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This article was not subject to the Ostomy Wound Management peer-review process.

innovations that work!For our annual “innovations” issue, Ostomy Wound Management asked Editorial Board members to describe the products they found the most innovative and useful. Their responses follow. The testimonials are listed alphabetically by product. For 24/7 access to comprehensive listings and information on wound, ostomy, and continence products and services, we encourage readers to consult the Wounds 360 Buyers Guide, available at www.wounds360bg.com. We welcome your comments and feedback on the Board member selections included herein, and we invite you to add your own success stories to the Buyers Guide website.

product: the abViser™ intra-abdominal pressure (iap) monitoring system

Company: ConvaTec, Inc, Skillman, NJProduct description: The AbViser has proven accuracy

and reproducibility in facilitating management of intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) to prevent abdominal com-partment syndrome. Other potential benefits from managing IAH include reducing patient ventilator time, rate of ventila-tor-associated pneumonia, and mortality risk.

Pros: It does not have competitor products and addresses a clinical problem for which no other simple technology ex-ists at the moment.

Cons: The product is too new to be able to judge but it is unlikely.

Nominated by: Michel Hermans, MD

product: alleVyn™ lifeCompany: Smith & Nephew Wound Management, St. Petersburg, FLProduct description: ALLEVYN Life comprises a num-

ber of features and benefits, many of which are a first for the foam dressing category. Its unique shape, available in sizes that fit the contours of the human body, help in dressing re-tention and allow the patient to feel secure that their dressing will stay in place. Materials integrated into the design provide cushioning and protection from knocks and bumps. Low- trauma silicone adhesive to provide minimal pain at dress-ing changes. A hyperabsorbent, lock-away core prevents exu-date leakage, and a change indicator helps avoid unnecessary dressing changes, reducing waste. The dressing also features masking to prevent patient embarrassment and stigma from visible exudate.

Why this product: This product can be used for both treatment and prevention for patients who are at risk of fur-ther breakdown or who haven’t broken down yet, but will. I love the possibility that we can close up a Stage III or Stage IV pressure ulcer and then maintain that skin integrity for an infinite amount of time.

How long have you used it? We’ve been using it since last fall, as part of the prelaunch.

Pros: Because of a masking layer, the dressing doesn’t look gross when its full of drainage, and its very subtle so patients feel more comfortable keeping the dressing on longer. The shape of the dressing works well on the coccyx, heel, or elbow. Plus, it doesn’t tear the skin when you’re taking it off.

Cons? Understanding what it is for and trying to get it used correctly for the right patient.

Nominated by: Beth Clarke, RN, MSCA, CWOCN

product: autologel™Company: Cytomedix, Inc, Rockville, MDProduct description: The AutoloGel™ System harnesses

the patient’s natural healing process with the production of a proprietary bioactive gel formulation that is US Food and Drug Administration- (FDA) cleared for wound man-agement. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) AutoloGel stimulates wound healing by re-establishing a naturally balanced wound environment, which can transform a nonhealing wound to a healthy wound that heals naturally. Autologel will now to be paid for by Medicare under their new program of Coverage with Evidence Development.

Why this product: Many products provide scaffold-ing and epithelial cells for final wound closure. However, since negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT), there have been no innovative products that can enhance gran-ulation tissue.

How long have you used it? Because coverage for PRP is new, I have only used Autologel in three patients. These pa-tients, who all had pressure ulcers where NPWT treatment had failed, where bone was exposed, and who would have re-quired plastic surgical closure based on my past experience, closed with PRP. These are patients who would not have responded to skin substitutes. PRP potentially represents a product that can induce vascular tissue induction.

Pros: Induction of granulation tissue (vascular tissue) in large tissue defects.

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Cons: It has to be produced from the patient’s own blood, thus requiring blood draw and product preparation. Cur-rently, it is available only as part of a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services-approved clinical trial.

Nominated by: Caroline Fife, MD

product: cellutome epidermal Harvesting system

Company: Kinetic Concepts, Inc, San Antonio, TXProduct description: The CelluTome Epidermal

Harvesting System is designed to consistently and reli-ably harvest epidermis at the dermoepidermal junction, which allows skin grafting without the need for donor site anesthesia. The new skin grafting platform will en-able physicians to harvest epidermis grafts while mini-mizing donor site complications. The CelluTome system offers an automated, precise, and reproducible process of harvesting autologous, non-damaged epidermal tis-sue. The system may be used in conjunction with KCI’s V.A.C. Therapy®.

Why this product: The device allows clinicians to obtain autologous epidermal grafts easily without scarring/pain to the donor site. The donor site usually heals in <10 days.

How long have you used it? I have used this device since March. The device became commercially available in May.

Pros: This device may be able to replace 90% of split- thickness skin grafts currently being performed. The fact that there is no donor site morbidity is a major advantage.

Cons: Perhaps cost. Not sure about the exact cost of the device. Another consideration would be overuse because of ease of harvesting.

