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Themedica http://www.themedica.com/articles/ en-US Copyright 2008 Mon, 17 Nov 2008 11:16:51 +0000 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Lasting Benefits Of Medical Device Reuse

The high cost of disposing medical waste, increasing biohazardous waste in the envoronment and burgeoning healthcare costs have forced many healthcae facilities to reconsider reuse of medical instruments and devices. Further, despite concerns about patient safety, evidence seems to favor reuse, by-and-large.

Patient Safety

The report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has found that practice of reuse of medical instruments and devices doesn't increase any risk.

Reprocessing for reusing single-use medical devices was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2000, subject to stringent sterilization guidelines. Back then, there wasn't enough data on failure rates of these processes. Now after nearly eight years of evidence it was found that of the total of 320,000 adverse event reports the FDA received between 2003 and 2006, only a fraction (0.1 percent) could be linked to reprocessed medical instruments and devices.

This independent study was not only helpful in allaying fears about the risk of reuse, but reaffirmed that reprocessing medical devices and medical instruments reduces costs and waste.

Cost Savings

Back in the year 2000, the GAO report to congress titled: "Single Use Medical Devices: Little Available Evidence of Harm from Reuse, but Oversight Warranted," indicated that if appropriate cleaning, testing and sterilization procedures are carefully followed, it could result in significant savings for hospitals.

An FDA survey in February 2002 revealed that 24 percent of hospitals were using at least one type of reprocessed Single-Use Device (SUD) and a larger number of them outsourced reprocessing, or hired "third parties," for the purpose.

While the resultant cost savings can be validated by face-to-face discussions with reprocessing vendors from the medical industry and hospitals, the actual savings would vary based on a number of factors. These include staff compliance, range and type of devices reporcessed, cost of the devices reprocessed, how fast such a program is implemented, number of times a device can be reused, etc. Generally, reusable medical products do cost more up front, however in the the long run can turn out to be money savers in addition to being more durable.

Environmental Benefits

The medical waste disposal process first came under scrutiny after a few incidents of medical waste washing up on beaches during the 1980s. Despite many healthcare facilities already reusing medical instruments and devices,

based on a new report from Kalorama Information on Reusable Medical Devices they still produced about 7,200 tons of waste each day in 2007.

Protecting the environment is the need of the hour and the world is moving towards the three R's - reduce, reuse, and recycle. To organize these efforts the American Hospital Association (AHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had initiated a joint-program to reduce hospitals' total waste volume by 50 percent by 2010. Also, the EPA's revised guidelines in January 2007, indicated a need to reduce the use of infectious medical waste incinerators (a waste management equipment) for environmental reasons.

The Business of Reusable Devices

The reusable medical devices and instruments market is a growing industry and is presently valued at $4 billion, and is forecasted for a significant annual growth rate of 12.9% through 2012. At present, orthopedic and general surgery instruments and devices account most of the trade, which represented 37% and 31% of the total market in 2007, respectively.

Considering the many benefits including cost savings and environmental protection, coupled the market opportunity, the practice of reusing medical instruments and devices indeed promises lasting benefits.

]]> http://www.themedica.com/articles/2008/11/lasting-benefits-of-medical-de.html http://www.themedica.com/articles/2008/11/lasting-benefits-of-medical-de.html Medical Instrument Medical Devices Medical Instruments Mon, 17 Nov 2008 11:16:51 +0000 Homeopathy - Rise Of The Phoenix

A recently published review on homeopathy, titled "The End of Homeopathy," claimed that homeopathic medicines were only as good as placebos. However, now two new studies conclude that the review describing homeopathy as a placebo was flawed. Both the events together seem to have marked the end and resurrection of homeopathy, at least theoretically.

Homeopathy, a type of alternative medicine, was first introduced to the world by Samuel Hahnemann in the 18th century. It is based upon a central philosophy, that sickness can be treated using a substance that can produce symptoms similar to those of the illness, in a healthy person. Over the years the practice has been used by an increasing number of people worldwide, debated all over and has also fought back the attacks leveled against it, such as now.

The Rise of Homeopathy

During the last 30 years or so this alternative medicine has achieved a high status and popularity, estimates put it's growth rate to about 20%.

Considering that most of the referrals to a homeopathic clinic are through word of mouth that seems to be a very good figure.

In the US, about 62% of the population uses some sort of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Further,Homeopathy which is a part of “Whole Medical Systems” ranks at number four position as the most popular form of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). It accounts for 2.7 percent of CAM users. The popularity of other types of CAMs is, Mind Body Medicine (52.6%), Biologically Based Practices (21.9%), Manipulative and Body-Based Practices (10.9%) and Energy Medicine (0.5%).

Further, compared to other therapies of its kind viz. Acupuncture, Ayurveda, and Naturopathy, the Homeopathic Medicine with 41% users ranks second being next only to Acupuncture, whose users make up for 45 percent of all the four therapies combined.

Aside from the USA, in countries around the world, the popularity of homeopathy excellent. For instance in a recent Global TGI survey, people were asked whether they trust homeopathy? The following are the percentages of people living in urban areas who said YES:, India 62%, Brazil 58%, Saudi Arabia 53%, Chile 49%, United Arab Emirates 49%, France 40%, South Africa 35%, Russia 28%, Germany 27%, Argentina 25%, Hungary 25%, USA 18%, UK 15%.

