For more information, visit www.acelity.com. 

Highlights from the Symposium on Advanced Wound Care (SAWC) (Selected announcements to help you contact manufacturers of some products of interest)

Advanced wound care products and research presented

The latest research and products from Organogenesis (Canton, MA) were showcased at SAWC Spring 2018. The company’s full portfolio of advanced wound care and surgical biologic products was on display in the exhibit hall as well as featured in several scientific presentations and poster abstracts. On the first day of the conference, a lunch symposium sponsored by the company discussed the use of skin substitutes in wound care.

For more information, visit www.organogenesis.com.

RNA-based therapy improved healing 

miRagen Therapeutics, Inc (Boulder, CO), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in RNA-targeted therapy, shared its preclinical study data on MFG-110 at SAWC Spring 2018. In a porcine model, the miR-92 inhibitor increased vascularization within the wound bed and increased formation of new connective tissue and microscopic blood vessels. In addition, there was evidence of accelerated wound healing in the majority of treated animals at all dose levels studied.

The product is currently the subject of a Phase 1 clinical trial assessing its safety and tolerability following systemic dosing in collaboration with Servier (Neuilly-sur-Seine, France), an independent international pharmaceutical company.

For more information, visit www.miragen.com. 

Allograft shown effective

Four (4) clinical posters at SAWC Spring 2018 demonstrated the effectiveness of NEOX Wound Allograft (AMNIOX Medical, Inc, a TissueTech Company, Atlanta, GA). In combination with adjunctive therapies, the cryopreserved human umbilical cord and amniotic membrane allograft was effective in a range of severe wounds that were resistant to current standard of care and/or are underserved. 

For more information, visit www.amnioxmedical.com. 

Holistic approach highlighted 

Medline (Northfield, IL) launched its new Skin Champion Program at SAWC Spring 2018. The program provides new approaches for nonhealing wounds for patients and easy-to-use education and tools for clinicians. The program was developed by wound, ostomy, continence nurses and features dozens of prebuilt modules that address 4 common wound care issues: pressure injuries, skin care, wound etiologies, and special populations.

For more information, visit www.medline.com. 

Information on wound management products shared

ACell Inc (Columbia, MD) featured its range of wound management products at SAWC Spring 2018. Numerous posters, presentations, and abstracts reported on the clinical effectiveness of the devices in a wide variety of wound etiologies. In addition, several hands-on product demonstrations were conducted at the company’s booth during the exhibit hall hours.  

For more information, visit www.acell.com. 

Clinical findings offered

Osiris Therapeutics (Columbia, MD) presented its latest clinical and scientific research at SAWC Spring 2018. A total of 7 abstracts, including 2 clinical studies and 5 scientific studies, demonstrated the positive outcomes of the company’s portfolio, including Grafix, a placental membrane product. 

In addition, the company highlighted its products during the conference’s exhibit hall hours and sponsored a lunch symposium on the clinical and scientific advances in placental membrane use.

For more information, visit www.osiris.com. 

Compliance improved with remote monitoring

An oral presentation at SAWC Spring 2018 (Charlotte, NC) demonstrated increased patient therapy usage after contact through a remote therapy monitoring system. Use of iOn PROGRESS from KCI, an Acelity Company (San Antonio, TX), saw 73.5% of patients demonstrated increased therapy use for an average 8 hours. In addition, the rate of daily change in wound volume reduction also increased as adherence increased. The presentation was an extension of a recently published study in Wounds (HMP, Malvern, PA) that included 198 patients receiving negative pressure wound therapy at home. 

For more information, visit www.acelity.com.