Product News

SMART KIOSK Tray Check uses a camera and software to track loaner trays as they come and go from your facility.

Track Your Loaner Instrument Trays
How do you track the loaner trays that enter and leave your facility? A handwritten notebook, a simple sign-in sheet, or worse, nothing at all? Tray Check — a system that digitally documents the comings and goings of all of your loaner trays — standardizes the process so you won't be on the hook for incomplete trays ever again. Tray Check is a kiosk equipped with a workstation, camera, printer and computer that uses a web-based record system to track when loaner trays are checked in and out of your facility. The system places the responsibility on the vendor — not you — for maintaining accurate records of pricey borrowed equipment.

Here's how it works. Place the kiosk where loaner trays are dropped off, typically by central sterile processing. When a rep arrives at your facility with a loaner tray, he goes to the kiosk, logs on and follows a 5-step check-in process. This includes inputting the same info you currently track in that notebook — such as tray name, surgeon and time — as well as other items you want to require, like which wing or floor the tray is going to.

Tray Check photographs each layer of the tray using the kiosk's built-in 1080p HD camera and prints an easy-to-read autoclavable label. When the rep comes back to pick up the tray, he follows a similar checkout process. Tray Check's online system stores all of this information, which lets you access the records from any computer in the facility. You can sign into the system and view the chronological logs, equipment photos and even organize the records according to vendor, so you can easily see which ones are meeting deadlines. Additionally, you can set up customized notifications to get a text message or e-mail when loaner trays are moved in and out of your facility.

The slim kiosk features a large monitor, an ergonomic keyboard and a user-friendly, plug-and-play online software system. You can either purchase the kiosk upfront and pay a monthly data fee to use the system, or you can lease the kiosk and software. The costs vary depending on use, but a rep says most facilities can get started for less than $500.

— Kendal Gapinski

Sonicbeat Supplies Ultrasonic-Only Energy
Sonicbeat, an ultrasonic energy device with Olympus's unique jaw design, delivers rapid cutting and reliable 5 mm vessel sealing from a single multifunctional hand instrument. The instrument's wiper jaw design distributes pressure evenly along the jaw length for consistent sealing, says Olympus. Available in 4 lengths (10, 20, 35 and 45 cm) and 3 handle designs, Sonicbeat is part of Olympus's energy device portfolio that includes Thunderbeat, the only fully-integrated bipolar and ultrasonic technology.
medical.olympusamerica.com

A Brush to Clean Endoscope Elevator Mechanisms
The Elevator Mechanism Brush is designed to clean endoscope elevator mechanisms. The small-scale brush head is comprised of polyamide brush filaments attached to a plastic-coated wire core for efficient scrubbing in and around the endoscope elevator mechanism, says Healthmark Industries. The brush also features an ergonomic handle fashioned from recyclable polypropylene for better grip and precision movement.
hmark.com

Adhesive Provides Image-Guided Navigation for Minimally Invasive Spine
Image-guided spinal navigation has traditionally involved a tradeoff. Physicians have to either make a larger or additional incision to accommodate the clamp that enables image registration and tracking, or forgo navigation technology to keep incisions small. Stryker's SpineMask delivers non-invasive navigation for minimally invasive surgical approaches. Placed on a patient's back, the adhesive device — in conjunction with SpineMap 3D software — employs Stryker's proprietary neurosurgical tracking technology to depict patient anatomy on Stryker's NAV3i navigation platform or a wide range of intraoperative imaging devices.
stryker.com