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New Products and Industry News

August 2006

Expert panel updates guidelines for use of NPWT device on diabetic foot wounds

  Kinetic Concepts Inc. (San Antonio, Tex), announces the publication of new clinical guidelines on the use of KCI’s Vacuum Assisted Closure® (V.A.C.® Therapy) in the treatment of the diabetic foot. The new guidelines were compiled by a multidisciplinary panel of experts and are intended to update the findings published in the 2004 guidelines. Specifically, the latest guidelines weigh the most current clinical evidence, refute or confirm current consensus, provide practical clinical guidance and best practices to clinicians treating diabetic foot wounds, and help direct future research.

  These updated guidelines add to a growing base of clinical evidence, which now includes several randomized controlled trials and numerous published clinical studies and abstracts supporting its clinical efficacy.

  Specifically, the consensus panel discussed and commented on a series of questions relating to the application and usage of the negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) device.

  The general consensus as presented in the updated guidelines is as follows:
  – V.A.C.® Therapy is rapidly becoming a standard of care for complex diabetic foot wounds and can be used in conjunction with a variety of other advanced wound care modalities
  – Optimal use of this modality helps convert complex wounds into more manageable wounds
  – Combining the modality with adequate offloading and debridement can yield consistently positive results.

  The consensus document was published in a supplement to the June 2006 issues of WOUNDS and OstomyWound Management and the July 2006 issues of Podiatry Today and Vascular Disease Management.

  For more information, call (877) WOUND VAC.

 

Absorbent acrylic dressing provides simple, effective treatment of sacral wounds

  3M (St. Paul, Minn) announced the addition of a sacral shape wound dressing to the 3M™ Tegaderm™ Absorbent Clear Acrylic Dressing line. The new sacral shape dressing is designed to facilitate sacral site wound monitoring and absorbent capabilities necessary for fluid management. This dressing gives clinicians a new option for effective, simple, and dependable wound treatment.

  The new sacral design builds on a line of absorbent clear acrylic dressings that offer additional benefits compared to other commonly used dressings. According to a recent study evaluating Stage II and III pressure ulcers, Tegaderm Absorbent rated significantly better than the leading hydrocolloid dressing on a variety of comparison points, including:
  • Ability to assess the wound before and after absorption
  • Wear time
  • Patient comfort
  • Presence of residue on the skin or in the wound
  • Odor reduction.

  Study results showed that the dressing retained all the positive features of hydrocolloid dressings while improving on inherent limitations including lack of transparency, wear time, residue, and odor. Tegaderm dressings may facilitate fewer dressing changes, improving nursing productivity and overall treatment cost.

  The clear layer of the sacral shape dressing allows clinicians to monitor sacral wound progress before and after absorption. It also may eliminate unscheduled dressing changes, saving valuable time and money and providing better patient comfort. The absorbent layer provides a moist wound environment, promoting autolytic wound debridement.

  For more information, visit www.3m.com/Tegaderm or call (800) 228-3957.

 

Study indicates platelet-rich plasma gel is safe, may enhance healing and prevent amputations

  Cytomedix Inc. (Rockville, Md) announces the publication of the results of its diabetic foot ulcer prospective trial for the AutoloGel™ System. The article, entitled “A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Trial of Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma Gel for the Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers,” was published in the June 2006 issue of OstomyWound Management (OWM). The clinical trial was sponsored and funded by Cytomedix, conducted under a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) by independent clinical researchers and managed and monitored by an external contract research organization.

  The study concluded that in the 40 wounds per-protocol group, 13 out of 19 (68.4%) of the AutoloGel and nine out of 21 (42.9%) of the control wounds healed. After adjusting for wound size outliers, significantly more AutoloGel- (13 out of 16, 81.3%) than control gel- (eight out of 19, 42.1%) treated wounds healed. Wound sizes in the study are typical of the wound area treated in published prospective trials for competitive wound products. The Kaplan-Meier time-to-healing also was significantly different between groups. No treatment-related serious adverse events were reported.

  For more information, visit www.cytomedix.com.

 

Company offers comprehensive preclinical testing services

  Bridge Preclinical Testing Services (Bridge PTS, San Antonio, Tex) offers a comprehensive line of preclinical animal models of acute, semi-chronic, and infected wounds. The models include debridement, ischemia, diabetes, catheter- and other device-related infections. These models have been used to test hundreds of therapeutic products ranging from medical devices to chemical and peptide drugs to enzymes and grafts. The company also has expertise in working with infectious microbial and fungal strains.

