RECENT PRODUCT NEWS

Safety syringes help protect staff from the health risks of needlestick injuries, and the Trust from damages claims. Some safety syringes are safer than others, however. Over 70% of nurses surveyed said they preferred syringes where hands and fingers stay behind the needle area when activating the safety mechanism, and where the syringe is permanently disabled after the safety mechanism is activated. Over 60% required the safety feature to be integral to the design of the syringe, the needle should withdraw into the barrel, and the mechanism be operated single-handedly.

G&N MEDICAL, a supplier of clinical waste containers, has been appointed exclusive UK distributor for the Econix Bio-Bin range.

Blood pressure monitoring has become more streamlined with the launch of a new range of FlexiPort Blood Pressure Cuffs, which connect to virtually any manual or electronic blood pressure device. This universal, costeffective solution has been developed by WELCH ALLYN.

3M has launched a new clipper blade specially designed for pre-operative removal of heavy body hair.

DAWMED offers an extensive range of decontamination equipment for use in endoscopy and ENT departments, including the Wassenburg WD440 pass-through machine and the Model 300 dry storage cabinet.

Sheffield Children’s Hospital has installed a “theatre of the future”, KARL STORZ OR1.

Safety syringes help protect staff from the health risks of needlestick injuries, and the Trust from damages claims. Some safety syringes are safer than others, however.

The latest innovations in the field of CT and MRI imaging were formally launched in the UK by SIEMENS at the Science Museum, London. A high-field 3T MRI system, the Magnetom Verio, and an adaptable single source CT, the Somatom Definition AS, have both been designed to offer advanced imaging functionality for routine and specialised clinical procedures at a much more viable capital cost for the UK health marketplace. With the NHS and private diagnostic centres demanding higher throughput rates and a return on investment, the new systems meet clinical and cost expectations.

LTE SCIENTIFIC’s latest addition to its product line is an innovative drying and storage cabinet designed specifically for use with flexible endoscopes. Following endoscope reprocessing, endoscopes need to be used within four hours unless stored under the right conditions.

MIELE is offering new washer-disinfectors – the single-cabinet PG 8527 is designed to simplify and speed up the task of reprocessing laboratory glassware, and the PG 8528 is a two-door barrier wall unit for surgical instruments.

OXOID has launched the Ideia range of products for the rapid diagnosis of viral gastroenteritis. These rapid enzyme immunoassays can be used to detect the four leading causes of viral gastroenteritis: norovirus, rotavirus, astrovirus and adenovirus, in human stool samples.

Forming an integral component of AGFA HEALTHCARE’s cardiovascular image and information management solution, the Cardiac Review Station generates digital reports for all cardiology modalities. It allows any secure internet connected computer to serve as a single point of access to cardiology images and information.

VERNACARE has launched an improved single-use measuring jug, designed to prevent infection and save nursing time, as well as cut costs. The new jug is claimed to be the first medical pulp product to integrate a level indicator, eliminating the need to use a dipstick to measure fluids. A new ergonomically designed handle has also been introduced to provide improved grip.

Ensuring that standards of apparatus cleanliness do not jeopardise the outcome of analytical experiments is of ultimate importance in large laboratories and hospital CSSDs and requires complex treatment processes and excellent efficiency.

For the rapid testing and swift diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis infection, INVERNESS MEDICAL offers the Clearview Chlamydia MF test. Although treatable, the challenge in diagnosing Chlamydia is often the lack of symptoms. With as many as a quarter of patients never returning for their results and treatment, Clearview Chlamydia MF ensures diagnosis and treatment can be made in a single patient visit, reducing patient anxiety and the spread of infection.

The Aquilion One dynamic volume CT from TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS gives physicians the ability to scan the entire organ (e.g. the heart, brain or liver) in one rotation and hence in a fraction of a second.

ROYAL PHILIPS ELECTRONICS has provided an innovative lighting solution to enhance the medical and teaching facilities at Raigmore Hospital near Inverness. Extensive research has been undertaken to determine the required lighting conditions for medical tasks in order to optimise the light provided by fluorescent lamps.

BARD has announced the launch of their new real-time ultrasound bladder scanner – the Bardscan II. The scanner allows healthcare professionals to easily take real-time, non-invasive, accurate and instantly visible transverse and saggital ultrasound images of their patient’s bladder.

WELCH ALLYN has launched the new KleenSpec disposable vaginal specula and wireless illumination system. This new device features an advanced LED light that provides enhanced visualisation of the examination area by supplying a brighter, whiter light that will transform the way examiners see their patients. The specula is single-use to reduce the spread of infection and cross contamination and eliminate the time and expense of reprocessing.

IDC (Industrial Design Consultancy) has developed the LMA LoTrach Cuff Pressure Controller (CPC) for endotracheal and tracheostomy tubes, which helps prevent ventilator associated pneumonia.