A number of famous people use or have used homeopathic remedies including the royal families of Europe. In fact Queen Elizabeth II of England is said never to travel anywhere without her supplies of homeopathic remedies.

Homeopathy is practiced nowadays in countries all over the world and the legacy of homeopathy, now 250 years old continues. If history is an indicator of future success, then homeopathy will continue to illuminate the medical industry for as long as it lasts.

]]> http://www.themedica.com/articles/2008/11/homeopathy-rise-of-the-phoenix.html http://www.themedica.com/articles/2008/11/homeopathy-rise-of-the-phoenix.html Alternative Medicines Alternative Medicine Homeopathic Medicines Fri, 07 Nov 2008 11:19:32 +0000 Pharmaceutical Drugs - Industry Outlook

The growth for global pharmaceutical drugs market in 2009 is forecasted to exceed US $820 Billion, growing at 4.5 – 5.5 Percent rate, coupled with a double digit growth for emerging markets, focus on specialty-driven therapies and a global economic volatility.

These projections were a part of the annual “IMS 2009 Global Pharmaceutical Market and Therapy Forecast,” from IMS Health. Experts believe that the year 2009 will give a new shape to the global pharmaceutical market owing to various market factors that have gained momentum during the past couple of years with the growth rates being similar to 2008 levels.

Here is more about the new market forces that the industry will be put up against.

Growth will Slow Down in Mature Markets

The growth forecast for the U.S. pharmaceutical market, the world’s largest, has been cut down from 2 - 3 percent rate expected earlier this year, to a rate of 1 - 2 percent to $287 - $297 billion. Reasons include less-than-expected demand for new products and a dull economic climate. Further, patent expirations, fewer new product releases and a tighter economy will contribute to lowered sales of $292 - $302 billion expected next year.

Faring relatively better would be the top five E.U. countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom), expected to grow 3 - 4 percent in 2009, and acquiring sales figures of $162 - $172 billion.

Japan, the world’s second-largest market, is forecasted to see a higher growth of 4 - 5 percent, reaching $84 - $88 billion.

Rapid Growth of Emerging Markets

These markets referred to as the “pharmerging” markets include China, Brazil, India, South Korea, Mexico, Turkey and Russia, will grow at a combined 14 - 15 percent pace to $105 - $115 billion.

Helping their growth would be the pharmaceutical industry's increased focus on these high-growth markets, greater government spending on healthcare and broader public and private healthcare funding, which will drive greater access to, and demand for, innovative medicines.

There'll be an Emphasis on Specialist-Driven Markets

Specialist prescribed pharmaceutical drugs are forecast to grow 8 - 9 percent in 2009 and make up for 67 percent of the total market growth.

Growth rates projected for the sub-sectors of pharmaceutical drugs are: Biologics (11 – 12%), oncology products (15 – 16%), HIV therapies (13 – 14%). On the other hand primary care physicians prescribed products will grow at 2 – 3 percent rate due to the loss of patent exclusivity different blockbusters coupled with only a handful of new product launches.

Fewer Products will Win Regulatory Approval

Reaching historical lows, only 25 to 30 new chemical compounds are slated for launch in 2009. A majority of these would be specialist-driven and niche products with comparatively limited market potential.

In the US the economic slowdown will result in reduced growth in the country by 2 - 3 percentage points. In addition other markets with large out-of-pocket spending requirements such as Brazil, India and Russia too will be affected by economic changes.

The Generics Market will Continue to Evolve

About US $24 billion of branded products will lose their market exclusivity in the top eight markets in 2009. Consequently, generic drug sales of more than US $68 billion can be expected next year, with a 5 - 7 percent growth rate, just like in 2008, albeit below the 2006 and 2007 levels. Much of the decline is due to growth slowdowns in the U.S. and U.K. and price wars between competitors.

Intensified Involvement of Payers and Health Technology Assessors

Next year, growth across the leading European markets will be affected by payer actions. These include amongst others:

Increased rebating and contracting in Germany

Expansion of regional formularies in Italy

A five percent decrease in branded prices in the U.K.

A 10 percent price reduction on a number of brands in France,

The expansion of the reference pricing system in Spain.

Other changes that could have a long term impact include:

The uptake of biosimilars in human growth hormones and erythropoietins in Europe.

The adoption of generics in Japan

The use of contracting strategies across the E.U.

The deregulation of the pharmacy sector in Europe

The potential for healthcare policy changes in the U.S after the presidential elections.

While there are indeed some bigchallenges for the pharma industry, an invaluable chunk of the whole of medical industry, it can still expect to grow by focusing on areas viz. emerging markets, specialist-driven products, biologics, etc. that offer a potential for growth.

]]> http://www.themedica.com/articles/2008/11/pharmaceutical-drugs-industry.html http://www.themedica.com/articles/2008/11/pharmaceutical-drugs-industry.html Drug Pharmaceutical Drug Pharmaceutical Industry Mon, 03 Nov 2008 10:20:39 +0000 Dietary Supplements - Industry Outlook

The dietary supplements industry is expected to experience changes in consumer activity and more emphasis on manufacturing standards within the coming 18 to 24 months.

