It may be possible to improve the image you see and upgrade camera heads more easily with Karl Storz's Digital Imaging Platform with full Serial Digital Interface (SDI) video capability for high-resolution images. The system includes the Karl Storz Image 1, which the company says is the first all-digital camera head to convert the optical image to a digital signal at the CCD sensing chip; AIDA DVD Image Management Systems, which the company says deliver sharp images for digital image capture, archiving to DVD or networking to the facility information system; and the first medical-grade LCD flat-panel display to feature integrated digital imaging. The company declined to provide pricing information.

Karl Storz Endoscopy-America, Inc.
800.421.0837
www.karlstorz.com

A new option for eye anesthesia Retro- and peribulbar ocular anesthesia may be safer and more convenient with Duocaine Injection. The drug, a combination of Lidocaine HCl (1 percent) and Bupivacaine HCl (.375 percent), onsets quickly, lasts a long time and enjoys a lower toxicity profile than other commercially available drugs used for this indication, says Amphastar Pharmaceuticals. Because the drug is pre-mixed, there is no risk of compounding errors, and according to the drug manufacturer, it has a longer shelf life than pharmacist-prepared compounds. Doucaine lists for $4 per bottle.

Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
800.423.4136
www.amphastar.com

A weightier safety scalpel PersonnaPlus Safety Scalpel's reusable metal-handle and disposable-blade setup may please some surgeons because the device feels more like a traditional scalpel. To attach the blade, you grasp its clear plastic sheath, insert it into the handle, then break a safety tab before use. Once installed, you can activate and deactivate the blade with a thumb notch. A wide range of blade sizes and handle sizes are available. The company declined to give pricing information.

Personna Medical
800.224.4230
www.asrco.com/medical

Customizable pain pump You may be able to alleviate post-op pain and speed patient recovery with the highly customizable Accufuser 550 Pain Management System. The single-use, non-electronic infuser is available in basal (continuous) only, bolus only or basal-plus-bolus dosing options, and it offers customizable flow rates from 5 to 10 mL/hr. According to the company, the optional bolus dose of 2.0 mL can be locked out in intervals of 15, 30 or 60 minutes to provide complete control over patient dosing. The company did not give pricing information.

McKinley Medical
800.578.0555
www.mckinleymed.com

Device may improve colonoscopies You may be able to make colonoscopy faster and more pleasant for physicians with ClearPrep. The device, which fits in the toilet bowl, evaluates the clarity of the water inside to indicate when the patient is ready for the colonoscopy, according to the company. Place the device on the lid of the toilet with the sensor in the water. After each bowel movement, press the "test" button. The indicator will light up. Red means continue with prep; green means the patient is ready for the procedure. Patients can do this at your facility or take the sensor home with them. The company says the device can be reused for up to 20 patients and can be sprayed or wiped down with a low-level disinfectant. ClearPrep costs $450, or about $22.50 per patient.

MD Instruments, Inc.
800.606.4009
[email protected]

A HIPAA helper You may have an easier time achieving and maintaining HIPAA compliance with HIPAASays, software designed for small and mid-size healthcare organizations. The software asks a series of 64 questions. Depending on the answers, the program provides an assessment report of the current level of compliance and instructions, sample policies, checklists and training materials needed for compliance. You can demo the software at www.hipaasays.com. HIPAASays costs $749, comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee and includes free quarterly updates. Updates include changes to HIPAA laws, updated compliance documents and product upgrades.

SaysSuite, Inc.
866.HIPAASZ
www.hipaasays.com

A new idea for GI hemostasis QuickClip, a disposable clip-fixing device, may control GI bleeding more rapidly than electrosurgical and other hemostatic techniques, according to Olympus. The device, which mechanically compresses the blood vessels to achieve hemostasis, causes less damage to surrounding tissue than other hemostatic techniques and requires no additional equipment, the company says. Olympus says the device is especially easy to use in part because the handle design is the same as biopsy forceps commonly used in endoscopic procedures. QuickClip costs $275 for a box of five or $950 for a box of 20.

Olympus Endo-Therapy
800.622.6372
www.olympus.com

A safety device for blood collection Facilities may be able to reduce the risk of needlestick injuries during blood collection with the BD Vacutainer Push Button Blood Collection Set. The needle retracts into the device when the healthcare worker pushes the activation button with his index finger. The company says the Push Button Blood Collection Set is intuitive and easy to use. The company says healthcare workers who tried the device felt comfortable using it after three trials. The device can also be activated using one hand, which lets healthcare workers tend to the puncture site with their other hand. The company did not give pricing information.

Becton, Dickinson and Company
800.817.1702
www.bd.com