Vision-Sciences (NSDQ:VSCI) said a small study of its EndoSheath bronchoscopy device in a field hospital in Afghanistan found that the single-use device reduces the risk of cross-contamination and avoids the need for complex sterilization procedures for bronchoscopes.
The 3-month study, published online in the Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps last month, included 10 uses of the EndoSheath by physicians at the British Army’s Camp Bastion, northwest of Lashkar Gah, Afghanistan.
The EndoSheath device was used mostly in patients with high-velocity fragment or bullet wounds to the chest, to clear blood from the airways.
"In 1 instance, this was found to be life-saving, and in another, it significantly shortened the length of time for ventilation and allowed early extubation," according to a press release.
The study authors found that the disposable device reduced the risk of cross-contamination and avoided the need for complex sterilization procedures and for completely disposable bronchoscopes, recommending that it be included as part of the inventory for field hospitals.
"These findings demonstrate the positive impact our EndoSheath technology can have by providing sterile bronchoscope technology when caring for critically ill patients, particularly in an austere environment, such as a field hospital," interim CEO Howard Zauberman said in prepared remarks. "In these settings, safety, portability, and ease-of-use are paramount when responding to critical cases, and we believe the results of this study establish the advantages in using our sterile, disposable technology over conventional equipment."