These projections were recently put forward by panel experts attending the "Future View from the Top: Industry Leaders Forum on the Supplement Industry," CRN's annual conference on dietary supplements.

Here's what they predict:

Prevention will be profitable

The dietary supplements industry could gain momentum in consumer growth as the emphasis by presidential candidates on preventative healthcare continues till November. Also, a growth in the nutraceuticals market over the next couple of years has a good probability, partly because of the high cost of pharmaceuticals.

At present dietary supplements to some extent are still looked upon as "alternative," than mainstream. Experts believe that helping consumers and the medical community recognize that dietary supplements are mainstream carries with it the greatest opportunity. It's already happening though, as medical professionals become more comfortable with them.

The number of companies would decline with the slumping economy

Dietary supplements business manufacturing is costly and entails commitment of millions of dollars to maintain a laboratory to test the product ingredients. The economic downturn depleting the availability of financial capital, coupled with the new good manufacturing practices (GMPs) and other financial pressures will render many companies unable to handle the stress, causing the industry as a whole to shrink in size. Mergers, acquisition and other consolidation measures will continue within the industry.

Quality will be a concern

Despite the efforts by the supplement industry to help ensure quality throughout the supply chain (e.g final GMPs rule and for the new adverse event reporting (AER) law) more needs to be done in the direction. Often, simply because of an individual company's irresponsible conduct, the image of the whole industry is tarnished. Quality is still a challenge because some still think that you can still get away with any stuff.

Communication will be the key

During the next 18 to 24 months there will be challenges and changes, as all industries adjust to a newly elected Congress and President. At the same time communicating the benefits of dietary supplements products to consumers, media and healthcare industry professionals, needs to continue.

Further, according to the results from the 2008 CRN Consumer Survey on Dietary Supplements, about 81 percent of American adults indicated that they were confident in the safety, quality and effectiveness of dietary supplements compared to 80 percent last year. On the whole the dietary supplement industry might do well if itcan adroitly meet the challenges before it.

]]> http://www.themedica.com/articles/2008/10/dietary-supplements-industry-o.html http://www.themedica.com/articles/2008/10/dietary-supplements-industry-o.html Dietary Supplements Dietary Supplements Nutraceuticals Mon, 27 Oct 2008 06:32:37 +0000 A Brief Guide On Medical Instruments

A medical instrument is any tool, apparatus, appliance, material, used alone or in combination with other such items meant to be used on humans for the purpose of:

Diagnosis, prevention, monitoring, treatment, or alleviation of disease;

Diagnosis, monitoring, treatment, alleviation of an injury or handicap;

Investigation, replacement, or modification of the anatomy or of a physiological process;

Medical instruments may be classified based on their uses such as Anaesthesia instrument (use to induce controlled unconsciousness e.g. Anaesthetic Endotracheal Tube), Cardiovascular Instrument (used for procedures performed on the heart e.g Artery Forceps), Dental Instrument (used in dental surgeries e.g. Bone Chisel, Dental Elevator), etc.

Types of Medical Instruments

Aside from surgical uses medical instruments play a big role in diagnoses of a myriad abnormal medical conditions. Consequently, there are numerous medical instruments that medics make use of. Some basic types of these devices are outlined below.

Anaesthesia Instrument

A large array of instruments aid medical anaesthesia. Anaesthetic machine is the basic equipment needed to trigger anesthesia. Also, the pipeline (Endotracheal tube) supplying necessary medical gases viz. nitrous oxide, oxygen and air, needs to be in perfect shape and firmly secured to the machine to make it effective. In addition there are a number of assisting devices, which are critical for inducing and maintaining safe and effective anaesthesia. Some of these instruments include Oxygen masks, Laryngeal mask airways (LMA), Endotracheal tubes, Laryngoscopes, Tracheotomy tubes, Endoscopes, etc.

Arthroscopy Instrument

Arthroscopy refers to a minimally invasive surgery which entails an examination and sometimes coupled with treatment of damage of a joint. Arthroscope, an endoscope used to perform surgery, is a basic instrument for the procedure and is inserted into the joint through a small incision. Common arthroscopic procedures are needed to evaluate and treat several joint disorders including torn floating cartilage, torn surface cartilage, trimming damaged cartilage, etc. Several other arthroscopy instruments used for the purpose are Punches, Grasping Forceps, Scissors, Hook Scissors, etc.

Dental instruments

Dental instruments are tools and apparatus used by dental professionals to provide dental treatment and care. Dental instruments are classified depending upon the function they help perform and include devices to examine, manipulate, restore and remove teeth from the mouth. For instance, examination instruments viz. Mouth mirror, Periodontal probe, straight probe help to manipulate oral tissues and provide a better view of the mouth to the surgeon. Different types of retractors include Mouth prop, dental mirror, cheek retractor, tongue retractor, lip retractor. Some common restorative instruments are spoon excavator, flat plastic, ball burnisher, Amalgam plugger, Universal curettes, etc.