Nominated by: Stephanie Wu, DPM, MS

product: doff ‘n donnerCompany: Sigvaris Inc, Peachtree City, GAProduct description: A soft donning device for all com-

pression socks and stockings, the Doff ‘N Donner allows you to quickly guide a compression sock or stocking up and down your leg or arm, making it simple to don and remove all styles of graduated compression. It is effective in both self-donning and caregiver use.

Why this product: The donut-shaped, water balloon de-sign allows easy application of compression garments.

How long have you used it? Over the past year.Pros: This product allows for easy application of stock-

ings that gloves and other donning helpers do not allow. The effort to apply the stockings is greatly decreased, and the dex-terity and strength to use the donner is less that the tradi-tional ways to put on compression stockings.

Cons: No real downside is noted.Nominated by: Marcia Gay Bales, MSN, MBA, FNP,

CWOCN, CLNC

product: drawtex®

Company: SteadMed Medical, Fort Worth, TXProduct description: Drawtex is a hydroconductive

wound dressing with LevaFiber Technology. LevaFiber is a combination of two types of absorbent cross-action struc-tures that creates the ability to draw exudate away from the wound surface.

Why this product: Absorbent propertiesHow long have you used it? About 9 monthsPros: The product is much more absorbent than alginates

and hydrofibers, it can be cut to size, and does not break-down in the wound bed.

Cons: The product can stick to a wound that is not highly exudative.

Nominated by: Catherine Ratliff, PhD, APRN-BC, CWOCN, CFCN

product: endoform™ dermal templateCompany: Hollister Wound Care, Libertyville, ILProduct description: Proven safe and biocompatible, End-

oform Dermal Template contains a naturally derived bovine collagen extracellular matrix (ECM) that is terminally steril-ized and may be considered more culturally acceptable than other animal-derived sources. The product is indicated for the management of partial- and full-thickness wounds, pressure ulcers, venous ulcers, diabetic ulcers, chronic vascular ulcers, tunneled/undermined wounds, surgical wounds (donor sites, grafts, post Moh’s surgery, post-laser surgery, podiatric, and wound dehiscence), traumatic wounds (abrasions, lacerations, first- and second degree burns, and skin tears), and draining wounds. It is available in a variety of sizes.

Why this product: Our clinic’s evaluation of the Endo-form dressing was very positive. It’s easy to use, compatible with multiple secondary dressings, and can be left in place up to a week under compression wraps and contact casts. It’s nice to be able to use it early in the treatment plan to enhance wound bed preparation.

How long have you used it? We evaluated it for about 4 to 6 weeks. Pros: The pro is that it is easy, cost effective and can be used as soon as we have a clean wound bed.

Cons: No con’s that I can think of.....Nominated by: Dot Weir, RN, CWON, CWS

product: the eykona wound measurement systemCompany: Eykona Medical, Chinnor, Oxfordshire, United

KingdomProduct description: The Eykona Wound Measure-

ment System provides a full-color, 3-D model of the wound using a proprietary hand-held camera, advanced computer vision software, and a disposable optical mark-er. By reinventing processes, saving time, and removing geographical issues through cloud computing, Eykona eliminates a spectrum of costs and speeds up the process of wound measurement dramatically.

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Why this product: Currently, wound assessment and documentation is time-consuming, disjointed, inaccurate, and relies heavily on subjective clinical opinion. It also raises issues of poor inter-rater reliability, poor patient data secu-rity and confidentiality, poor accessibility to essential data by member of the care team, compromised infection control practices, and variable photographic image quality. Current practices make audit of individual care packages or entire service delivery difficult if not impossible. The Eykona system can be used in conjunction with a dedicated laptop computer or may be used with existing healthcare computer systems. The images obtained are suitable for accurate, objective clini-cal assessment and will form the definitive patient record of treatment and outcomes. Images also can be shared within a secure network for remote assessment. The supporting, dedi-cated software has been designed to enable subsequent audit and analysis of the data collected (visual, topographical, and documentary) and enables the objective assessment of indi-vidual patients, patient groups or entire clinical caseloads.

How long have you used it? 6 monthsPros: Eykona has developed a medical device that lets cli-

nicians take accurate and repeatable 3-D images using stan-dard camera technology. The use of the optical target is fun-damental as the camera will not work without it; it allows the camera to “know where it is” in space and provides a calibra-tion marker for processing by the software.

Cons: I am not aware of any downsides or contraindica-tions with Eykona.

Nominated by: Keith Cutting, MN, RN, Dip N, Cert. ED

product: mepitel® FilmCompany: Mölnlycke Health Care, Norcross, GAProduct description: Mepitel® film is a gentle, transpar-

ent, breathable film dressing for skin protection. It can be used alone or along with other products. It has been shown to minimize pain and trauma at dressing changes, is easy to apply, and does not strip skin upon removal. The product features Safetac® technology.

Why this product: Few products heal wounds better or faster with less pain and fewer infections than occlusive moisture barrier film or hydrocolloid dressings. Mepitel Film is the first film dressing I know that uses a skin adhe-sive so gentle it won’t strip the stratum corneum off when used frequently.

Pros: It seems to offer the transparency, low-pain, and low-infection likelihood of occlusive dressings without the drawback of aggressive adhesive used on other trans-parent dressings.

