A Systematic Review of Disposable Sheath Use During Flexible Endoscopy.

Flexible endoscopes are exposed to blood, mucus, and other secretions during procedures. Single-use sheaths are designed to prevent contact between contaminants and reusable endoscope components. This systematic review examined findings from 22 studies that assessed endoscopic sheath use during urologic, gastrointestinal, or respiratory procedures. The evidence showed that sheaths were durable and yielded faster endoscope turnover times because their reusable components did not require high-level disinfection or sterilization. After a brief learning period, health care providers successfully assembled and maneuvered sheathed endoscopes. Patients generally did not experience greater discomfort during procedures in which sheaths were used. Microbial cultures of sheathed endoscopes were negative or similar to unsheathed endoscopes. More research is needed to evaluate the potential effect of disposable sheaths on infection risks. The evidence suggests that sheaths are a viable option for reliably providing a barrier between endoscopes and patients without affecting the quality of endoscopic procedures.

Single-Use Ureteroscopes.

A PubMed search using the terms "single use" and "ureteroscope" was performed to identify published studies on this topic. In addition, the abstracts of the annual meeting of the World Congress of Endourology and the American Urologic Association since 2010 were reviewed. Here we present a review of published studies on single-use ureteroscopes.

Innovations in Disposable Technologies for Stone Management.

Disposable stone retrieval devices are an inherent element of modern-day stone management. Efforts are being made in several different areas to improve the efficiency of stone removal. Ureteral access sheaths with pressure control features as well as suction capabilities are being explored as one such mechanism. Additional efforts are being made to improve stone basket design, grasping capabilities, and deployment mechanisms. Finally, bioadhesives are being developed to potentially improve the capability to extract otherwise difficult small stone fragments and debris from the kidney.

Emerging Human Fetuin A Assays for Biomedical Diagnostics.

Human fetuin A (HFA) plays a prominent pathophysiological role in numerous diseases and pathophysiological conditions with considerable biomedical significance; one example is the formation of calciprotein particles in osteoporosis and impaired calcium metabolisms. With impressive advances in in vitro diagnostic assays during the last decade, ELISAs have become a workhorse in routine clinical diagnostics. Recent diagnostic formats involve high-sensitivity immunoassay procedures, surface plasmon resonance, rapid immunoassay chemistries, signal enhancement, and smartphone detection. The current trend is toward fully integrated lab-on-chip platforms with smartphone readouts, enabling health-care practitioners and even patients to monitor pathological changes in biomarker levels. This review provides a critical analysis of advances made in HFA assays along with the challenges and future prospects.

Towards autonomous lab-on-a-chip devices for cell phone biosensing.

Modern cell phones are a ubiquitous resource with a residual capacity to accommodate chemical sensing and biosensing capabilities. From the different approaches explored to capitalize on such resource, the use of autonomous disposable lab-on-a-chip (LOC) devices-conceived as only accessories to complement cell phones-underscores the possibility to entirely retain cell phones' ubiquity for distributed biosensing. The technology and principles exploited for autonomous LOC devices are here selected and reviewed focusing on their potential to serve cell phone readout configurations. Together with this requirement, the central aspects of cell phones' resources that determine their potential for analytical detection are examined. The conversion of these LOC concepts into universal architectures that are readable on unaccessorized phones is discussed within this context.

Disposable devices for RIRS: where do we stand in 2013? What do we need in the future?

PURPOSE: Disposable devices for retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) form a significant part of the urologist's armamentarium for the endoscopic management of urologic diseases. Herein, we provide an overview of the literature regarding the advances and controversies of these devices. METHODS: A PubMed search was used to identify the literature discussing the subject of disposable devices for RIRS. Articles published between 2012 and 2013 were considered. RESULTS: Ureteral access implements including access sheaths, wires, and dilators are an area of both improvement and controversy regarding their proper use. The safety, effectiveness, and limitations of lithotrites continue to be refined. Stone retrieval devices are undergoing persistent miniaturization, and their use may prove to be cost effective. The debate over perioperative stenting remains, while symptom management is explored. A cost-effective option for disposable flexible ureteroscopy shows promise. CONCLUSIONS: While rapid advances in technology and knowledge continue, continual improvements are necessary. Disposable equipment needs persistent refinement and possible miniaturization. More efficient fragment retrieval devices are needed. Durability of laser fibers and safety within ureteroscopes needs to be improved. Reducing stent morbidity remains an ongoing challenge. Lastly, costs need to be reduced by the further development of disposable flexible ureteroscopes and in the recyclability of disposable devices to improve availability worldwide.

Single-use disposable technologies for biopharmaceutical manufacturing.

The manufacture of protein biopharmaceuticals is conducted under current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) and involves multiple unit operations for upstream production and downstream purification. Until recently, production facilities relied on the use of relatively inflexible, hard-piped equipment including large stainless steel bioreactors and tanks to hold product intermediates and buffers. However, there is an increasing trend towards the adoption of single-use technologies across the manufacturing process. Technical advances have now made an end-to-end single-use manufacturing facility possible, but several aspects of single-use technology require further improvement and are continually evolving. This article provides a perspective on the current state-of-the-art in single-use technologies and highlights trends that will improve performance and increase the market penetration of disposable manufacturing in the future.