Laproscopy Equipment

Laparoscopic surgery, is a surgical technique in which surgical procedures of the abdomen are performed through small incisions rather than through large incisions needed in traditional surgical procedures. Many different types of laproscopy instruments are used in key-hole surgery such as Dissecting Forceps, Laproscopy, Tooth Cup Forceps, monopolar handle, multifunction handle, needlenose dissector insert.

Surgical instruments

Surgical instruments are tools or devices specifically constructed to achieve different effects during a medical surgery. Some of these effects may include modifying biological tissue, accessing it, cutting, sewing or removing it. Overtime, many different kinds of surgical instruments and tools have been invented. Surgical instruments may be designed either for general use of for performing specific procedure or surgery. The names of surgical instruments are often derived from the functions they perform e.g. scalpel, or be named after their inventor e.g. Kocher forceps, etc. Some frequently used surgical instruments are Graspers & tweezers used for plucking eyebrows; suction tips and tubes help in the removal of bodily fluids; powered drills assist in boring holes in the bones; also used are clamps and occluders for holding blood vessels or other organs.

Buying Tips for Medical Instruments

The quality of medical instruments determines how effective and safe these products are and this in turn affects the quality of medical service rendered by a hospital. The importance of the quality medical instruments can’t be overstated. The following tips would help you to procure quality medical instruments and supplies.

1.Establish the integrity of the source prior placing the order.

2.Establish a list of approved suppliers.

3.Require that any alternative source of supply provides the following as a minimum:

a.A pedigree back to the previous source.

b.Certification that it is not a diverted product.

c.Certification that any actions by the alternative source will not alter any original manufacture warranties or guarantees.

d.Certification that the product has been stored and handled consistent with product labeling requirements.

4.Be wary if a product is being offered at an unusually cheap price.

5.Check for signs of a removed or switched product label.

6.Check for subtle changes in the product’s package (compare with previously purchased products), notwithstanding legitimate parallel imported products

7.Look for variations in the size of the container (compare with previously purchased products), notwithstanding legitimate parallel imported products.

8.Look for differences in container length, diameters and shapes.

9.Examine for variations in the thickness of containers and for variations in container color tints.

10.Compare the physical characteristics of the product

Industry Overview

Aging population, better health care due to rapid advancements in the medical industry and longer life expectancies are some critical drivers of the medical instrument and device industry.

In the US the annual industry production in the sector has exceeded US $70 billion, since 2002 and has witnessed about 6 percent annual growth rate. Other estimates put the production value of the medical device industry in the US to $82.4 billion in 2004. A large and sophisticated health care system in the US also makes it the largest single country consumer of medical equipment supplies. The US market's value in 2005 was US $80 billion.

The countries of Western Europe make up for another large market of medical instruments and devices, representing a total market of more than 403 million people and an aggregate GDP of US$18.1 trillion in 2008. Germany, with a market share of about 7% is the third largest medical device market in the world. France ranks fourth and the UK's market has been valued at approximately, US $9.9 billion.
]]> http://www.themedica.com/articles/2008/10/a-brief-guide-on-medical-instr.html http://www.themedica.com/articles/2008/10/a-brief-guide-on-medical-instr.html Medical Instrument Medical Devices Medical Instruments Surgical Instruments Mon, 13 Oct 2008 09:13:45 +0000 Laboratory Equipments - A Mini-Guide

Laboratory equipments are tools and devices used by scientists and researchers to carry out work in a laboratory. Laboratory equipment entail a range of gadgets and tools for various purposes. For example, Bunsen's burners used to heat the reactants, microscopes to magnify objects and life forms invisible to the human eye because they are so tiny and other equipment viz. spectrophotometers, calorimeters, special purpose glassware are all classified as laboratory equipment.

Generally, laboratory equipment is needed to conduct scientific experiments or for measurements or to gather data. Larger and sophisticated equipments are generally referred to as scientific instruments.

Laboratory Centrifuge

Laboratory centrifuge is an equipment powered by a motor, which spins liquid samples at high speed. laboratory centrifuges are essentially available in two sizes. The larger units are known simply as centrifuges, comprise centrifuge tubes which contain the samples. The smaller ones on the other hand are known as microcentrifuges or microfuges and they make use of microfuge tubes to store the samples.

Centrifuges are used to separate substances of higher density from those with lower density. They achieve this through the process of sedimentation. As they rotate the samples at high speeds the constituents of varying densities contained in the samples are separated. Different types of centrifuges accomplish different types of centrifugation viz. differential centrifugation, isopycnic centrifugation , sucrose gradient centrifugation, etc.

Laboratory Microscopes

Laboratory microscopes refer to

instruments used for viewing objects that are too small to be seen by an unaided eye. While the study of small objects is known as microscopy, the word microscopic refers to something that's very small and not visible to a naked eye.

Microscopes are often classified as either, optical microscopes, electron microscopes, or scanning probe microscopes. The optical theory microscopes work on the principles of magnification and make use of optical lenses. Also they use visible wavelengths of light, while the electron microscopes use electron beams. The electron microscopes are further classified as Scanning electron microscope and Transmission electron microscope.

