Medical Device and Wound Care News and Analysis Blog

The Week in Wound Care: New Studies, Products and COVID-19 Impacts

Written by Thomas Wallick | 6/8/20 11:37 PM
As the world begins to reopen from COVID-19, the wound care industry is making progress on new medical devices and studies. The following is a small sampling of Wound Care segment updates from the past week that were compiled, reviewed and posted in real-time by our SmartTRAK analysts, who are constantly monitoring the situation and sifting through the noise to present the most relevant news to our subscribers.
 
Alliance of Wound Care Stakeholders - CMS COVID-19 
  • The Alliance of Wound Care Stakeholders requested that CMS allow HOPDs and MDs to bill for furnishing dNPWT during the COVID-19 pandemic when providing wound assessment and instruction to patients in their home on the application of dNPWT via telehealth.
  • The Alliance of Wound Care Stakeholders submitted comments to CMS COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Interim Final Rule. The Alliance supported the Agency’s implementation of many policies while also pursuing clarification on several specific provisions.
Pressure Injury in China

A study of 1,806 nurses from 10 hospitals in China on nurses' knowledge, attitudes and behaviors for promoting PI-prevention found 41.7% had insufficient PI-prevention knowledge, 46.6% had negative PI-prevention attitudes, and 21.8% had poor PI-prevention behavior. J Clin Nurs

Improved Textured Breast Implants

Establishment Labs’ US Patent Application “TEXTURED SURFACES FOR BREAST IMPLANTS” was published, describing irregularly-textured breast implants with significantly improved cellular response over current textured implants. 20200170771

Prediction Tool for SSIs 

Emergency operation, blood loss >400 mL, presence of diabetes, presence of skin disease and total serum albumin value <3.2 g/dL were identified as leading SSI risk factors and a predictive tool for high-risk pts in spine surgery. IC&HE

Role of Metabolic Syndrome on SSIs in Hepatectomy Patients

Hepatectomy for pts w/ mostly HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the presence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) resulted in a higher rate of post-op SSIs vs those pts w/o MetS at 12.16% vs 0%. Long-term survival rates were comparable. J Surg Oncol

Smith & Nephew

S&N/Osiris’ US Patent Application “VIABLE LYOPHILIZED COMPOSITIONS DERIVED FROM HUMAN TISSUES AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME” was published relating to superior compositions and methods of tissue preservation that may be used for treating a wound or tissue defect. 20200171096

Advanced Pneumatic Compression Devices (APCD)

A 49-pt trial evaluated an APCD in post-treatment head and neck cancer pts with lymphedema. The study found APCD use was associated with significant improvement in perceived ability to control lymphedema, visible external swelling and less reported pain. SCC

The Gauze Technique For Hernia Dissection

Minerva Chir published results from a 30-pt study examining a new soft technique to dissect the tissue plane for hernia repair. The authors reported all procedures were completed without complications.

Medtronic
Medtronic’s US Patent “Expanding absorbable tack” was granted, describing an absorbable hernia matrix tack with a screw to fasten to the tissue. 10,653,507
 
Allografts for VLU Healing 

Bioactive human split‐thickness skin allografts used in 1,474 VLUs healed 70.7% of wounds w/ avg time to closure of 15 wks. VLUs < 1-yr duration healed significantly higher (72.3%), wounds < 10 cm2 in size (73.9%) & those treated w/in 90-days of initial presentation (1.4x). WR&R

BD/Bard’s US Patent Application “Anchoring System For a Catheter“ was published describing methods of securing a catheter to a pt that restricts axial movement and consists of an anchor pad and retainer. 20200171273

Potential for Nanomaterials in Wound Healing 

Authors provide an in-depth analytical review, future insights and potential challenges for nanomaterials in wound healing including nanoparticles, nanocomposites, scaffolds and efficacy as carriers for therapeutic agents. Pharmaceutics

Measuring Wound Healing

CutoSense OY’s US Patent Application “Measuring wound healing“ was published describing methods of measuring wound impedence via the use of electrodes over a frequency range. 20200170565

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