[Research on status and future development of safety injection device in vaccination].

Vaccination is the important measure to improve the immunity level and prevent infectious disease. To ensure the safety injection in the vaccination is important. Because the consciousness of the safety injection continuously strengthens, Various safety injection devices emerged and continuously developed. AD suringe and the needle collecting device has renovated for 3 generation so far. This thesis summaried and discussed the research and development of the safety injection device in the vaccination.

Disposable bioprocessing: the future has arrived.

Increasing cost pressures are driving the rapid adoption of disposables in bioprocessing. While well ensconced in lab-scale operations, the lower operating/ validation costs at larger scale and relative ease of use are leading to these systems entering all stages and operations of a typical biopharmaceutical manufacturing process. Here, we focus on progress made in the incorporation of disposable equipment with sensor technology in bioprocessing throughout the development cycle. We note that sensor patch technology is mostly being adapted to disposable cell culture devices, but future adaptation to downstream steps is conceivable. Lastly, regulatory requirements are also briefly assessed in the context of disposables and the Process Analytical Technologies (PAT) and Quality by Design (QbD) initiatives.

Cobertura quirúrgica ¿Textil o desechable? / Surgical coverings: textile or disposable?

Dados los cambios acaecidos en los materiales utilizados en los ámbitos quirúrgicos, así como el desarrollo de nuevos productos que proporcionan mayor seguridad y las nuevas directivas de calidad, conviene realizar una revisión de los sistemas de trabajo en estas salas tan sumidas en riesgo de infección, la evolución de los tejidos y la normativa legal al uso (AU)

Given the changes occurring in materials used in surgical environments, as well as the development of new products which provide greater safety and the new quality guidelines, it is important to revise the Word systems in these units with a high risk on infection, the development of textiles and the legal regulations of use (AU)

Tubo de sostén para la colostomía transversa / Tube for transverse loop colostomy

Introducción: Una colostomía transversa debe ser desfuncionalizante y de fácil manejo. Lo clásico para sostener el colon exteriorizado es la utilización de diversos tipos de varillas o tubos. Objetivo: Presentar un tubo de sostén para la colostomía transversa sencillo de confeccionar y económico. Pacientes y Métodos: Desde 1988 utilizamos para todas las colostomías transversas en asa un tubo de sostén en forma de H, confeccionado con un catéter de polivinilo y dos capuchones de aguja 25/8 mm para mantenerlo in situ sin necesidad de fijarlo con puntos. Resultados: Entre 1988 y 2006 utilizamos este tubo de sostén en 46 pacientes. El tiempo de permanencia fue en promedio de 8 (rango, 5-10) días. No hubo complicaciones vinculadas a su uso y la desfuncionalización del colon distal fue completa. Conclusión: Presentamos un tubo de sostén para la colostomía en asa que es práctico, económico, fácil de confeccionar en cualquier medio y exento de complicaciones.

Tubo de sostén para la colostomía transversa / Tube for transverse loop colostomy

Introducción: Una colostomía transversa debe ser desfuncionalizante y de fácil manejo. Lo clásico para sostener el colon exteriorizado es la utilización de diversos tipos de varillas o tubos. Objetivo: Presentar un tubo de sostén para la colostomía transversa sencillo de confeccionar y económico. Pacientes y Métodos: Desde 1988 utilizamos para todas las colostomías transversas en asa un tubo de sostén en forma de H, confeccionado con un catéter de polivinilo y dos capuchones de aguja 25/8 mm para mantenerlo in situ sin necesidad de fijarlo con puntos. Resultados: Entre 1988 y 2006 utilizamos este tubo de sostén en 46 pacientes. El tiempo de permanencia fue en promedio de 8 (rango, 5-10) días. No hubo complicaciones vinculadas a su uso y la desfuncionalización del colon distal fue completa. Conclusión: Presentamos un tubo de sostén para la colostomía en asa que es práctico, económico, fácil de confeccionar en cualquier medio y exento de complicaciones. (AU)

Industry economics in the United States.

Demand for medical equipment in the United States (US) is projected to grow by 8% between 2001 and 2006, to reach 105 billion dollars. In 2001,the market was valued at 71.4 billion dollars, based on an annual growth of 7.5% between 1996 and 2001, according to The Freedonia Group. Product innovation and the growing ageing population is driving the industry, despite health-care cost containment measures. Medical and surgical instruments continue to be the largest sector, which is expected to grow to 30.5 billion dollars in 2006. However, electromedical/electrotherapeutic apparatus will remain the fastest growing sector, with annual gains of 10.8% predicted for this period.

Engineered structures for use in disposable incontinence products.

The background and evolution of absorbent disposable hygiene products is discussed. The current technology used to produce disposable hygiene products such as baby diapers, feminine hygiene products and adult incontinence management products is shown to have a number of manufacturing and in-use problems. Alternative technologies, such as multilayer composite webs offer the opportunity to achieve better product weight control, and therefore better control over the other related properties, reduced raw material waste and improved functional characteristics. There are still problems to be resolved when using such composite materials, but the potential of these new technologies has now been established.