Laboratory Consumables

Laboratory consumables refer to all the items and equipment that get used up in the process of carrying out experiments. There are a number of laboratory consumables used for a myriad purposes. Some examples of consumables include Baskets, Dishes, Jugs, Paper products, Specimen containers, Trays, Rubber Stoppers, Universal Containers, Ice buckets & trays, Scoops, Buckets, Dippers, Spatulas, Analyzer Cups, Counting Vials, Cuvettes, Nitrile Gloves, Parafilm, Sample Cups, Spatulas, Weigh Boats, etc.

Laboratory Incubator

Laboratory Incubators are devices meant to regulate the

temperature, humidity, and other conditions in which a microbiological culture are growing. Laboratory Incubators vary in their sophistication. For instance, the simplest may just be insulated boxes accompanied by an adjustable heater with a capacity to vary the temperature from 140 to 150 °F or more. On the other hand more complex incubators can include the ability to lower the temperature as well, coupled with an ability to control humidity and CO2 levels.

Advanced incubators also have a timer, which can sometimes be programed to vary parameters such as temperature, humidity levels, etc in a cycle. Furthermore, their sizes also range from being tabletop to units the size of small rooms.

Laboratory Mixers

Laboratory mixers are a device used in laboratories to mix liquids and solutions. The construction of a typical mixing device entails a drive shaft attached to a container holder. Further, a motor powering the device cause the holder to oscillate rapidly, mixing the solution. Additionally, mixers typically come with a builtin speed control to adjust the speed of oscillation based on the types of solutions to be mixed.

Laboratory Water Bath

A laboratory water bath or a heated bath is a piece of equipment used to carry out a chemical reaction to an increased temperature. Generally, a water bath entails a fluid on an open metallic pot in which the container holding the substances to be heated are immersed. The most common fluids used for the bath are water and oil. Water baths are needed to allow reactions to take place above 100 °C, on the other hand an oil bath is used for temperatures in excess of 100 °C.

For the reaction to be carried out in the reaction chamber, the chamber viz. erlenmeyer flask, florence flask, or a beaker, containing the solution is immersed in the heated bath. In addition a thermometer attached to the bath keeps a track of the temperature. Water baths come in different sizes with comprising both analog and digital controls. The reaction chambers are made of rugged, materials that are leakproof.

Laboratory Equipments - Buying Tips

The very quality of laboratory equipments and supplies determine how effective and safe these products are and this in turn affects the quality of medical or scientific research carried out. Using substandard laboratory equipments pose a safety hazard, hence the importance of the quality lab equipments can’t be overstated.

The following are tips that would help you to procure quality laboratory equipment and supplies.

1.Establish the integrity of the source prior placing the order.

2.Establish a list of approved suppliers.

3.Require that any alternative source of supply provides the following as a minimum:

a.A pedigree back to the previous source.

b.Certification that it is not a diverted product.

c.Certification that any actions by the alternative source will not alter any original manufacture warranties or guarantees.

4.Be wary if a product is being offered at an unusually cheap price.

5.Check for subtle changes in the product’s package (compare with previously purchased products), notwithstanding legitimate parallel imported products.

Industry Overview

Laboratory equipment/instrumentation used in science and medical laboratories has grown in importance with the increasing number of medical and scientific research facilities in the health care industry. The UK's industry has developed alongside the country's industrial revolution and is an indicator of the country's science base. UK commands about 7 per cent of the world market and the sales of lab equipment in 2005 was worth US$ 4.30 billion.

The trends fueling the growth of the industry include miniaturization and automation. For the most part consumers are demanding lab equipment that occupies less space and and automation for inducing greater efficiencies in their processes. In addition, portability of the equipment too is on their minds.

Aside from the growth in the west, countries in the Asian continent such as China and India will have a bigger role to play as supplier as many suppliers have already outsourced equipment production to facilities in these countries.

]]> http://www.themedica.com/articles/2008/10/laboratory-equipments-a-minigu.html http://www.themedica.com/articles/2008/10/laboratory-equipments-a-minigu.html Laboratory Equipments Laboratory Equipments Mon, 06 Oct 2008 07:32:42 +0000 Laboratory Chemicals & Gases - An Overview Laboratory chemicals and gasses are pure substances (solid, liquid, or gasses) with a definite chemical composition used to conduct scientific research, experiments and to perform scientific measurements.

Laboratory chemicals can be classified as elements and chemical compounds. An element is a chemical substance made up of one kind of atoms and it cannot be broken down or changed into a different element by a chemical reaction. There are about 120 known elements.

Chemical compounds on the other hand are chemical substances composed of two or more elements combined into one substance, by means of a chemical reaction. A chemical compound can take up the form of molecules or crystals.

Gases too exist as elements or as compounds (a collection of (molecules, atoms, ions, electrons, etc.), with the only difference that they do not have a definite shape or volume and in addition they are for the most part in random motion.

Laboratory chemicals and gases though invaluable for conducting scientific research pose a safety threat in laboratories. This is so because due to their chemical properties they may be poisons, flammable, explosive, radioactive, etc and thus make accidents a possibility if they are not stored and used with caution.

A plethora of laboratory chemicals and gasses are available and are used in laboratories around the world. An example is that of acetaldehyde, a toxic air contaminant, which is widely used in the manufacture of acetic anhydride, acetic acid, peracetic acid, pyridines, ethyl acetate, penteerthritol, alkylamines and lactic acid.