  Dedicated to the research and development of new wound healing models and device-related infection, the company is pursuing both internal and collaborative research projects that will focus on unique species ranging from mammals to insects. The company is currently working to validate these new model systems.

  The company’s core values—integrity, optimism, and technical excellence—are helping to build its reputation as a premier outsourcing partner for drug and medical device companies in the fields of wound healing and infection-related complications.

  For more information, call (210) 842-5890 or email paul.attar@bridgepts.com.

 

New dynamic pressure-relieving mattress replacement system benefits patients

  TriLine Medical, LLC (Van Nuys, Calif) introduces the new ProCair One™ and ProCair Two™ dynamic pressure-relieving mattress replacement systems that feature OPERA™ (Optimum Pressure Equalization Reaction Assembly) technology. These self-inflating mattress replacement systems allow healthcare providers to provide optimal interface pressures through controlled air cell inflation for low- to high-risk patients.

  The mattress system requires no adjustments or manual inflation devices and features a three-zone inner air core that automatically adjusts to meet the needs of each patient based on body profile and weight. Each zone (head, seat, and foot) is optimized independently to maximize pressure relief.

  The system is an easy-to-use, non-powered, 7-inch dynamic air mattress replacement system that provides maximum pressure relief and produces excellent clinical outcomes. The system features a high-resiliency topper, a fluid proof low-shear upper surface, and a firm surround.

  The ProCair Two™ includes the same features with the added benefit that it easily converts into an alternating pressure mattress system by adding the OPERA Wind™ control unit. The system incorporates a sophisticated internal hosing and valve system that is invisible to the caregiver and patient but enables simple conversion from active alternating pressure relief to passive pressure profiling that mimics low-air-loss pressures.

  For more information, call (800) 966-6662 or email info@trilinemedical.com.

 

Equipment manufacturer launches electric profiling hospital bed

  Huntleigh Healthcare announced the launch of the new Enterprise™ hospital bed. The bed, which has many features designed to improve efficiency and reduce risks, is suitable for use in all acute care environments.

  The benefits of the bed include:
  – Fall prevention: the low 12-inch height helps reduce the risk of patient falls
  – Pressure area care: the Bio-Contour® profiling system has been proven to give better pressure reduction than other profiling beds, helping to reduce the risk of pressure ulcer development
  – Infection control: the beds were designed to be easy to clean and decontaminate
  – Maneuverability: the bed is lightweight and easy to maneuver
  – Service/engineering: open accessibility means changes/maintenance can be carried out within a few minutes by one person.

  For more information, call (888) 223-1218.

 

New antiseptic product helps fight infection

  Professional Disposables International (PDI), the Healthcare Division of Nice-Pak Products, Inc., expanded its line into the pharmaceutical market with Chlorascrub™. Now offered to nurses, physicians, and lab technicians, the product is easy-to-use with a fast kill time and prolonged antimicrobial activity. It consists of 3.15% chlorhexidine gluconate and 70% isopropyl alcohol in pre-moistened swab, swabstick, and maxi swabstick delivery systems and may be used for a variety of antiseptic skin preparation needs such as peripheral IVs, blood cultures, and minor surgical procedures.

  The swabs will be sold in quantities of 100 per box, the CHG Swabstick™ will be offered in quantities of 50 per box, and the CHG Maxi Swabstick™ will be sold in boxes of 30.

  For more information, call (888) 437-6704 or e-mail chlorascrubchg@pdipdi.com.

 

Tissue repair society hosts 16th annual meeting

  The European Tissue Repair Society (ETRS) Annual meeting will be held in Pisa, Italy, September 13–16, 2006. The theme of the conference will be “Innovation in Tissue Repair: From the Lab to the Patient.” The conference will cover such topics as angiogenesis, biofilms, stem cells, and tissue engineering.

  The meeting will be preceded by a 1-day event organized by the ETRS that will address all aspects regarding “How to become a wound healer.” Within the ETRS scientific program, delegates will be able to explore topics in a wide range of educational events, from plenary sessions to workshops and satellite symposia. Several sessions will include presentations from young investigators who will participate in the ETRS awards contest.

  Social events included in the registration fee are a welcome reception on Wednesday and a special evening and gala dinner including entertainment on Friday.

  The ETRS is a non-profit organization founded in 1988. The society aims to promote knowledge and interchange between scientists, healthcare professionals, industry, and other individuals with an interest in comprehensive tissue repair.

  For more information, visit www.etrs.org/pisa.