Special Report

NovoFine Autocover automatic safety pen needle. Novo Nordisk A/S

MicroDose mammography system. Manufactured Sectra Mamea AB

xCAT computed tomography scanner. Xoran Technologies Inc.

Nuance full-field digital mammography unit. Planmed Oy

Patient Registration Mask. Stryker Leibinger GmbH & Co. KG

InteguSeal microbial sealant. Kimberly-Clark Health Care

The Medical Design Excellence Awards (MDEA) competition recognises the achievements of medical device manufacturers, their suppliers and the many people behind the scenes, who are responsible for developing unique products that can transform health care. The winning entries excel in the areas of product innovation, design and engineering achievement, end-user benefit and cost-effectiveness in manufacturing and health care delivery. All entries were judged by a panel of impartial, multidisciplinary third-party jurors.

The winners will be honoured with gold or silver award status at a presentation ceremony being held on 4 June 2008 during the Medical Design & Manufacturing East 2008 Exhibition in New York, New York, USA. Some of the winning products are described below. 

HemCon bandage. Manufactured by HemCon Medical Technologies Inc. (Portland, Oregan, USA) and submitted by Capstrat (Raleigh, North Carolina, USA). This product was developed to address severe arterial bleeding. The bandage provides an efficacious, lifesaving antibacterial barrier that is also ready-to-use, easy-to-apply, and cost-effective. Supply and design credit: Oregon Medical Laser Center (Portland, Oregon, USA).

NetGuard wireless electrocardiograph system. Manufactured and submitted by Datascope Corp. (Montvale, New Jersey, USA). This device continuously monitors the electrical activity of a patient’s heart using a small wireless electrocardiograph monitor that communicates with a standard PC, and gives an alert and ECG display when a dangerous heart rhythm is detected. Supply and design credit: Corex Design Group Inc. (Glen Rock, New Jersey, USA), Stratos Product Development LLC (Seattle, Washington, USA), Lead-Lok Inc. (Sandpoint, Idaho, USA), and United Plastics Group Inc. (Sarasota, Florida, USA).

Veramyst and Avamys (Fluticasone Furoate) nasal spray delivery device. Manufactured and submitted by GlaxoSmithKline R&D (Ware, UK). This nasal spray is for the treatment of allergic rhinitis. It is administered by means of a novel, ergonomically designed, side-actuated delivery device, and focuses on ease of use and overcoming patient dissatisfaction with traditional nasal sprays.

PowrSyringe injector. Manufactured by Pinyons Medical Technology Inc. (Park City, Utah, USA) and submitted by Globe Medical Tech Inc. (Houston, Texas, USA). This handheld disposable injector provides power, control and tactile feedback while injecting and aspirating fluids faster and easier during clinical procedures such as angiography, angioplasty balloon inflation, and discography. Supply and design credit to Globe Medical Tech Inc. (Houston, Texas, USA), Integrated BioSciences Inc. (Lewisberry, Pennsylvannia, USA), and The Tech Group, A West Pharmaceutical Services Co.(Scottsdale, Arizona, USA).

Tono-Pen Avia applanation tonometer. Manufactured by Reichert Inc. (Depew, New York, USA) and submitted by Metaphase Design Group Inc. (St. Louis, Missouri, USA). This is a handheld instrument for measuring intraocular pressure. It features a lightweight, ergonomic design and advanced electronic measurement technology, which allows operators to take quick and accurate measurements. Supply and design credit to Metaphase Design Group Inc. (St. Louis, Missouri, USA), and Medtronic XOMED (Jacksonville, Florida, USA).

TotalCare Bariatric Plus therapy system. Manufactured and submitted by Hill-Rom Co. Inc. (Charleston, South Carolina, USA). This therapy device is an integrated bed system that addresses microclimate management, pulmonary management and immobility in medical, surgical and intensive care unit settings while serving as bed, chair and transporter.

HemCon bandage. HemCon Medical Technologies Inc.

NetGuard wireless electrocardiograph system. Datascope Corp.

Veramyst and Avamys nasal spray delivery device. GlaxoSmithKline R&D

PowrSyringe injector. Pinyons Medical Technology Inc.

