New Products and Industry News

Health clinic implements new therapy treatment program

    Anodyne Therapy™ (Tampa, Fla.) announced that the Cleveland Clinic Health System is implementing use of the Anodyne Therapy System™ in their Home Health Agency, Wound Care Center, and Wooster Podiatry and Physical Therapy Clinics.

The Cleveland Clinic Health System has been using the system on an evaluation basis since April 2005 adjunctively with their advanced wound care protocols and physical therapy interventions to significantly increase circulation for wound healing, pain reduction, and balance improvement — particularly in patients with peripheral neuropathy. Based on exceptional therapeutic results, they have decided to permanently implement the therapy system as part of their regular plans of care for those patients who would benefit from its use.

    The treatments are currently available nationwide at more than 3,500 outpatient therapy facilities, hospitals, nursing homes, physician offices, and home health agencies to help improve functional outcomes for patients suffering from peripheral neuropathy, chronic pain, and a broad range of other health problems. Products are also available for home use.

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

Study indicates super-oxidized water technology reduces microbial load

    Oculus Innovative Sciences, Inc. (Petaluma, Calif.) announced results of a 218-patient, controlled clinical study. The study assessed the safety and efficacy of Microcyn™ Technology (a pH-neutral, super-oxidized water) in treating diabetic foot ulcers compared to povidone iodine (10%) antiseptic, which is often used to treat open wounds.

    In the study, the super-oxidized water technology proved superior to the povidone iodine relative to bacterial strain reduction, local adverse effects, surgical dehiscence (incidence of not healing after surgery due to infection or ischemia), and healing time.

    The key endpoint of the study was microbial load reduction at entry and surgery (or follow-up). The group treated with the super-oxidized water technology showed a significantly improved rate of microbial load reduction and healing time in open wounds as compared to the povidone iodine group. Of the ulcers in the water technology group, 88.2% had a negative microbiological specimen versus 68.5% in the povidone iodine group. The group treated with the super-oxidized water technology had no local adverse effects, while the povidone iodine group experienced 18 incidences of such effects.

    For more information, call (425) 836-3103 or email dmcfadden@oculusis.com.

Antiseptic gel kills bacteria, viruses

    Anacapa Technology Inc.’s (San Dimas, Calif.) Anasept™ Antiseptic Skin and Wound Gel is a safe topical hydrogel with a rapid broad spectrum bactericidal, effective in treating antibiotic-resistant strains methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE); it also has fungicidal and virucidal properties. There is no known microbial resistance to this product.

    The product is a pure, viscous, completely colorless, isotonic, noncytotoxic, and tissue-compatible hydrogel. It has a 2-year shelf life when stored at normal room temperature up to 25° C (77° F). The gel was shown to maintain microbiocidal activity 24 hours after application and repeated exposure to high concentrations of pathogenic micro-organisms in a simulated wound environment. The productt is available in 3-oz tubes.

    For more information, visit https://www.anacapa-tech.net.

Public health initiative leads battle against MRSA burden

    In response to the increasing clinical and economic burdens of the potentially deadly bacteria, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), an interdisciplinary group of public health, industry, and infectious disease experts has united to form the MRSA Leadership Initiative. The initiative will focus on global prevention and management of the MRSA burden through development of public and professional awareness and education programs; clinical, epidemiological and outcomes research; and projects targeted toward prevention among high-risk patient populations. Pfizer Inc. is supporting the collaborative effort.

    The MRSA Leadership Initiative includes experts in a variety of fields, including infectious diseases, nursing, long-term care, pharmacy, epidemiology, medical ethics, healthcare purchasers, payors, healthcare administration, public health, and health policy. Government, physician, and patient groups also will be involved in developing and implementing programs.

   The mission of the MRSA Leadership Initiative will be to address the growing burden of MRSA infections and prioritize programs to halt the spread of MRSA.

   For more information, call (212) 733-0127.

Suturing device protects against needlesticks

    SuturTek Incorporated (San Francisco, Calif.), announced the commercial availability of the SuturTek 360º Fascia Closure Device™. The product has been cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration with the unique safety claim that the device “is designed to aid in the prevention of suture needlestick injuries.”

   The product consists of a patented, ergonomic, reusable, suturing device that uses patented disposable suture cartridges. The suture cartridges use standard taper-point fascia closure needles and all types of standard absorbable or non-absorbable sutures. The device is faster, easier, and safer for surgeons than hand suturing because hands and fingers are not exposed to the sharp point of the needle before, during, or after the procedure; it has been used extensively in a wide variety of surgical procedures in the US and Europe.

    According to the American College of Surgeons, the most common cause of suture needlestick injury is fascia closure (closure of the underlying layer below the skin at the conclusion of most major surgical procedures), which accounts for 59% of all reported sharps injuries in the OR. Approximately 5 million fascia closures are performed each year in the US alone. In this product, the sharp point of the suture needle — which is contained within a sterile, disposable suture cartridge at all times — is never exposed.

    The product is available in the US through Progressive Medical, Inc.

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