New Products and Industry News

Negative pressure dressing wins award

  Argentum Medical, LLC (Willowbrook, IL) received the 2006 Frost & Sullivan (San Antonio, Tex) Product Innovation Award for its Silverlon® Negative Pressure Dressings.   In more than 200 unsupported clinical cases, the dressings reduced both healing time and incidence of infection. Once placed directly on the wound surface, the filler media of choice can be placed on top of the dressing. The sustained high rate of ion release, dual flow ports for fluid management, and the durable conforming silver nylon all contribute to successful clinical results.   These dressings reduce the required number of dressing changes, which significantly reduces patient pain and labor input.

  For more information, visit www.frost.com.

Easier ordering available on new system

  Supreme Medical Fulfillment Systems, Inc (Mobile, AL) recently launched a new e-commerce website. This added benefit to Supreme Medical’s national customer base allows users to log-on to place orders, obtain pricing, and check the status of pending orders.

  The website is the first of its kind, allowing healthcare professionals to view the full product catalog and published wholesale pricing without having to fill out account registration forms. The site’s biggest asset is the largest and most comprehensive Advanced Wound Care section. The Wound Care Section allows users to browse wound care product lines divided into more than 28 separate wound care dressing categories.

  For more information, visit www.SupremeMedical.com.

Dual action wound healing product wins award

Ark Therapeutics (London, UK) was awarded the 2006 European Product Innovation of the Year Award in the field of Wound Closure by Frost & Sullivan. The Frost & Sullivan Award for Product Innovation is presented each year to companies demonstrating excellence in new products and technologies within their sectors.

  The company received its award for its efforts in the development and introduction of the Kerraboot®, a dual-action product that helps accelerate chronic wound healing, particularly in the lower limbs. The product has an average dressing time of 5 minutes – half the average time taken to change standard dressings. Its easy application enables patients to change their dressings without help from nurses.

  The product facilitates drainage and isolation of exudate from the wound bed. It also helps provide a warm, moist, optimum-healing environment around specific wound sites that may be found in lower limbs. The warmth and humidity provided by the product helps increase blood flow to the ulcer or diseased area and accelerate wound healing.

  For more information, call +44 (0) 20 7388 7722.

Wound and hyperbarics center scheduled to open in June

  A $1.45 million Health First Wound Management and Hyperbarics Center will open in Palm Bay, Fla this June. The 7,000-square-foot center will be the home of the brand new eight-person multiplace chamber.

  Patients will be treated by a multidisciplinary team that includes local independent podiatrists, neurologists, internal medicine physicians, and general surgeons who collaborate to help patients heal properly. The center’s staff ensures the development of an individual treatment plan for each patient according to the type of wound and its underlying cause.

  For more information, call (321) 434-8020.

Software helps clinicians track wound healing

  Medline (Mundelein, IL) announces the release of PictZar®, a new medical software program that helps clinicians more accurately measure and track the progress of wound healing, resulting in better care.

  The user-friendly software program virtually eliminates the potential for human error in wound measurement and progress tracking. A clinician takes a digital image of the wound and a ruler. Instead of using the ruler to measure the wound, the ruler becomes a calibration tool. Once the clinician loads the image of the wound and ruler onto a computer, the software calibrates to that ruler, accurately calculating and recording the length, width, area, and circumference of the wound.

  Accurately tracking chronic wounds allows for better diagnosis and improved outcomes in addition to complying with CMS guidelines on wound care by providing critical documentation as it tracks wound progress by calculating the change in the area of the wound.

  For more information, visit www.medline.com.

Company releases new hydrogel

  Anacapa Technologies, Inc (San Dimas, CA) recently released Silver Shield™ Silver Antimicrobial Skin & Wound Gel. This clear, non-irritating, amorphous hydrogel does not stain or discolor tissue and maintains a high level of antimicrobial effectiveness for up to 3 days.

  The hydrogel is effective against bacteria including the antibiotic resistant strains methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), as well as fungi such as Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. It exhibits antimicrobial barrier properties even in the presence of organic substances in wound fluid that typically interfere and inhibit the action of antimicrobial agents.

  For more information, visit www.anacapa-tech.net.

New line of positioning products available

  EHOB, Inc (Indianapolis, IN) recently launched a line of positioning products for the lower extremities that promote proper alignment of the ankle, knee, and hip. The WAFFLE® FootHold™ with Splint prevents and treats foot drop, ankle contractures, and heel ulcers due to immobility, trauma, or illness.

  The products contain the patented Hydro-Cushion - a flowing gel enclosed in a soft pouch. The cushion floats and lifts the heel while gently cradling the foot without increasing pressure and shear to the Achilles tendon.

