New Products and Industry News

Multinational survey reveals pain and trauma at wound dressing changes

   Preventing trauma to the wound and pain to the patient were the main concerns of a recently conducted multinational wound care survey.

   Nearly 4,000 practitioners from 11 countries across Europe and North America took part in the survey, the results of which were announced at the annual congress of the European Wound Management Association (EWMA) 23 May in Granada, Spain.

   Practitioners consistently ranked dressing removal as the time of greatest pain. Pain-free removal was the most highly desired characteristic of a dressing; five countries considering it the most important factor.

   Seven of the countries ranked trauma as the most important consideration in their approach to pain.

   Christine Moffatt, president of EWMA, says the findings raise important issues for wound care professionals and advocates the use of dressings such as soft silicone products which helps promote pain free removal.

   To help remedy this problem, EWMA produced a position document on pain at wound dressing changes.

   The position document is peer-reviewed and contains full details of the multinational survey, an explanation of the complex underlying mechanisms involved in acute and chronic pain, and a guide to the management of procedural pain. It is available in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish.

   Both the survey and the position document have been supported with an educational grant from Molnlycke Health Care, AB (Newtown, Pa.).

   For more information contact Tom Gillespie, Marketing Brand Manager - Tendra Wound Care at (800) 882-4582, ext, 2048 or tom.gillespie@molnlycke.net.

Derma Sciences Inc. agrees to acquire Canadian-based Dumex Medical Inc.

   Derma Sciences Inc. (Princeton, NJ) has entered into an agreement to purchase the assets and business operations of privately held Dumex Medical Inc, (Toronto, Ontario, Canada).

   Dumex is a manufacturer and distributor of wound care products and other medical devices to hospitals and the medical institution market with 2001 sales of $9.1 million (US). In 2001, 76% of Dumex sales were in Canada and 24% in the United States.

   The purchase price of approximately $3.76 million will be financed by a combination of cash-on-hand, draws against Derma's credit line, and the assumption of Dumex indebtedness.

   Derma will operate Dumex as a wholly owned subsidiary. Derma has entered into an employment agreement with Dumex Founder and CEO, William Goodwin, who will continue as CEO of the subsidiary, and plans to employ the other key executives of Dumex.

Kidney and Urology Foundation announces grant funding for research

   The Kidney and Urology Foundation of America (New York City, NY) is providing $1.4 million in grant funding for research and clinical fellowships, as well as career development and young investigators awards. This year, more than 20 research and clinical fellowships in kidney and urologic research will be available. The Foundation also is awarding a young investigator $50,000 for 2 years and the same amount will be presented to an investigator as a career development award. In addition, awards have been granted for research projects at institutions such a University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md.

   For the 2002-2003 funding year, the Kidney and Urology Foundation awarded 21 research and clinical fellowships of $30,000 annually, each of which are renewable. The grants cover a wide range of disease study, from the functional genomics of diabetic nephropathy to the correlation between depression and urinary incontinence.

   To learn more about the organization, visit www.kidneyurology.org. - OWM

NASL urges Congress to repeal cap on therapy

   The National Association for the Support of Long Term Care (NASL, Alexandria, Va.) is urging Congress to adopt S.1394, the "Medicare Access Rehabilitation Services Act of 2001."

   The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 included an arbitrary $1,500 cap on most outpatient rehabilitation services, including those for patients who suffer from strokes, Parkinson's Disease, and other debilitating conditions.

   Since that act, Congress has placed two moratoria on the act, but without Congressional action now, the cap will become effective on January 1, 2003.
   Visit www.nasl.org/advocacy.com to learn more.

New dressings for IV sites

   To meet the challenges of difficult-to-dress IV sites, 3M Medical Division (St. Paul, Minn.) introduces two new Tegaderm IV Transparent Dressings: Catalogue Numbers 1610 and 1655. Catalog No. 1610 is designed as a pediatric IV dressing, offering superior site protection and catheter secural. Its size and design incorporate a soft cloth reinforced notch for a better seal and reduced edge lift around the catheter.

   Two sterile tape straps accompany each dressing for securing the catheter hub, tubing, or both. The notched portion of the dressing also includes two colorful Tegaderm Bear characters and may eliminate the need for a separate hub cushion.

   Catalog No. 1655 is designed as a universal site dressing. Easy and versatile to use, it is well suited for many common central catheter site dressing applications, including jugular, subclavian, and PICC lines. This product, like the pediatric model, utilizes the soft cloth notched design. The soft cloth extends around the entire edge of the dressing to provide patient comfort and dressing durability. Two sterile tape strips help secure the catheter hub, lumens, and/or tubing.

   For more information, please visit www.3M.com/healthcare, or call the 3M Health Care Customer Helpline at (800) 228-3957.

Compression stocking makes treatment easier

   Hartmann-Conco Inc. (Rock Hill, SC) introduced a new, two-piece compression stocking system that makes treatment of venous leg ulcers easier and more effective for physicians and patients. TheraPress DUO and TheraPress DUO Lite divide the pressure required at the narrow part of the ankle into two separate pieces (the calf and foot pieces are applied separately) - each with half of the required compression. The product allows patients greater mobility and flexibility in daily living. Because application and removal are easy, patients can shower or bathe daily. The product also is not bulky, so patients can wear normal footwear while wearing the stocking.

   The product is available in two compression levels. TheraPress Duo is a Class 2 compression system that produces approximately 30 mm Hg at the ankle and is indicated for venous leg ulcer patients with no arterial insufficiency. TheraPress DUO Lite is a Class 1 compression system that produces approximately 20 mm Hg at the ankle and is indicated for venous leg ulcer patients with a slight degree of arterial insufficiency.

   Both products are available in eight sizes and are designed to fit ankle circumferences from 19 cm to 31 cm and calf circumferences from 30 cm to 50 cm.

   For more information, contact Hartmann-Conco Inc. at (800) 243-2294 or gerry.harold@hartmann-conco.com.

Waterless hand rinse is germicidal

   Regent Medical (Anaheim Calif.) offers healthcare practitioners Hibistat® - a waterless alternative to liquid soap when routine hand washing is not possible or convenient. With its combination of 70% isopropyl alcohol and 0.5% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) formula, the product provides rapid bactericidal action when hands are physically clean but in need of degerming. The alcohol + CHG formula provides immediate and persistent activity to reduce the chance of cross-infection of patients.

   Portable, accessible, and latex compatible, the hand wash is available in 4- and 8-oz bottles. Healthcare personnel are instructed to dispense 5 mL into cupped hands and rub vigorously until dry to provide quick-drying, long-lasting antimicrobial activity that is gentle and non-irritating to hands.

   For more information, call (800) 843-8497 or visit www.regentmedical.com.