Types of Laboratory Chemicals & Gases

Some widely used classes of laboratory chemical & gases are explained below.

Anesthesia Gases

Anesthesiagas also known as anesthetic gas is a pharmaceutical drug that induces a reversible loss of consciousness in patients. A common use of the gas is to induce or maintain general anaesthesia (loss of consciousness) to aid surgery. Some common anesthesia gases include, Trichloroethylene, Nitrous oxide, Chloroform, Xenon, Halothane, Diethyl ether, Methoxypropane, Cyclopropane, halogenated ethers and Vinyl ether.

Chemical Indicators

In analytical chemistry chemical indicator refers to substances whose physical appearance changes when they

come in contact with a specific concentration of other substances being tested. Indicators are commonly used in laboratories, often to classify other substances. For instance, methyl yellow is an indicator, which turns an alkaline solution yellow. When acid is slowly added to it the solution's color remains yellow but abruptly changes to red when the acid has been completely neutralized.

Chemical Solutions

Chemical solutions are a homogeneous mixture made out of two or more substances used to carry out a chemical tests (qualitative or quantitative) in order to quantify, or to prove the existence of another compound or chemical. Chemical solutions can be solid, liquid or gases and contain a solvent, in which another another substance is dissolved, and solute, which is the substance dissolved in the solvent. Some examples of chemical solutions are Ammonia–Cyanide, Ammonium Acetate, Barium Nitrate, etc.

HPLC Solvents

HPLC is an abbreviation for High-performance liquid chromatography, a form of column chromatography. It is a procedure used to sift individual chemical compounds from mixtures of compounds, or to identify, separate and quantify compounds. To be conducted successfully HPLC makes use of chromatographic packing material, molecules to be analyzed and solvent, which is the substance used to dissolve the substance being analyzed.

Reagents

Reagents, also known as reactants are substances or compounds which are used up during a chemical reaction. Often a distinction is made between reagents and solvents & catalysts, even though the latter too are a part of chemical reactions, yet are not considered reagents. Examples of analytical reagents include Fehling's reagent, Grignard reagent, Tollens' reagent, Collins reagent, Fenton's reagent, etc.

Solvents

A solvent refers to a substance (a liquid or gas) that dissolves another substance, which can either be solid, liquid, or gaseous in nature, so as to form a solution. Some commonly used solvents are ethyl acetate, toluene, turpentine, tetrachloroethylene, methyl acetate, acetone, etc.

Tips for purchasing Laboratory Chemicals & Gases

It’s the quality of the chemicals used in research which determine the quality of findings and outcomes. The vitality of of quality Laboratory Chemicals & Gases cannot be overlooked. The following tips would help you to procure quality Laboratory Chemicals & Gases.

1.Establish the integrity of the source prior placing the order

2.Establish a list of approved suppliers.

3.Require that any alternative source of supply provides the following as a minimum:

a.A pedigree back to the previous source
b.Certification that it is not a diverted product
c.Certification that any actions by the alternative source will not alter any original manufacture warranties or guarantees
d.Certification that the product has been stored and handled consistent with product labeling requirements

4.Be wary if a product is being offered at an unusually cheap price.

5.Check for signs of a removed or switched product label

6.Check for subtle changes in the product’s package (compare with previously purchased products), notwithstanding legitimate parallel imported products

7.Look for variations in the size of the container (compare with previously purchased products), not withstanding legitimate parallel imported products

8.Look for differences in container length, diameters and shapes.

9.Examine for variations in diameters of bottle openings or lids.

10.Examine for variations in the thickness of glass or plastic containers and for variations in container color tints.

11.Compare the physical characteristics of the product.

Industry Overview

Quite a few studies have been conducted forecasting the growth of the markets for chemicals and in a majority of cases, the projections of chemical output up to the year 2010 have been estimated to reach US$2,360 billion. This figure is a good 63% higher compared to 1996 statistics.

This growth of the industry would be fueled by the needs of several industries including the medical industry as it grows. For instance, the greatest impact will be from the life sciences sector which grows at 4.75 percent per annum. Specialty chemicals will be the next major contributor with 3.25% per annum growth, followed by consumer products with 1.75% per annum rate of growth and basic chemicals with a growth rate of over 1.25%.

Another notable trend within the industry is the decline in major petrochemical production capacity in the markets of the US, Western Europe, and Canada while growth rates in capacity in the emerging markets including Africa, China, the Middle East and India increase.

]]> http://www.themedica.com/articles/2008/09/laboratory-chemicals-gases-an.html http://www.themedica.com/articles/2008/09/laboratory-chemicals-gases-an.html Laboratory Chemical & Gases Chemicals Laboratory Chemicals & Gases Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:52:44 +0000 Hospital Furniture - An Overview

Hospital furniture refers to all movable objects which may support the human body viz. seating furniture and beds, provide storage, or hold objects on horizontal surfaces above the ground.

