Medela Healthcare Launches Wound Therapy Rental Program
       Medela Healthcare Inc (McHenry, Ill) recently launched its Medela ValuFlex^™ Institutional Rental Program.
       This rental plan allows healthcare facilities to lease the company’s Invia^™ Healing System. Invia is a negative pressure wound therapy system used to safely and effectively heal chronic and acute wounds. The system’s infection preventing dual mechanism includes antimicrobial properties and an advanced wound dressing kit that controls infection and promotes healing.
       The Valuflex program was designed to be a more affordable and low maintenance way to provide quality wound care to patients. The program requires no commitments on length of rental or volumes. The program is billed retroactively.
       Visit http://www.medela.com for more information.

New TheraGauze^™ Dressing Receives Reimbursement Code
       The Statistical Analysis Durable Medical Equipment Regional Carrier (SADMERC), a contracted intermediary and carrier for the Centers for Medicare & Medical Services (CMS), awarded Soluble Systems LLC’s (Hampton, Va) TheraGauze^™ Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes for billing purposes.
       TheraGauze provides a nonstick moist healing environment with no maceration of covered tissue, and can be used to treat diabetic foot ulcers, burns, pressure sores, and other wounds.
       Visit http://www.solublesystems.com for more information.

Clinical Trial Explores Effectiveness of Honey in Treating Leg Ulcers
       A clinical trial conducted by Auckland University (Auckland, New Zealand) revealed that using honey as the primary dressing for leg ulcers may not be entirely beneficial. The study randomly divided 368 patients from several New Zealand hospitals into 2 groups in which 1 group had honey dressings applied to their wounds, while the other group received conventional dressings.
       After 12 weeks, the results revealed that there was no significant difference in healing between the groups. Researchers concluded that the honey treatment was more costly and patients in the honey dressing group reported significantly more adverse reactions in comparison to patients in the conventional dressing group.
       Visit http://www.ctru.auckland.ac.nz/content/view/190/74/ for more information.

Ivivi Roma3 PEMF Device Improves Wound Healing Rates, Reduces Costs
       Ivivi Technologies Inc (Northvale, NJ) signed a new 3-year contract with Regency Hospital (Alpharetta, Ga), operator of long-term acute care hospitals across the United States. The new agreement will facilitate the hospitals expanded use of the Roma3 pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) device that is used to treat chronic wounds. Ivivi provides hospitals with several solution based packages that are priced using a fixed monthly rental rate. After a 3-month trial of using the new Roma3 device, the Regency hospital experienced improved wound healing rates, a significant reduction in the use of negative pressure wound therapy device rentals, and an overall cost savings of more than 60% per patient.
       Visit http://www.ivivitechnologies.com/for more information.

Tremendous Growth Projected for South African Wound Care Markets
       Research group Frost & Sullivan (Palo Alto, Calif) has projected South Africa’s local advanced wound care market to double in size by the year 2012. The market is advancing because of a departure from traditional gauze-based dressing techniques and an advancement toward sophisticated approaches that enable wounds to heal faster. These advanced wound care techniques include using ceramic beads and silver or collagen to help absorb moisture from wounds and fight infection. Other procedures that are growing in popularity include negative pressure therapy.
       By developing advanced wound care techniques, South African hospitals are hoping to speed up recovery, reduce nursing time, and become more cost efficient.
       Visit http://www.frost.com for more information.

First-String Research Begins Human Clinical Trial for Peptide Gel
       First-String Research, Inc (FSR), a spin-off biotechnology company from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), began the human clinical trial process for its wound healing peptide gel. The gel is through the preliminary approval stages and the “First in Man” trial will soon take place in Switzerland. Initial preclinical studies suggest the gel’s efficacy and safety in regenerating new tissue instead of scar tissue—in efforts to heal wounds at a faster rate. The bioengineered peptide is based on naturally occurring protein in the body that assists in regulating cell communication. The peptide accelerated wound healing and tissue regeneration, and decreased scarring among laboratory animals. Researchers believe the gel will also promote accelerated healing in human skin.
       In the clinical trial, 4 different doses of the gel will be administered to study participants with deep wounds. Patients will be examined periodically and any positive results from the study could put FSR’s wound healing gel a step closer to FDA approval.
       Visit http://www.musc.edu/or http://www.muschealth.com/for more information.