New Products and Industry News

Fecal management system diverts waste and helps prevent infection

    ConvaTec (Princeton, NJ) introduces the Flexi-Seal® Fecal Management System (FMS), an advanced alternative to more traditional diversion and containment designed to dramatically improve fecal incontinence management. The product is indicated for patients with liquid to semi-liquid stool.

    Ineffective fecal incontinence management can lead to serious skin breakdown, potentially increasing hospital stay and risk of hospital-acquired infection. In addition, ineffective fecal incontinence management is associated with high incidence of dermatitis and ulceration. More traditional fecal incontinence management systems also can increase demand on ICU nursing time.

    The system contains a soft silicone catheter assembly. The soft catheter is inserted into the rectum and retained using a low-pressure retention balloon. The device diverts and contains fecal waste, protecting the patient’s skin to help prevent the risk of skin breakdown and infection from fecal matter.

    For more information, visit https://www.convatec.com.

Cellulose wound dressing launched

    Medline Industries Inc. (Mundelein, Ill.) introduces XCell cellulose dressings, the company’s first line of bioengineered wound dressings. The dressing has been used to treat a wide range of chronic and acute wounds, including venous, diabetic, pressure and arterial ulcers; donor sites; traumatic wounds; and skin tears. Documentation from clinical trials shows the dressing provides pain relief, improves granulation tissue growth and epithlielization, and protects the periwound skin from maceration. By simultaneously hydrating dry surfaces and absorbing excess fluid from wet surfaces, the dressing provides a continuous balance of moisture.

    The product is cool to the touch and immediately soothes the wound area when applied. The soft, flexible construction conforms to wound contours. The non-adherent surface does not disturb the new tissue growth when removed. The bioengineered moisture-handling structure is able to maintain the optimum moisture balance in a wound and can hydrate one area of a wound, while it absorbs fluid from another, to achieve the optimum moisture balance throughout the healing process. The dressing’s ability to form a “neo-blister” provides protection to the wound bed, thus reducing pain.

    For more information, please visit https://www.medline.com/.

Company seeks participants for product trial

    EHOB (Indianapolis, Ind.) is developing a line of WAFFLE® products specifically designed for bariatric use. The new cushion achieves the same level of care and prevention in a lower profile by incorporating a larger number of smaller, uniform holes. The diamond-shaped pattern of holes distributes the patient’s weight more evenly and eliminates the “rocking sensation” sometimes felt while seated. Material stress is also minimized using this new design. Due to the low cost, the patient can take the seat cushion to the next level of treatment in the continuum of care.

    A limited number of bariatric seat cushions (28" x 21") are available for evaluation use. The company is interested in distributing free cushions to caregivers who can use them and help evaluate them.

    For more information, please email corporate@ehob.com. Include your name, facility, and phone number.

FDA approves hydrocortisone ointment

    Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Hawthorne, NY) reported US Food and Drug Administration approval for the company’s Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for Hydrocortisone Butyrate Ointment, 0.1%.

    The hydrocortisone butyrate ointment is bioequivalent to Ferndale Laboratories’ (Ferndale, Mich.) Locoid® ointment. Hydrocortisone butyrate ointment is a prescription topical corticosteroid product used in managing inflammatory skin conditions.

    For further information, please visit https://www.taro.com.

New system keeps long-term care patients drier

    SCA (Eddystone, Pa.)- February 1, 2005 unveiled the TENA® InstaDri Skin-Caring System™, a new design that employs wicking technology to keep long-term care facility residents drier to help maintain skin integrity. The system’s technology consists of three advanced components designed specifically to keep the resident’s skin drier and more comfortable: a new transfer layer that allows fluid to almost instantly enter the dual core, helping to promote skin dryness; the Dry-Fast Dual Core™ technology that rapidly wicks fluid away from the skin, trapping it into the lower core; and strategic placement of superabsorbent polymers to improve fluid absorption.

    For more information, please visit https://www.tenausa.com. 

Companies forge product-licensing agreement

    Healthpoint (Fort Worth, Tex.) has entered into an agreement with Collegium Pharmaceutical Inc., (Cumberland, RI) to license and sell two, patent-pending, late-stage topical analgesics — one an over-the-counter product, the other a prescription application. The patent application includes both products.

    According to the companies, these products offer clinical advantages over currently available formulations. A product launch is anticipated for the first half of 2005.

    For more information, visit https://www.healthpoint.com or https://www.collegiumpharma.com.

Compression stockings for the fashion-conscious

    Sigvaris Inc. (Peachtree City, Ga.) announces the launch of the Sigvaris® 773 Truly Transparent medical compression stockings. These sheer compression stockings are indistinguishable from ordinary hosiery. They are comfortable to wear, easy to put on, and offer graduated compression from ankle to waist. The stockings come in knee-hi, thigh-hi, and waist length, and are available in four colors: black, suntan, natural, and black mist. The available compression level is 30 mm Hg to 40 mm Hg.

    The stockings are ideal for women who need daily medical compression due to varicose veins, swollen ankles or feet, or have just undergone sclerotherapy.

    The stockings are made with elastic threads that are double-covered with nylon to reduce friction between the skin and elastic threads.

    For more information, call 770-632-2932 or e-mail sunita.pargass@ganzoni.com.