Hospital furniture comes in various shapes and sizes, it can be as general as a chair for the waitng area at the reception or a specialized product such as a delivery bed. It can be made from many materials, including metal, plastic and wood. Furniture often entails a variety of woodworking, metallic or plastic joints that lend adjustability and flexibility to it. Storage furniture used in hospitals often comprises doors, drawers, and shelves and is used to contain smaller objects such as clothes, tools, instruments and other medical goods.

Since hospitals are institutions providing health care treatment by specialised staff and equipment, their needs for furniture are often different from the household furniture users.

General hospital are a well-known type of health care institutions dealing with a number of diseases and injuries and usually have an emergency department to handle acute threats to health. General hospitals are the most important health care institutions in their area and typically house a large number of beds for both intensive as well as long-term care. They also offer specialized facilities for laboratories, surgery, plastic surgery, childbirth, etc. Consequently, their requirements for medical furniture vary with their size and the different types of health care services they offer.

Speicality medical care facilities include rehabilitation centers, trauma centers, children's hospitals, geriatric hospitals, or ones meant to treat specific medial problems viz. psychiatric hospital, caner hospitals, etc.

In all, while genral hopitals need a variety of furniture, speciality hospitals require a variety of speciality furniture.

Types of Hospital Furniture

Though there exists a large variety of furniture that hospitals use, some basic types are outlined below.

Hospital Bed

Hospital beds are specifically designed to facilitate recovery, they are the most common form of medical furniture for hospitals and nursing facilities. However, they are increasingly becoming popular in other settings too, such as homes. Hospital beds comprise wheels that help to relocate the patients with ease. The wheels of a hospital bed are firmly positioned in place. In addition, hospital beds are also considered a unit of measurement for the capacity of any type of inpatient medical facility.

Hospital Cabinet

A hospital cabinet is a box-shaped furniture, which is either a stand alone piece or built into or attached to a wall. Cabinets were traditionally made of wood, however now they are often made of synthetic materials. Hospital cabinets are used for storage of miscellaneous items viz. medicines. Cabinets commonly have more one or more than one doors at the front that are affixed with door hardware and a lock.

Hospital Chair

A chair is a furniture for sitting and comes in several types. Chairs consist of a back, and at times arm rests and are meant for use by one person. The ones without a back and

armrests are called stools. The design of hospital chairs is dependent on their usage. For instance various features such as ergonomics, size, weight, durability, stain resistance, foldability, stack ability and esthethics are defined by the use they would be put to. An example is that of a dental chair, which are reclined by design.

Hospital Cart

A maneuverable hospital cart is similar to a shopping cart in the sense that it has four swivel wheels installed at each of the four corners of the bottom portion for allowing rolling and turning movements. However, the designes are complex based on their usage. Above the cart frame top portion, there's generally a horizontal load bearing portion comprising head and

feet ends with a mechanism for allowing the head and feet ends to be raised and lowered with respect to the cart frame top. It my house a number of drawers for carrying items such as medical instruments or medicines.

Hospital Table

A hospital table is a type of furniture that comprises a surface supported by a base and generally has four legs. It may be equipped with swivel wheels at the bottom or none. Further, the height too may be adjustable to house objects or food at a convenient or comfortable height when sitting. A common type of hospital table is the

nightstand or the bedside table designed to be placed beside a bed and meant to hold items for patient's use viz. medicines, books, a glass of water, lamp, etc.

Hospital Furniture Buying Tips

The quality of hospital furniture and supplies determines how effective and safe these products are and this in turn affects the quality of medical service rendered by a hospital. The importance of the quality hospital furniture can’t be overstated.

The following are tips that would help you to procure quality hospital furniture and supplies.

1.Establish the integrity of the source prior placing the order.

2.Establish a list of approved suppliers.

3.Require that any alternative source of supply provides the following as a minimum:

a.A pedigree back to the previous source.

b.Certification that it is not a diverted product.

c.Certification that any actions by the alternative source will not alter any original manufacture warranties or guarantees.

4.Be wary if a product is being offered at an unusually cheap price.

5.Check for subtle changes in the product’s package (compare with previously purchased products), notwithstanding legitimate parallel imported products

Industry Overview

Hospital furniture include desks, chairs, cabinets, etc, designed to meet the needs of hospitals and medical institutions. The growth rate of the furniture industry has been promising and it has grown at a rate of over 10% during the latter part of the decade. In the US, the year 2007 saw consumption of furniture worth US$ 13.5 billion and this figure is now expected to touch US$ 14.0 billion in 2008.

According to estimates by the Health Care Advisory Board for the demand of hospital beds, hospitals constituting the medical industry in the US would need to add 40 percent more capacity between 2000 and 2010. Different estimates report different figures though, other forcasts put the figure at 46% based on the recent trends in hospital spending. Further, from the years 2010 to 2012 about 136,000 will be needed by hospitals, if they choose to increase their capacity by 18%.

]]> http://www.themedica.com/articles/2008/09/hospital-furniture-an-overview.html http://www.themedica.com/articles/2008/09/hospital-furniture-an-overview.html Hospital Furniture Hospital Furniture Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:56:14 +0000 An Overview Of Hospital Equipment & Supplies

Hospital equipment and supplies refer to all devices and machinery designed to aid in the diagnosis, monitoring or treatment of medical conditions. The design and manufacture entails compliance with rigorous safety standards.

