Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1018487
BY STEVE BARRETT PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT A $3, 3-D-printed Stethoscope A C L I N I C A L LY VA L I D AT E D S T E T H O S C O P E generated by 3-D printing costs only $3 to produce and may prove especially valuable in areas with limited medical supplies, according to Canadian scientists. Researchers in the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University in Ontario say the stethoscope takes less than three hours to print but has high acoustic quality — the same as that of more expensive, conventional stethoscopes. The scientists have provided open access to the design template for the device, which can be created with a type of recycled plastic used to create Lego building bricks and certain lawn furniture. The concept for the 3-D-printed stethoscope arose from the realization that a toy stethoscope "performed its function quite well," the university stated in a news release. Results of clinical testing of the stethoscope appear in PLOS One. ■ Embolism-Avoiding Hemostat Delivery B R I T I S H M E D I C A L D E V I C E D E V E L O P E R Team Consulting has designed a hemostat spray delivery system that cannot cause air embolisms. Unlike other air sprays that apply a powder to stop bleeding during surgery, the Convesaid device emits no air. Convesaid permits only powder to exit. It creates an internal air stream that forces the powder out of the end of the device, developers explain, but then it funnels the air itself back to the pump. "Convesaid gives surgeons the ability to stop a variety of bleeds in a rapid, accurate and safe way," Ben Wicks, PhD, head of MedTech at Cambridge-based Team Consulting, said in a newsœrelease. The device, which is hand-held and disposable, is expected to cost about $15 to manufacture, according to the company. ■ Consistent Disinfection of Mobile Devices U TA H ‹ B A S E D P H O N E S O A P H A S developed a device that can rapidly clean a wide range of hand-held products with germicidal UV-C light. In 30 seconds, PhoneSoap Med+ can break down viral and bacterial DNA that clings to stethoscopes, cellphones, blood pressure cuffs and other devices, according to the company. Its interior dimensions are 7.5 by 11.125 by 1.75 inches, so it can readily accommodate a tablet or multiple cellphones. PhoneSoap Med+ allows hands-free operation in order to prevent cross-contamination and can be attached to many surfaces, such as tabletops or walls. It is more consistently effective than the use of germicidal wipes on the irregular surfaces of many devices, the company states, and it avoids the damage that wipes can cause. Additionally, it can record which items have been disinfected and when the cleaning occurred, and it can generate related reports. ■ PHOTO COURTESY OF TEAM CONSULTING LIMITED 2 2