Cons: It is not designed to manage heavy exudate.Nominated by: Laura Bolton, PhD

product: moldable ostomy wafer Company: ConvaTec, Inc, Skillman, NJProduct description: ConvaTec Moldable Technology™

skin barriers can help prevent skin complications because

they eliminate gaps. Soft, pliable adhesive rolls open to fit de-sired stoma size and shape, with no cutting necessary. The top side swells or “turtlenecks” up the stoma wall, improving fit while helping eliminate gaps and minimize leakage, and the hydrocolloid flexible collar provides additional security but is gentle on skin.

Why this product: The patient doesn’t have to trace the ostomy pattern onto wafer and then cut the opening.

How long have you used it? A few months.Pros: It will be easier for both patients and staff to change

the ostomy wafer. Because the wafer molds to the stoma, there will be fewer instances of skin irritation to treat.

Cons: Not that I am aware of at this time.Nominated by: Sharon Aronovitch, CWOCN, APRN, PhD

product: puracyn wound and skin care Company: Occulus Innovative Sciences, Petaluma, CAProduct description: The Puracyn®-based family of

products involves a patented electrochemical treatment of dilute saltwater through which a pH-neutral solution of hy-pochlorous acid, similar to the natural hypochlorous acid produced by the human body, and its sodium salt, hypochlo-rite, are generated. This process yields a stable product that is available in a variety of containers. There are no known drug/treatment interactions or contraindications with Puracyn-based products. Testing has demonstrated the gel and liquid products to be nonirritating, nonsensitizing, and nontoxic. Through additional testing, Puracyn-based liquid products have been found to have no oral toxicity, cause no ocular irritation, and are non-genotoxic. Puracyn-based hydrogel products contain more than 95% water. Moisture supplied to the wound by these gels creates a moist wound environment that rehydrates.

Why this product: The wounds that I have used this on healed faster.

How long have you used it? Approximately 6 months.Pros: It is available over-the-counter, reasonably priced,

and effective for cleansing many different types of compro-mised skin, including pressure ulcers, skin folds, abrasions, and skin tears. It can be sprayed on the face for acne.

Cons: It is no longer effective if the product freezes.Nominated by: Karen Lou Kennedy-Evans, RN, FNP,

APRN-BC

product: specialty absorptive dressings Companies: Medline Industries, Inc, Mundelein, IL

(Optilock); Derma Sciences, Inc, Princeton, NJ (Xtrasorb®); Advancis Medical, UK (Eclypse)

Product descriptions: Optilock and Xtrasorb super-absorbent dressings feature a polymer core that absorbs high volumes of exudate. Inside the core, exudate is con-verted into a gel and kept away from the wound. This helps decrease the risk of maceration and keeps harmful con-tents within wound fluid away from the wound and peri-wound skin. Eclypse is a highly absorbent, high-capacity

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wound exudate management product designed to absorb fluid, reduce potential leaks, and reduce risk of macera-tion. The dressing has a rapid wicking face combined with the highly absorbent moisture locking system. The absor-bent layer provides large capacity, with rapid fluid up-take, also forming a gel when in contact with exudate. The backing is a water-resistant barrier film to prevent strike-through with a high moisture vapor transfer rate, pro-longing wear ability.

Why these products: Their ability to absorb copious amounts of exudate.

How long have you used it? For about 9 months on pa-tients with heavily draining leg ulcers.

Pros: These dressings can keep lymphedema wraps (which are expensive) free from exudate. Using these dressings allows home health nurses to decrease visits without sacrificing out-comes. Also, these dressings facilitate placing other dressings as primary dressings and using these as secondary dressings.

Cons: I wish it came with an adhesive border. Only one company has dressing shapes that easily conform to “cham-pagne bottle”-shaped lower extremities

Nominated by: Catherine Milne, MSN, APRN, BC-ANP, BC-CWS, CWOCN

product: squire sleep systems positional therapy sleep system

Company: Squire Sleep Systems, Seattle, WAProduct description: Squire Sleep Systems has devel-

oped a patented solution to the age-old problem of how to sleep comfortably on your side. The Sleep System puts the body at an incline. The patented arm channel allows the sleep system to align the spine of the human body while sleeping and put the lower back in mild traction. Stress on the arm and shoulder joints are reduced, so sleepers are able to find better comfort and a more restful sleep. The Positional Therapy Sleep System is designed to replace the mattress or as a mattress topper. The device includes a body support portion, an arm/shoulder support portion, and a head support portion.

Why this product: The only mattress for the treatment of snoring and sleep apnea, it also has a potential role in wound care. It allows for pressure reduction as well as proper positioning to allow patients to sleep side-lying and off a site with an existing pressure ulcer or one with a potential for developing an ulcer.

Pros: The mattress provides outstanding pressure redistri-bution, excellent friction and shear reduction, and superior temperature and moisture management.

Cons: As yet, it is not known if payors will reimburse for this as a mattress in a class by itself (ie, other than as a pres-sure redistribution mattress).

Nominated by: Glenda Motta, RN, BSN, MPH

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