Vital Signs
Integrated Medical Systems Inc. (IMS) has recently announced several noteworthy accomplishments regarding its new MedEx 1000 suitcase ICU, developed with funding from DARPA and the U.S. Army. The accomplishments include receiving FDA 510(k) clearance in September 2008, selection to receive a grant for commercialization of the product, and receipt of a contract with the U.S. Army to purchase 10 units for operational testing. Upon completion of successful Army testing, the company expects a larger acquisition decision in mid-2009.
Known as LSTAT Lite during development, it was highlighted by Dr. Tony Tether, DARPA director, in testimony to Congress: “LSTAT-Lite will be ideal for casualty care in urban or mountainous terrains, on ships, and in all types of air and ground evacuation vehicles.” In early 2007, the Army decided to accelerate development and testing of the system. “I’m proud of the progress that our team has made, and proud that we can deliver this life-saving capability to the battlefield,” commented Todd Kneale, IMS president and chief operation officer.
The MedEx 1000 combines a physiological monitor, up to five channels of low-rate and high-rate infusion pumps, a fluid warmer, and a ventilator into a single medical device that is controlled from a central display, and concurrently from a wireless hand-held secondary display. The device may be operated using either hot-swappable battery power or an external power source, allows the use of external high pressure or low pressure sources of oxygen, and includes USB and Ethernet port for connecting to external information systems. Kneale indicated that “by reducing weight, volume, cost and clutter, the MedEx 1000 not only increases patient safety and caregiver efficiency, but device reliability and maintainability as well.”
Mobile Clinical Assistant
To better serve the growing demand for mobility in the health care environment, Panasonic Computer Solutions Co., manufacturer of durable, reliable Panasonic Toughbook mobile computers, has introduced the Panasonic Toughbook H1, the first fully rugged mobile clinical assistant (MCA) and the first device of its kind to integrate the low-power Intel Atom processor.
The Toughbook H1 joins a fleet of proven reliable mobile health care products from Panasonic, including cartbased solutions to fully rugged UMPCs and convertible tablets, designed by Panasonic to satisfy the varying requirements of most health care environments,” said Rance M. Poehler, president, Panasonic Computer Solutions Co.
With its lightweight, 3.4-pound design, low heat production, integrated hand strap and barcode reader placement, the Toughbook H1 offers improved ergonomics over firstgeneration MCA devices.
To meet the needs for mobility in both facilities and in-home health environments, the H1 offers a range of embedded wireless options including 802.11a/b/g/ draft-n and Bluetooth 2.0. The device can also ship with Qualcomm’s new Gobi technology, simplifying complex multi-carrier wireless deployments for IT departments. The device also features six-hour battery life, dual hot-swappable batteries and standard daylight viewable screen.
The Toughbook H1 MCA can help to reduce medication administration errors while helping clinicians deliver faster, safer care. With integrated RFID reader, 2.0 megapixel auto-focus camera with dual LED lights, a barcode reader, contactless smart card reader and fingerprint readers, the new Toughbook H1 MCA is a secure and intuitive platform for barcode medication administration (BCMA), vitals capture, and electronic medical records (EMR) capture and review.
Defibrillation Pads
Vermed, a manufacturer of quality cardiac monitoring and diagnostic electrodes, has introduced a new line of defibrillation pads with features new and unique to the market. Their pads use a new universal connector system (UCS) that allows standardization of the defib pads throughout any facility. This is a tremendous step toward patient safety and industry compliance.
With a three-year shelf life, the defibrillation pads feature extra-long, 60-inch lead wires for ease of use, a smaller pad size for easier placement without crowding, a larger conductor plate to disperse energy more effectively, a pliable substrate to conform to all patient body types, and peel-pouch packaging for quick access.
The pads, including those for pediatric use, feature a quick-reference color-coded system for accurate placement, radiolucent and radiotransparent styles that bar interference with imaging systems. Leads out packaging also is available.
“The ability to standardize defib pads throughout the facility is a great step toward helping our customers provide the safest patient experience in emergency situations,” said Art Keating, vice president, sales and marketing. Vermed also offers a free conversion service, which will convert Vermed’s UCS program for a facility.
Shockwave Therapy
Tissue Regeneration Technologies LLC (TRT) has announced the receipt of a $2 million grant from the Defense Acquisition Challenge (DAC) for fiscal year 2009. TRT’s proposal, “Shockwave Therapy for Traumatic Wounds of the Extremity,” is designed to evaluate the effectiveness of shockwave therapy in treating complex wounds in a combat casualty care venue. TRT’s Department of Defense partner, the Combat Wound Initiative (CWI) Program, is currently spearheading a randomized clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of shockwave therapy.
