KCI’s ABThera™ Open Abdomen Dressing Receives FDA Clearance

     Kinetic Concepts Inc ([KCI] San Antonio, Tex) recently received 510(k) clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market its ABThera™ Open Abdomen Dressing. Earlier this year, the FDA cleared the ABThera™ Open Abdomen Negative Pressure Therapy Unit. Together, the ABThera Open Abdomen Negative Pressure Therapy System will be indicated for temporary bridging of abdominal wall openings where primary closure is not possible or where repeat abdominal entries are necessary.

     The proprietary system is intended for open abdominal wounds with exposed viscera, including but not limited to abdominal compartment syndrome. The system is designed to improve therapy in the management of the complex open abdomen by reducing interstitial edema, actively removing fluids and infectious material, thus assisting in primary fascial closure of the abdominal wall. The system expands the offerings of KCI’s negative pressure technology platform into the surgical and trauma operating theaters.

     Visit www.kci1.com for more information.

Bodyzone™ Products Serve as Defense Against Pressure Ulcers

     Foamex (Media, Pa), a producer of polyurethane foam-based solutions and specialty comfort products, introduces BodyZone™ and BodyZone™ Ultra, two new solutions for pressure ulcer prevention and treatment. The company developed these series of new products to reduce the clinical occurrence of pressure ulcers that can result from long-term care. In independent testing, the support surfaces demonstrated superior performance over other brands by neutralizing pressure, heat, moisture, friction, and shear—factors that lead to dermal and tissue breakdown.
In order to prevent pressure from forming, Foamex engineers worked with specialty designs and the company’s latest generation of highly breathable memory foams to enhance the performance of its support surfaces portfolio. Independent testing of these advancements illustrated that BodyZone’s technology delivers the lowest average and maximum pressure readings and the highest body envelopment scores for better comfort and care.

     Visit www.foamex.com for more information.

Regenecare® HA Hydrogel Successfully Reduces Patient Pain

     A recent clinical study found that patients experienced nearly a 70% reduction in pain when MPM Medical Inc’s (Irving, Tex) Regenecare® HA Hydrogel was used before and during wound dressing changes. Sixty patients received the first dressing change without the use of the gel or any form of pain medication. The gel was used during subsequent dressing changes and reduced pain. Based on a 10-level scale, patient-reported pain averaged 6.8 prior to use of the gel. When the gel was used before and after dressing changes, patient-reported pain averaged 2.3—an almost 70% reduction. The results of the study attributed the pain reducing benefits to the gel’s 2% lidocaine-HCI, its high molecular weight of aloe vera extract, and marine collagen—a natural humectant and moisturizer. This combination of ingredients has been shown to enhance wound repair mechanisms within the epidermis.

     Visit www.mpmmed.com for more information.

GRAFTJACKET® Regenerative Matrix Effectively Heals Diabetic Foot Ulcers

     Wright Medical Group Inc (Arlington, Tenn) announced that peer-reviewed data from a prospective, randomized, controlled, multicenter level-1 study was recently published online. The data confirms the effectiveness of the company’s GRAFTJACKET® Regenerative Matrix for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. David G. Armstrong, DPM, PhD, Professor of Surgery and Director of Southern Arizona Limb Salvage Alliance (SALSA) at the University of Arizona College of Medicine led the study.

     The 86 patients included in the study were treated either with the matrix technology (study group) or standard care (control group). Analysis at the 12-week study endpoint confirmed complete wound healing was achieved in 70% of patients who received a single application of the matrix technology, compared to only 46% of control group patients. Patients treated with the matrix technology healed more quickly on average than control. Given the results of the study, patients treated with the matrix technology are two times more likely to experience complete wound healing at 12 weeks compared with patients treated with standard wound care.

     Visit www.wmt.com for more information.