Amedic freeeScan® Latex Free Covers
"Stretchability" - Why is it important?
Covers – sterile barriers, are almost always used in critical procedures where preserved image accuracy and diagnostic value is crucial. To add a cover in the path of the ultrasound signal always constitute a compromise to the image quality, only acceptable in order to retain sterility and prevent cross contamination.
Bubbles
Air attenuates the ultrasound signal and effectively blocks ultrasound transmission. Even small air bubbles can compromise the image quality. freeeScan® that is form fitted, and that is possible to stretch to a high degree, provides a much tighter fit over the transducer face and head, than that of a loose inflexible cover. This is an important factor to prevent air bubbles in the scanning gel between the cover and the transducer that are detrimental to the image quality.
Needles
A snugly fitted cover is also important during instrument guiding procedures when needles are used very close to the transducer. An accidental needle stick through the cover ruins the sterile barrier and must be avoided at any cost. A welded plastic cover made of an inflexible plastic material can produce undesired wrinkles and "ears" that get in the way of the needle, making it less optimal for critical guiding procedures.
Stretch
FreeeScan® is possible to stretch over a large variety of transducer shapes, and still produce a tight but effective barrier membrane, determines its value as the preferred alternative. A dipped chloroprene cover can typically stretch 500% and still return to its original shape [without permanent set], compared to a welded polyurethane cover stretching 200% and ethylene covers stretching 15%. With these huge differences in stretch before permanent set, it is easy to see that the chloroprene material is the natural choice.
Chloroprene – What is that?
Chloroprene, is the monomer used for the production of the polymer polychloroprene, a type of synthetic rubber called chloroprene rubber [CR]. Polychloroprene is better known to the public as for instance Neoprene®, the trade name DuPont gave it when the company first developed it around 1932. CR is the most common material used in "latex-free" gloves today.
Latex Free – is that necessary?
Natural Rubber Latex [NRL] made of plant extracts, mainly from the rubber tree Hevea brasiliensis, contains many proteins which may be absorbed through the skin or inhaled and cause allergic reaction in healthcare workers and patients. A number of these proteins, such as hevamine, hevein, and rubber elongation factor [REF], may initiate allergic reactions of various grade or gradual sensitization to NRL.1,2 Even tough NRL technically is the optimal choice for production of dipped transducer covers; it is obvious that the health risks involved are unacceptable and must be avoided.
Powder Free – how important could that be?
The most common donning agent used to lubricate gloves and covers is powdered corn starch. Several clinical studies has shown that corn starch has the potential to promote disease.3
Even the presence of extremely small amounts of corn starch can cause e.g. wound indurations, bacterial growth and wound infection.4 Adhesions, granulomas, fibrosis and peritonitis has been attributed to post operative corn starch residuals left in the peritoneal cavity. 5 Corn starch-induced adhesions can also produce intestinal obstruction, contamination of donor organs, inflexibility, pelvic pain and infertility through Fallopian tube oclusion.6,7
1 Hunt LW, Fransway AF, Reed CE, et al. An epidemic of occupational allergy to latex involving health care workers. J Occup Environ Med. 1995 Oct; 37(10):1204-9.
2 American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology position statement. Latex allergy - an emerging health care problem. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 1995 Jul; 75(1):19-21.
3,4 Edlich RF, Watkins FH. Glove powder: facts and fiction. Surg Srvs Mgmt Feb. 1997; 3(2): 47-50.
5,6 Hunt TK et al. Starch powder contamination of surgical wounds. Arch Surg 1994; 129:825-6.
7 Sjösten ACE, Ellis H, Edelstam GAB. Retrograde migration of glove powder in the human female genital tract. Human Repr, 2004. Vol 19, No. 4, 991-995.
catalog codes
Amedic freeeScan® Latex Free Covers
Cover Shapes and Transducer Types
| Small Linear/Curved TXD freeeScan® 1 REF 170-1013 W 3.4cm L 45cm  |
| Small/Mid Size Linear/Curved TXD freeeScan® 8 REF 170-1081 W 7.5cm L 45cm  |
Kit Contents
20 Procedure Kits per shelf container, containing:
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