Smiths Medical Launches EDGE Safety Device on Arterial Blood Sampling Syringes in Europe

Smiths Medical has added its EDGE Safety Device technology to both its Portex Pro-Vent and Portex Pulsator Arterial Blood Sampling (ABS) syringes in the European Union. The EDGE safety device provides a fully integrated method to help protect clinicians, patients and hospital workers from accidental needle stick injuries. An audible click signals to the user that the safety mechanism is engaged and ready for disposal in a sharps container.

By utilizing the EDGE safety device technology, both the Portex Pro-Vent Plus with EDGE safety and the Portex Pulsator Plus with EDGE safety, can help provide protection from needle stick injuries, easier implementation and clearer identification utilizing one-handed activation, bevel orientation and color-coded needle gauges, company bigwigs claim. Smiths Medical offers three ABS syringes, all with the FilterPro air bubble removal device, providing further protection from blood exposure.

“The safety legislation enactment in the EU has created greater awareness and demand for device-based protection for clinicians,” said Shrikant Rahalkar, vice president, Global Product Management, Safety Solutions. “Incorporating EDGE safety device technology into our ABS blood sampling syringes provides an additional level of protection for patients as well as clinicians.”

Smiths Medical’s ABS sampling devices have been used clinically since 1995 in countries accepting CE marked devices. The EDGE safety device was introduced in 2009 with its initial application in hypodermic injection products. Introducing this technology into Arterial Blood Sampling adds advanced sharps safety technology for clinicians that conduct procedures using blood-filled, hollow-bored needles which can represent higher-risk potential for spreading infection.

Smiths Medical is a supplier of specialized medical devices and equipment for global markets, focusing on the medication delivery, vital care and safety devices market segments. It is part of Smiths Group, a global company that develops technologies for markets in threat and contraband detection, energy, medical devices, communications and engineered components. Smiths Group employs around 23,000 people in more than 50 countries.