After nearly a year of successful implantations, the company launched the cannulated screw system at the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association’s annual conference. “Cannulated screws are used every day in surgery centers,” says Wesley Reed, director of orthopedics at Medline Industries. The nickel-free, titanium-alloy screws are offered in smaller trays to reduce wasted space, and the screws and instruments are color-coded to ensure OR efficiency, reducing the likelihood of intra-operative error. Tray design also improves sterilization and disinfection, according to a news release.
In addition, each tray includes both headed and headless screw options, swapping the common hex drive for a star drive, according to Mr. Reed: “One problem a surgeon faces while inserting or removing a screw is stripping out the head of the screw. The star drive reduces the chance of screw strip-out,” he said.
The star drive feature has been particularly effective. “I’ve put in more than 300 Medline screws and have not had one screw strip yet, which ensures that the procedure is done right the first time,” said Lowell Weil, Jr., DPM, MBA, FACFAS, president and fellowship director of the Des Plains, Ill.-based Weil Foot & Ankle Institute, in the release.
Medline’s expansion into the orthopedic foot and ankle device market dovetails with the company’s desire to provide more innovative offerings to its customers, given growing industry pricing pressure and tighter budgets for ASCs. “It was a natural progression for us,” said Mr. Reed. “You’ll find Medline on the shelves, the walls, and the tables in ORs across the country. This expansion in the OR lets us provide complete offerings for our customers.”
At ASCA 2014, Medline also showcased several other offerings for OR efficiency and safety, including the EMPOWER Packaging System for OR packs and the ReNewal device reprocessing system. In the orthopedics arena, however, this is just the beginning for the company, which is planning other offerings in the orthopedic space soon. “We’re excited for the second half of 2014 as well as 2015, and we are confident that Medline is positioned very well to address the demands of the changing healthcare market,” he added.
For more information about the Medline Unite Cannulated Screw System, visit Medline’s website.
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