The CWI Program, in partnership with the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (HJF), submitted a competitive grant proposal to the DAC, which was one of four selected from 300 proposals submitted.
The DAC grant funds will allow the CWI Program to expand its clinical trial to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Members of the CWI Program, HJF, and TRT’s management team attended the Foreign Comparative Testing/DAC Kickoff ceremony at the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, Va., where more than 200 senior military staff as well as the under secretary of the Army were briefed on the projects selected for field testing in 2009.
The primary function of the Defense Acquisition Challenge is to accelerate field testing for technologies demonstrating potential for direct warfighter benefit. If field testing is successful, the DAC expects rapid procurement of these advanced technologies into the U.S. military in order to deliver the latest and best technology to America’s warfighters at cost savings or cost avoidance to the U.S. government. The CWI-HJF-TRT proposal achieves these objectives by providing cutting-edge MultiWave technology at significant potential cost savings over the current standard of combat casualty wound care. This technology may benefit American warfighters by accelerating tissue repair in wounds and minimizing the number of surgical interventions, thereby reducing hospital time and cost.
“This project is the culmination of extraordinary efforts by the U.S. Army, Research, Development and Engineering Command, Henry Jackson Foundation, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, National Naval Medical Center and TRT employees. We are honored to be involved in such a worthy endeavor,” stated John Warlick, TRT’s chief executive officer.
All-in-One Monitor Workstation
Chief Manufacturing, a producer of projector and flat panel TV mounts, has recently launched the KWT110 all-in-one wall workstation. KWT110 includes Chief’s flexible heightadjustable monitor wall mount, height-adjustable flip-up keyboard tray and KSA1020 CPU mount. The combination of these ergonomic, space-saving mounts creates the perfect suite for health care or related wallmounted applications.
The KWT workstation can be installed vertically or horizontally on the wall, depending on space requirements. The new CPU mount provides universal fit and universal function. Compatible with a wide range of CPU sizes, the KSA1020 fits 95 percent of CPUs used in today’s commercial environments, from ultra small to larger tower units.
KWT110 includes Chief’s KWG110 state-of-the-art ergonomic swing arm mount that provides up to 13.25 inches of fluid height adjustment and 180 degrees of swivel to achieve the perfect viewing placement. The teardrop hole pattern, available in standard VESA patterns, makes monitor connection quick and easy.
The KWT110 also includes a flip-up keyboard tray with integrated mouse surface and storage. The height-adjustable swing arm design provides extension and fluid positioning for the user, with a stable surface when the keyboard is in use. A gel wrist rest promotes ergonomic comfort and support, while left/right flip-out mouse surfaces provide flexibility for a variety of users. The flip-up design provides a low-profile appearance and includes mouse storage. Cable management is consistent with the KWG110 for a clean, concealed appearance.
Protecting Wounds
Altrazeal Transforming Powder Dressing is a sterile dressing incorporating NanoFlex technology that is suitable for the covering and protection of exuding wounds such as burns, abrasions, skin graft donor sites, surgical wounds, and chronic, slow-healing wounds. The product consists of a sterile white powder in a single-use, sterile foil laminate pouch. The product is applied to an exuding wound by sprinkling the powder on the open wound. The particles then hydrate and aggregate to a final moisture content of approximately 65 percentage by mass. The aggregated powder becomes a moist, flexible film over the surface of the open wound that provides an ideal moist wound environment supporting cellular function and tissue repair.
NanoFlex is a novel proprietary technology platform that provides the unique material properties on which the Altrazeal product line is based. NanoFlex powder interacts with wound exudate and hydrates when applied. Hydration with exudate causes NanoFlex particles to aggregate and form a moist wound dressing, which seals the wound and conforms to the surface of the wound bed. The result is an advanced engineered material that is unique among all other wound dressings in terms of properties and performance. NanoFlex technology has been designed to maintain a moist wound environment for enhanced healing. The technology can also deliver antibacterial and other medications directly to the wound.
Altrazeal is available in either 2-gram or 5-gram pouches. Each gram of the lyophilized powder consists of 84.8 percent poly-2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate, 14.9 percent poly-2-hydroxypropylmethacrylate, and 0.3 percent sodium deoxycholate. ♦
* Compiled by KMI Media Group staff