An Impervious Surgical Drape
A new drape fabric may be especially good at preventing fluid pooling and wound infection, and also providing comfort for patients. Convertors' Tiburon drape from Cardinal Health combines three fabric layers: an absorbent fluid-control layer, an impermeable membrane and a patient comfort layer. The top layer holds and disperses fluid, keeping it from pooling on top of the patient, says Cardinal. According to the company, Tiburon outperformed competitive technologies in a series of industry-standard tests including puncture resistance, strength and absorbency. Tests also show lower levels of lint. Tiburon replaces Convertors' Optima spunlaced fabric but is comparably priced.

Cardinal Health
800.234.8701
www.cardinal.com

Save with sapphire knives
Two new sapphire ophthalmic knives from Rhein Medical may offer a lower-cost alternative to diamond knives. The Advantage I Sapphire Knife has a 1-mm-wide snub nose blade that is sharp all around, and the handle has preset depth calibrations of 0.3 mm and 0.6mm, in addition to full advancement and retraction. The Advantage II has a 0.75mm wide sharp blade with blunt side edges. The handle has preset calibrations of 0.3mm, 0.55mm, and 0.6mm, in addition to full advancement and retraction. The blades are mounted onto aluminum handles. The company says the knives cost thousands less than comparable diamond knives, but declined to release exact prices.

Rhein Medical, Inc.
800.637.4346
www.rheinmedical.com

Continuous blood pressure monitoring
The T-Line, a new blood-pressure monitoring device, is said to provide more accurate monitoring than a blood pressure cuff without the need for catheterization as with an arterial (A) line. The Tensys T-Line employs a single-use sensor on the radial artery site. The sensor connects to a wrist brace and actuator system which in turn connects via cable to the TL-100 electronics system. The system houses the electronics, software, waveform and message display and control components of the system. Algorithms work with the brace and actuator system to automatically and continuously track significant blood pressure changes, the company says. The TL-100 costs $7,200 and the sensors cost $24 a piece.

Tensys Medical, Inc.
888.722.7800
www.tensysmedical.com

Earlier lung cancer detection
Physicians may be able to diagnose lung cancer sooner with the new D-Light Autofluorescence (AF) Bronchoscopy System from Karl Storz Endoscopy. In white light mode, the scope produces images similar to other bronchoscopes. But at the touch of a button, the physician can cause the scope to emit blue light. This causes normal tissue to appear green and abnormal tissue to appear brown, the company says. The company did not give pricing information.

Karl Storz Endoscopy
800.421.0837
www.karlstorz.com