Merrimack , N.H.-based Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics recently introduced the OneSuit Pro hazmat suit, which is certified to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1991 and 1994 standards. The NFPA develops, publishes and disseminates more than 300 consensus codes and standards intended to minimize the possibility and effects of exposure to fire, chemicals and other associated risks.
Saint-Gobain’s patent-pending CoreTech Barrier Membrane technology enables the under 10-pound OneSuit Pro to protect wearers against chemical and biological agents in both liquid and vapor form. The new suit has a single-skin design that the company said makes it more maneuverable and comfortable. OneSuit Pro features a minimum seven-year shelf life. Saint-Gobain’s other products include OneSuit Flash, OneSuit Guard and OneGlove Hazmat.
Cardiac Telemetry Tracking
Morrisville, N.C.-based RadarFind introduced a new location tracking capability for cardiac telemetry devices. As part of its development of a “real-time location system” for tracking medical equipment and patients, the company is currently collaborating with Mary Washington Hospital of Fredericksburg, Va., to create an asset-tracking tag designed specifically to fit cardiac telemetry units.
Cardiac telemetry devices monitor a patient’s heart rate and transmit that information, usually to a nurse’s station. The size of the units—about the size of a deck of cards—allows patients to leave their beds and walk around or be transported by stretcher while still being monitored by staff. But telemetry devices are often misplaced or rolled up in bed linens, mistakenly laundered and destroyed, costing hospitals thousands of dollars. RadarFind’s ability to pinpoint a device’s location to within a specific room or area allows patient care staff to see exactly where the patient wearing the telemetry unit is when he or she needs assistance, and the product has the added benefit of allowing hospitals to keep the loss of telemetry devices to a minimum.
Stem Cell Treatment for Wounds
NeoStem will license the rights to a new product and procedure that uses autologous bone marrow-derived stem cells to promote the healing of chronic wounds. Developed by Dr. Vincent Falanga of the Roger Williams Medical Center in Providence, R.I., the patent-pending product is a mesenchymal stem cell product that could potentially be used to accelerate or spur the healing of chronic wounds. Falanga aims to develop a prepackaged product that physicians would apply three times over a 12-week period in a clinical setting. DoD by 2010 will have distributed $681,000 in funding for NeoStem to evaluate the use of stem cells for treating wounds.
“Chronic wounds are a major unmet medical need for both civilians and military personnel,” said Dr. Robin Smith, NeoStem CEO. “For example, in 2003, in the United States, 120,000 diabetic patients required treatment for a chronic wound and 75,000 required lower extremity amputations related to unhealed wounds, costing the health care system in excess of $4 billion. Radiation exposure, severe burns and crush injuries of the bone are other causes of chronic open wounds. Our goal, through the DoD grant, is to determine if there are multiple sources of autologous stem cells to effectively treat wounds, and Dr. Falanga’s bone marrow procedure is an important step in that direction. Other procedures to be explored may use mobilized peripheral blood stem cells or VSELs, for example.”
Wall Cases
Garden Grove, Calif.-based Allegro Industries introduced new HiViz wall cases that the company said provide good visibility of and access to safety equipment.
The company’s new emergency respirator wall case holds up to two 5 or 10 minute escape breathing apparatuses and protects equipment from dust, moisture and plant environments. The unit weighs 10 pounds and measures 14 inches wide, 21 inches tall and 10 inches deep. The SCBA wall case, meanwhile, also provides protection from dust, moisture and damaging plant environments. Made of low level density polyethylene materials, this case is designed to be lightweight yet strong. Single cases have two viewing windows (dual cases have four) to allow easy visibility of the SCBA gauges. The recessed door handle allows for a low profile design when mounted to the wall. The single unit measures 17 inches wide, 32 inches tall and 14 inches deep, while the dual unit measures 34 inches by 32 inches by 14 inches. Allegro Industries’ line of storage units includes respirator storage cases, defibrillator cases, PAPR, fire extinguisher wall cases and generic versions for miscellaneous storage needs.
10 Milliliter Bottle
EPS of Ivyland, Pa., introduced a 10 milliliter bottle to its line of Steri-Dropper ophthalmic dispensing containers. The line of bottles, which also include 3, 7 and 15 milliliter sizes, are manufactured from zinc stearate-free resin, which helps minimize the risk of particulate forming in the solution with certain ophthalmic preparations, EPS said. Bottles, tips and caps come in packs of two.
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Vapor Warning Device
Danbury, Conn.-based Smiths Detection unveiled an individual hazardous vapor warning device called the LCD 3.3 that provides real-time, nerve, blood, blister and choking agent detection at or immediately below dangerous concentration levels.
Highlights of the device’s features include a library of detectable toxic industrial chemicals, up to 75 hours of continuous use from one set of four AA batteries, and the ability to record up to 72 hours of data for analysis following missions.
The LCD 3.3 is now available to American, European, Middle Eastern, African and Asian markets.
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Medical PC
Burlingame, Calif.-based Tangent introduced the Medix 10T PC, which weighs 3.3 pounds, has a 10.4-inch screen and is intended for use with health care database applications. The company said the computer allows hot swapping of batteries, which can be recharged in less than three hours, and has a touch-screen that works with either a finger or stylus.
The device meets the UL60601 medical grade certification for patient safety and is designed to survive accidental drops and most other workplace damage. The PC also meets IP-54 standards for a dust-free, waterproof operation and can be sprayed and wiped down without the risk of damaging the computer.
The Medix 10T uses the Intel ULV processor U2100 1.06 GHz (533 MHz FSB) and the Intel 945GME chipset. It has up to 2 GB DDR2 SDRAM and one SO-DIMM socket. ♦