Tono-Pen Avia applanation tonometer. Reichert Inc.

TotalCare Bariatric Plus therapy system. Hill-Rom Co. Inc.

Akreos AO microincision lens, model MI60. Bausch & Lomb

Akreos AO microincision lens, model MI60. Manufactured and submitted by Bausch & Lomb (Rochester, New York, USA). This intraocular lens is intended to replace the human crystalline lens during cataract surgery. Model MI60 is designed for insertion using advanced sub-2-mm microincision cataract surgery. Supply and design credit to Contamac (Saffron Walden, UK), Complices (Toulouse, France) and Medicel (Widnau, Switzerland).

Healthy Living ThinLine deluxe flat screen blood pressure monitor model BSD-3007. Manufactured by Health & Life (Chung Ho City, Taipei, Taiwan) and submitted by Samsung America Inc. (Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, USA). This deluxe flat screen blood pressure monitor is intended for home monitoring of blood pressure and functions as a clock when not in use. Users can set the monitor to issue a warning if certain blood pressure levels are exceeded. Supply and design credit to Samsung America Inc. (Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, USA).

NovoFine Autocover automatic safety pen needle. Manufactured and submitted by Novo Nordisk A/S, Denmark (Hilleroed, Denmark). This safety pen needle is for injecting insulin and growth hormone. It features automatic needle-shield locking to reduce the risk of needlestick injuries and cross contamination of health care providers and patients.

Acuson P10 handheld diagnostic ultrasound unit. Manufactured by Siemens Medical Solutions (Mountain View, California, USA) and submitted by Coyne PR (Parsippany, New Jersey, USA). Weighing 1.6 lb (0.725 kg), this handheld diagnostic ultrasound imaging tool is intended initially for use in primary care and acute care settings and emergency departments, particularly for cardiology and OB/GYN applications. Supply and design credit to GMT Design Services (Boulder, Colorado, USA), Acorn Product Development (Fremont, California, USA) and Elemental8 Inc. (San Jose, California, USA).

MicroDose mammography system. Manufactured and submitted by Sectra Mamea AB (Solna, Sweden). This is a full-field digital mammography system for X-ray breast examination. The system improves patient safety by generating a low average glandular dose of X-ray radiation.

Nuance full-field digital mammography unit. Manufactured and submitted by Planmed Oy (Helsinki, Finland). This full-field digital mammography unit combines high-quality digital imaging technology with good working ergonomics and straightforward work flow. The result is fast and effortless imaging in high throughput mammography screening clinics.

xCAT computed tomography scanner. Manufactured by Xoran Technologies Inc. (Ann Arbor, Michagan, USA) and submitted by Insight Product Development (Chicago, Illinois, USA). This is a compact, portable computed tomography scanner for use by doctors, nurses and technicians in the operating room environment during ear, nose and throat surgery. The device is a fraction of the size and weight of a traditional scanner. Supply and design credit to Insight Product Development (Chicago, Illinois, USA).

InteguSeal microbial sealant. Manufactured by Kimberly-Clark Health Care (Roswell, Georgia, USA). and submitted by Three Atlanta LLC (Atlanta, Georgia, USA).This fast drying, film-forming cyanoacrylate compound is delivered in a single-use applicator. Applied to a surgical site immediately before the surgical incision is made, it immobilises bacteria to help prevent its migration into the incision. Supply and design credit to Medlogic Global Ltd. (Plymouth, UK).

Patient Registration Mask. Manufactured and submitted by Stryker Leibinger GmbH & Co. KG (Freiburg, Germany). This device is used for navigated ear, nose and throat surgeries. It provides a noninvasive means of achieving automated patient registration and tracking during surgery.

Look and plan ahead

The MDEA competition is sponsored by Medical Device & Diagnostic Industry (MD&DI) magazine and organised by Canon Communications LLC. MD&DI has posted up videos of some of the winners. To see what makes a winning product, go to www.devicelink.com/mddi/mdea_video.

The MDEA competition is open worldwide to companies and individuals involved in the design, engineering, manufacture or distribution of finished medical devices or medical packaging. Those interested in entering the 2009 MDEA competition should visit the web site or e-mail: mdea@cancom.com.