Medline Industries, Inc, Mundelein, Illinois, has launched the MatriStem Extracelluar Matrix Wound Sheet, a new cutting-edge wound care technology that acts as a microscopic "scaffold" to encourage wound healing. MatriStem, a parchment-like sheet made from specific layers of pig bladder, is a natural extracellular matrix that can be applied to the site of an injury or damaged skin to encourage the body's own capabilities to repair and restore tissue. Placed in a wound bed, MatriStem provides a 3-dimensional structural scaffold for cells and uses a specialized structure known as the basement membrane, which acts as a medium through which epithelial cells rebuild themselves. The MatriStem extracellular matrix facilitates wound healing by providing an environment to support replenishment of new tissue cells at the wound site. The product can be used in the management of partial- and full-thickness wounds, such as diabetic, venous, arterial, and pressure ulcers; surgical and trauma wounds; and superficial and partial-thickness burns.
[black up pointing small triangle] Information:http://www.medline.com
Gaymar Industries, Orchard Park, New York, recently introduced the Sof*Care Stretcher Overlay. The Sof*Care Stretcher Overlay is designed to help protect patients against pressure ulcers during transport and while waiting in emergency departments, operating rooms, postanesthesia care units, and other stages of care. The product redistributes the patient's weight using Gaymar's Sof*Care 3-layer air-channeling technology. The Sof*Care Stretcher Overlay immerses the patient in more than 300 air cells and prevents bottoming even when the head of the stretcher is raised, helping to keep ulcers from forming and allowing existing ulcers to heal.
[black up pointing small triangle] Information:http://www.gaymar.com
Derma Sciences, Inc, Princeton, New Jersey, has received clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration for marketing and distribution of its first BIOGUARD Barrier Dressings. BIOGUARD will offer surgeons, wound care clinicians, infection control experts, and primary care physicians a new weapon against the transmission of such virulent bacteria as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Sales of the dressings are expected to commence in June 2009.
The gauze-based line of dressings incorporates Quick-Med Technologies, Inc's (Boca Raton, Florida) patented NIMBUS (Novel Intrinsically Micro Bonded Utility Substrate) cationic biocide technology, which is permanently bonded to the gauze, keeping it from depleting in the presence of wound fluid and bacteria, while killing microbes that are drawn into the absorbent dressing.
[black up pointing small triangle] Information:http://www.dermasciences.com
KCI, Inc, San Antonio, Texas, has launched a US campaign to educate clinicians and patients about effective management of diabetic foot wounds with the use of KCI's proprietary V.A.C. Therapy System. As part of the campaign, KCI recently introduced 2 new dressings for treating diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). Both dressings are designed exclusively for use with V.A.C. The V.A.C. GranuFoam Bridge Dressing is expected to simplify application in DFUs where it is compatible with off-loading devices. For shorter bridging applications in DFUs where off-loading is not required, KCI recently launched its V.A.C. Simplace Dressing.
KCI also launched a new Web site for clinicians and patients as part of the campaign. The site, http://www.helphealdfus.com, features clinical evidence and data demonstrating the benefits and positive healing outcomes of V.A.C. Therapy in treating DFUs, information on the impact of diabetic foot wounds in the United states, and a frequently asked questions section.
[black up pointing small triangle] Information:http://www.kci1.com
Prospera Technologies, Fort Worth, Texas, announced that Swedish researchers directly compared the use of high and low pressures for negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in a pig model, and clinicians are noting the biological benefits of lower, intermittent, and variable pressures, including reduced patient pain and increased granulation tissue formation. Findings of the study, "Biological Effects of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy at Low Levels of Negative Pressure-Intermittent and Variable NPWT," recently were presented at the John A. Boswick Burn and Wound Care Symposium in Maui, Hawaii. Traditionally, NPWT has been administered continuously at high pressures of -125 mm Hg and has been associated with pain and potential ischemia, which can lead to cell death, according to the researchers.
Using laser Doppler in a pig wound model, the investigators examined the effects at pressures ranging from as low as -10 to -175 mm Hg. In variable NPWT, 2 alternating pressure levels are used, but negative pressure is always maintained, without a drop to 0 mm Hg. The study showed that blood flow changed gradually with increasing levels of negative pressure, reaching 100% of maximum effect at approximately -75 mm Hg.
[black up pointing small triangle] Information:http://www.prospera-npwt.com
ConvaTec, Skillman, New Jersey, has signed a long-term global exclusive license agreement with Boehringer Technologies, Norristown, Pennsylvania, to market and distribute Boehringer's Engenex Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) System incorporating Bio-Dome Interface Technology. Launched in 2007, the NPWT system uses the application of negative pressure to a wound to promote healing by creating controlled tissue strain and removing excess fluid, including wound exudate. From the wound interface to the user interface, the system has been designed to attain optimal clinical and economic outcomes as well as a simplified application and monitoring system for patient care, according to the manufacturer.
[black up pointing small triangle] Information:http://www.convatec.com