Baxter Releases Sealing Hemostat Device in Europe

Baxter International Inc. has launched its Hemopatch sealing hemostat in Europe following CE mark approval. The collagen-based, resorbable hemostatic device used for surgical procedures when control of bleeding by pressure, suture or conventional procedures is  ineffective or impractical. The development of Hemopatch combined Baxter’s expertise in collagen, internal coagulation processes, and polyethylene glycol technology platforms.

”Hemopatch is a valuable addition to the tools in the surgical suite, as it provides fast hemostasis and strong tissue adherence. Surgeons will appreciate that the product works quickly and effectively, does not require preparation time, and can be used in a range of surgical settings,” said Frank Ulrich, M.D., head of surgical oncology at Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany.

Hemopatch is a soft, thin and flexible collagen pad that is designed to allow surgeons control during application to gain hemostasis and firm adherence of the hemostatic pad to the bleeding tissue surface. In preclinical tests, Hemopatch achieved fast and effective hemostasis, reaching 97.5 percent success by fully controlling bleeding at two minutes, according to the company.

The pad consists of a specifically formulated porous collagen matrix, coated on one side with a thin protein bonding layer that gives the pad a dual-method mechanism of action, in which two components interact to achieve hemostasis by sealing off the bleeding surface and initiating the body’s own clotting mechanisms.

”Hemopatch is a significant innovation in the field of surgical hemostasis and is a valuable enhancement to the portfolio of biosurgical products offered by Baxter,” said Russell Holscher, vice president of research and development in Baxter’s BioSurgery business. ”Importantly, the robust development process, including evaluation of more than 400 prototypes with feedback from more than 200 surgeons, exemplifies the company’s commitment to customer-centric innovation. This hemostat will offer surgeons a valuable new tool. We plan to support the registration and launch of Hemopatch in additional countries in the coming years.”

Baxter’s BioSurgery franchise began with the acquisition of Immuno International AG, in the 1990s and the first launch of a hemostatic device in the United States in 1998. Today, Baxter’s BioSurgery portfolio consists of a range of biological and synthetic products and delivery devices used for hemostasis, tissue sealing, adhesion reduction, hard tissue regeneration, as well as soft-tissue repair and microsurgery products.

Baxter International Inc. is based in Deerfield, Ill.