  Products are designed with a cutout window on each side, allowing the practitioner to visibly assess the heel. Optional flat or rocker soles are available for transfers and ambulation. The products can be used in the hospital, long-term care, and home care and are ideal for the ambulatory and recumbent patients.

  For more information, visit www.ehob.com.

Antiseptic agent decreases risk of infection and MRSA

  Sage Products, Inc (Cary, IL) offers Chlorhexidine Gluconate (CHG) antiseptic cloths. Preparing the skin with antiseptic agents can help lower the risk of surgical site infections (SSIs). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), SSIs are the leading hospital-acquired infections and the third most common hospital-acquired infections for surgery patients. Patients are increasingly carrying harmful and potentially resistant bacteria on their skin such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

  An SSI can increase hospital length of stay from 7 to 10 days and accounts for $25,546 in average treatment costs. Patients entering hospitals carry germs - the hospital inherits whatever organisms they carry, ultimately increasing infection risk.

  The product is applied to patients’ skin to suppress bacterial growth. Using the agent before surgery is a necessary component of all preoperative medical procedures, which supports hospital infection control efforts and improves patient safety.

  The CDC’s Hospital Infection Control Practices Committee has set guidelines to aid in the prevention of SSIs and recommends preoperative antiseptic cleansing to reduce local bacteria the night before surgery. This product is the only preoperative skin prep agent recognized by the CDC for its activity against Gram-positive bacteria and residual activity. The product immediately fights micro-organisms on application to the skin and continues antimicrobial activity for hours after application.

  For more information, visit www.sageproducts.com.

New limb protectors won’t slip or bunch

  DermaSaver (Canton, MA), manufacturers of the HipSaver soft hip protector, now offer a complete line of skin protection products. Using MicroSpring™ textile, the breathable, washable, antimicrobial fabric used in the company’s products replaces foam, fleece, and gels to reduce pressure, shear, and friction.

  DermaSaver Skin Tubes™ are designed to cover the limbs loosely without slipping down or bunching up. Thousands of microfilaments act as tiny springs to protect the skin from bumps, bruises, abrasions, and skin tears. The tubes are available for arms, legs, forearms, and shins. These products replace traditional tight-fitting cotton/spandex sleeves.

  For more information, visit www.dermasaver.com.

New microbial sealant launched in US

  Kimberly-Clark Health Care (Roswell, GA) launched its Kimberly-Clark* InteguSeal* Microbial Sealant, a first-in-class microbial barrier designed to reduce the risk of skin flora contamination throughout a surgical procedure. The product uses a proprietary formulation to seal and immobilize pathogens to help protect against migration into an incision.

  Used in more than 15,000 applications during surgical procedures internationally, the product received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval as a class II medical device and is now available for sale in the US.

  The product’s mechanism of action does not promote bacterial resistance and does not need to be removed for suture or closure. Easy-to-apply and fast-drying, the sealant can be used with a variety of skin preparation treatments and surgical products. The film bonds to skin surfaces with different curvature, hair content, or types of flora present.

  For more information, visit www.kchealthcare.com/ssi.

Breakthrough polymer wound care technology will benefit armed forces

  The team of scientists from Polymer Solutions Incorporated (Blacksburg, VA) led the research and development activities that created an advanced polymer wound care bandage – TheraGauze™. This bandage stays moist for multiple days and is non-stick.

  The bandage will help military casualties heal faster and with less pain. The hydrogel polymer acts like a molecular pump to infuse water, saline, or medicine into a wound site while also acting like a molecular sponge to remove wound site exudates.

  The dressing can be left in place longer, the moisture control quiets nerve function, and the non-stick feature will not disturb the wound bed. The dressing will improve the treatment of severe wounds, burns, and amputations suffered by our Armed Forces.

  For more information, visit www.PolymerSolutions.com.

Clinical chairs help prevent pressure ulcers

  Winco (Ocala, FL) is incorporating LiquiCell® (Minneapolis, MN) comfort technology in its fully upholstered clinical chairs and several long-term chairs. When incorporated with these products, LiquiCell will help prevent pressure ulcers without interfering with patient positioning and stability.

  LiquiCell Technologies, Inc., maker of LiquiCell and a leading manufacturer of comfort materials, signed a licensing agreement with Winco, allowing them to use the ultra thin, liquid interface technology in selected products. One particular product is the best-selling Winco® Dual Swing-Arm Elite Care Cliners.

  The companies have partnered to share their mission to develop new and improved ways to provide patients and caregivers outstanding quality and comfort.

  For more information, visit www.winco-medquip.com.