New Products and Industry News

Static-air products have multiple uses

  EHOB, Inc’s (Indianapolis, IN) newest lower-extremity products include the Foot WAFFLE® Custom and Foot WAFFLE Heel Elevator Custom. The Foot WAFFLE Custom’s sloped design mirrors the natural shape of the leg as it angles from the calf down to the ankle, securely holding the leg and foot in place. Complete with new, air-filled straps, the product enables pressure ulcer prevention and patient comfort across the top of the leg and foot, while the foot strap and newly modified ankle section prevent shifting of the foot and assist in the proper alignment of the lower extremity. Showcasing the same enhanced features and benefits, the Foot WAFFLE Heel Elevator Custom fits lower on a patient’s leg. The all-new Custom products effectively deliver maximum patient comfort.   For more information, visit www.ehob.com.

Report shows improved energy efficiency

  DM Systems, Inc (Evanston, IL) released its Environmental Sustainability Report, focusing on energy efficiency, transportation impacts, waste reduction, and employee engagement. The report demonstrated the difference small steps can make.

  Working with corporate sustainability consultants Go2Green (www.gotogreenprojects.com), the company recognized its current environmental impact and found areas for improvement. Office improvements for commuting cyclists earned them a bicycle-friendly business designation through the League of American Bicyclists, lighting upgrades reduced carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 5 tons, and simple printing practice changes saved cartridges and money. Next steps include biodegradable packaging to save hospital clients waste disposal costs.

  For more information, visit, www.dmsystems.com.

Reimbursement improved for bio-engineered living cell-based product

  Apligraf® (Organogenesis Inc, Canton, MA) established improved coverage from multiple payers, improving access to care for millions of patients with chronic, nonhealing wounds. This is the first and only cell-based product with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the treatment of both diabetic foot ulcers and venous leg ulcers. Clinical studies of the application were based on up to five treatments, comprising weekly assessments and/or applications, over a 12-week period.

  For more information, visit, www.organogenesis.com.

SAWC/WHS attendees walk for wound care

  ConvaTec (Skillman, NJ) donated $10,000 to the Association for the Advancement of Wound Care’s (AAWC) Global Volunteers program through the SAWC Walk for Wellness that took place at the 25th Annual Symposium on Advanced Wound Care and Wound Healing Society (SAWC/WHS) in Atlanta, GA from April 19 to April 22, 2012. The Walk for Wellness helped raise awareness of the AAWC Global Volunteers program and the need for ongoing education and training to promote access to proper wound treatment for the underserved in developing countries and North America. Conference participants were provided pedometers that counted their steps, and they were encouraged to engage in additional physical activity.

  For more information, please visit www.convatec.com.

NIH awards grant for antibacterial dressings

  Imbed Biosciences, Inc (Madison, WI), has been awarded a Phase 1 Small Business Innovation Research grant of $326,489 by the National Institute for Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, a division of the National Institutes of Health. During the 12-month project, “Antibacterial molecular coatings pre-fabricated for biologic wound dressings,” the company will collaborate with Jonathan F. McAnulty, DVM, PhD, Professor and Chair of Surgical Sciences in the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

  For more information, visit www.imbedbio.com.

CE mark granted for wound spray

  Based on a patent by Sangui Biotech International, Inc (Witten, Germany), the technology for a spray aimed at improving chronic wound healing is now available after certification as a class III medical product was granted. Global licensee SastoMed will oversee marketing and distribution of the product, Granulox. The CE mark certification for Granulox was obtained only 16 months after the founding of the joint venture company SastoMed by Sangui BioTech GmbH and SanderStrothman GmbH.

  For more information, visit www.sanguibiotech.com.

Foam tape offers patient comfort, breathability

  Avery Dennison Medical Solution’s (Chicago, IL) new highly breathable and conformable medical foam tape provides comfortable, breathable securement and can serve as a backing material in multiple constructions including multilayer wound dressings and fixation devices.

  Sold as a component, MED 5663U medical foam tape consists of a soft polyurethane carrier, skin-friendly acrylic adhesive, and a paper release liner. The tape’s tan-colored carrier has a film and foam laminate structure and features a smooth outer layer that minimizes friction from clothes, bedding, and other fabrics. The carrier conforms to body contours and permits free movement without stretching the skin.

  For more information, visit www.medical.averydennison.com.