Healthcare Industry News: LifeCell
News Release - March 9, 2009
KCI Introduces new V.A.C.(R) GranuFoam(TM) Bridge Dressing
SAN ANTONIO--(HSMN NewsFeed)--Kinetic Concepts, Inc. (NYSE: KCI ) announced today the U.S. market launch of its new V.A.C.(R) GranuFoam(TM) Bridge Dressing, further expanding the portfolio of dressings used in the treatment of chronic wounds. This new dressing is expected to simplify application in chronic wounds, especially Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFUs) where it is compatible with off-loading devices.KCI’s V.A.C. (R) GranuFoam(TM) Bridge Dressing kit includes the following components, specifically designed with extensive customer input:
- A pre-formed bridge that allows the SensaT.R.A.C.TM Pad to be placed away from hard-to-access wound sites
- A dressing which includes a new wicking layer designed to prevent damage to intact skin
- Pre-sized V.A.C. (R) GranuFoam(TM) Bridge Dressing inserts designed for DFUs which reduce the need for resizing dressings
- A perforated drape that is designed to easily achieve a reliable seal around the wound
"The KCI bridge dressing is a great example of practical innovations which enable more patients to benefit from the therapeutic combination of off-loading, debridement, and negative pressure wound therapy. These complex weight-bearing foot wounds can have a high rate of infection and amputation unless treated aggressively," said Dr. John S. Steinberg, D.P.M., Assistant Professor, Department of Plastic Surgery, Georgetown University School of Medicine.
KCI initially plans to target the large and growing DFU market with its GranuFoam Bridge Dressing. The dressing is designed to simplify and improve the overall application process, thereby reducing training requirements and clinician time. When compared to advanced moist wound therapy (AMWT), V.A.C.(R) Therapy has been shown to decrease the cost of treating diabetic foot wounds by $9,000 U.S. per patient1 and to reduce amputations in this patient population by 50%2.
For flexibility of use, KCI’s GranuFoam Bridge Dressing can be used with all existing V.A.C.(R) Therapy systems and in combination with standard-of-care off-loading boots or devices. The possibility of concomitant off-loading and V.A.C. Therapy facilitates the patient’s transition from hospital to home, improves mobility and allows for a quicker return to normal daily living.
“We are excited about pioneering novel solutions to complex, clinical unmet needs and pleased to bring innovative products to the negative pressure wound therapy market,” said Dr. Todd Fruchterman, KCI Senior Vice President, Research and Development, Chief Technology Officer and Chief Medical Officer. “I believe that the new GranuFoam Bridge Dressing will make it easier for physicians to combine two proven therapies – V.A.C.(R) Therapy and off-loading – in the treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers.”
The V.A.C. (R) GranuFoam(TM) Bridge Dressing will be commercially available in the U.S. beginning March 9, 2009 and in European markets in May, with other countries to follow throughout 2009.
About KCI
Kinetic Concepts, Inc. is a leading global medical technology company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of innovative, high-technology therapies and products for the wound care, tissue regeneration and therapeutic support system markets. Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, KCI's success spans more than three decades and can be traced to a history deeply rooted in innovation and a passion for significantly improving the healing – and the lives – of patients around the world.
KCI's three primary businesses include:
Advanced Wound Care - Includes KCI's proprietary Vacuum Assisted Closure(R) Therapy or V.A.C.(R) Therapy System, which has been clinically demonstrated to promote wound healing through unique mechanisms of action while reducing the overall cost of treating patients with complex wounds.
Regenerative Medicine - Represented by KCI's LifeCell business and includes tissue-based products for use in reconstructive, orthopedic and urogynecologic surgical procedures to repair soft tissue defects.
Therapeutic Support Systems - Includes specialty hospital beds, mattress replacement systems and overlays designed to address pulmonary complications associated with immobility, to reduce skin breakdown and assist caregivers in the safe and dignified handling of patients of size.
The company employs 7,000 people and markets its products in more than 20 countries.
1 Apelqvist J, et al. Resource Utilization and Economic Cost of Care Based on a Randomized Trial of Vacuum-Assisted Closure Therapy in the Treatment of Diabetic Foot Wounds. The American Journal of Surgery; 2008.
2 Blume, et al. Comparison of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Utilizing Vacuum Assisted Closure(R) to Advanced Moist Wound Therapy in the Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers – a Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trail. Diabetes Care, 31(4): 631-636; 2008.
Source: Kinetic Concepts
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