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F R O M
T H E
S H O W
F L O O R
• Hovertech, known for its Hovermatt patient transfer device, demonstrated how its recently FDA-approved HT-Wedge can assist in the endotracheal intubation of obese patients. The
inflatable positioner angles up the head and chest, and is reusable after a disinfecting
wipedown.
• Balloons are the state of the art in local anesthetic infusion pumps. Three companies —
Ambu, B. Braun and LMA North America — highlighted pain pumps built with elastomeric
reservoirs. Each disposable pump is latex- and DEHP-free, in a range of sizes, with variable
dispensing rates and on-demand bolus dosing. Ambu's ACTion pump ($125 to $450) is an
easy-to-fill bag with a dial activator. B. Braun's Symbios GOBlock pump (housed in a rigid
plastic shell) is available in selectable flow and fixed rate versions. LMA North America's
AutoFuser (with a rounded plastic container that's easily filled through a front port) features
parallel bolus for uninterrupted infusion during patient-controlled dosing.
• By now there's little question that ultrasound guidance
Civco's Infiniti Plus
is the way to go when administering continuous peripheral
nt
nerve blocks. The manufacturers of infusion components
ive
are still improving on the process, though. Infiniti Plus from
or.
Civco Medical Solutions is a needle-guide system that
snaps on to the end of the ultrasound transducer to enable
accurate block placements. (The starter kit with reusable
ons
bracket costs about $345 to $445. A box of 24 guides costs $200.) Pajunk's SonoPlex nee-
rm-
dles ($12.50 to $15) are imprinted with triangular "cornerstone" reflectors to increase their
ead-
ultrasound visibility, even at steep insertion angles. And the Teleflex Arrow FlexBlock non-
o
stimulating catheter resists kinking and occlusion to evenly distribute the anesthetic
agent.
— David Bernard
D E C E M B E R 2012 | O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E
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