Fresh air for babies
07 July 2006
Development of a new healthcare product has been achieved with help from a contract manufacturer to provide the intelligent controls
Contract manufacturer Wilson Process Systems (WPS) has partnered with SensorMedics, part of the VIASYS Healthcare group, to develop a ground-breaking new respiratory system, designed especially for premature babies. The new Infant Flow SiPAP unit is the first of its kind to offer non-invasive support for infants, which eliminates the need for intubation (placing a tube into the trachea either through the mouth or nose) and significantly reduces distress to help recovery. The system features intelligent controls that monitor how much support the infant needs and automatically adjusts if the condition changes.
The first prototype of the Infant Flow SiPAP was developed in 1990, and since then the unit has helped over half a million premature babies. At present VIASYS sells around 400 units per year and currently has a 90 per cent penetration rate in UK hospitals. This figure is set to rise with the latest version of the unit, which now provides completely non-invasive respiratory support.
"Earlier infant ventilator systems were often quite distressing for both babies and their families, but because our new unit prevents intubation, it helps make the ordeal as painless as possible," commented a spokesperson for VIASYS Healthcare. "We are pleased that we are able to produce the Infant Flow SiPAP unit with one of the most respected printed circuit board manufacturers in the industry. Since partnering with WPS we have been able to continuously progress the development of the unit according to medical standards making it the leading model of its kind."
WPS first started helping to develop the innovative unit in 2002 and is responsible for producing the internal circuit boards, which include a variety of single, double-sided and multi-layered assemblies. The company is also responsible for electro-mechanical assembly of the units and conducts rigorous testing on the machines, according to high medical standards, prior to them being shipped to the US for distribution.
Nick Jones, Sales Director of WPS said: "Healthcare is a key growth area for WPS. Vital systems such as the new Infant Flow SiPAP frequently demand 100 per cent fail proof technology and smart controls that support both patients and healthcare workers. This is where our industry-leading circuit boards come in - they have been fully tested to comply with medical standards to ensure that the babies are cared for in the best possible way, whilst at the same time enabling the unit to give the right amount of support to encourage the infants to breathe for themselves."
Contact Details and Archive...
Related Articles...
Most Viewed Articles...