There are scores of medical equipments and supplies and are classified under different heads. The following categories are a basic classification for hospital equipments and supplies.

Diagnostic Equipment: This category includes all devices and supplies that assist in the diagnosis of abnormal medical conditions. For instance ultrasound and MRI machines, PET and CT scanners and x-ray machines all qualify as diagnostic equipment.

Therapeutic Equipment: Equipments belonging to this category are used for treating patients and include medical lasers, infusion pumps and LASIK surgical machines, etc.

Life support equipment: Mostly used during surgery or when a patient's condition is considered serious, these equipments help maintain a patient's bodily functions. Common examples include heart-lung machines, medical ventilators dialysis machines, ECMO, etc.

Hospital Monitoring Equipment: This set of equipment allows medical staff to keep a tab on a patient's medical condition. Monitoring equipment are often used to meassure a patient's vital signs viz. ECG, EEG, blood pressure, etc.

Hospital laboratory equipment: Most medical diagnoses today rely upon the use of samples of blood, urine, tissue, etc. collected from patients and then are subjected to bio-chemical analysis. Laboratory equipment aids these processs and sometimes automoates them to varying degrees.

Types of Hospital Equipment & Supplies

Though there are numerous items covered under the head Hospital Equipment & Supplies, some common ones are described below.

Autoclave

Charles Chamberland is the person accredited with the invention of autoclave in 1879. The name is used to refer to an industrial machine which makes use of high temperature and pressure for processing (sterlizating) materials. In the case of its medical application, these devices achieve sterlization by means of creating a high temperature and high pressure conditions within, to heat aqueous solutions above their boiling point. Consequently, all bacteria, viruses, fungi and spores are rendered futile. Aside from hospital use, autoclaves have applications in sterilizing instruments for microbiology, body piercing, dentistry, metallurgy, veterinary science and podiatry.

Medical Refrigerator

A refrigerator is a cooling equipment which comprises a thermally insulated space inside it and is coupled with a mechanism to transfer heat away from it to the external environment, thereby cooling the contents within. Refrigerators are used in hospitals to prevent medicines and other vulnerable supplies from spoilage caused by bacterial growth and other processes that occur faster at higher temperatures.

Suction Unit

A suction unit for medical applications refers to a special system comprising a pump for sucking off secretions. It comprises a collecting reservoir for material to be sucked off and deposited in. These units also house valve blocks to achieve an alternating connection of a pump chamber through corresponding valves to produce of a vacuum in the pump chamber.

Hospital Rubber Goods

Hospital rubber goods or medical rubber goods refer to all the equipment and supplies such as medical gloves, surgical rubber goods, bed sheets made out of rubber and meant for use in different medical processes.

Hospital Consumables

Hospital consumables are products and materials that get used up in the process of carrying out medical activities. These consumables need to be replaced and replenished frequently. Common items belonging to this category entail antiseptics, bandages, cleaning supplies, medical tape, sanitary products, surgical blades, etc.

Hospital Hollowware

Holloware for medical purposes refers to different kinds of hollow vessels used for holding the by products of medical processes, medical waste, etc. Common examples include baby trays, bedpans, catheter trays, douche cans, dressing drums, hospital basins, etc.

Buying Tips

The quality of hospital equipment and supplies determines how effective and safe these products are and this in turn affects the quality of medical service rendered by a hospital. The importance of the quality hospital equipment and supplies can’t be overstated. The following tips would help you to procure quality medical equipment and supplies.

1.Establish the integrity of the source prior placing the order.

2.Establish a list of approved suppliers.

3.Require that any alternative source of supply provides the following as a minimum:

a.A pedigree back to the previous source.

b.Certification that it is not a diverted product.

c.Certification that any actions by the alternative source will not alter any original manufacture warranties or guarantees.

d.Certification that the product has been stored and handled consistent with product labeling requirements.

4.Be wary if a product is being offered at an unusually cheap price.

5.Check for signs of a removed or switched product label.

6.Check for subtle changes in the product’s package (compare with previously purchased products), notwithstanding legitimate parallel imported products

7.Look for variations in the size of the container (compare with previously purchased products), notwithstanding legitimate parallel imported products.

8.Look for differences in container length, diameters and shapes.

9.Examine for variations in the thickness of containers and for variations in container color tints.

10.Compare the physical characteristics of the product

Industry Overview

The medical equipment and supplies industry is a large, competitive and strong sector of the health care industry. Back in 2002 itself the global market was valued at about US$ 180 billion. The medical equipment subsector of the industry comprises technologically sophisticated products for use mostly by small populations. Examples of these products include implantable defibrillators, CAT scanners, MRI equipment, orthopedic devices. While these products are mostly priced higher for smaller volumes, they face the risk of competition and technological innovation.

On the other hand the hospital supplies market is dependent on larger volumes but lower margins. Further, two trends that have unfolded over the years include mergers and acquisitions of smaller companies by industry giants. Another pertains to the growng need for automation of many medical process, such as seen in the increasing demand for patient monitoring systems.

The industry's growth in future will be fueled by growing requirements of aging population with increasing life expectancies, consumers demanding quality health care and ever growing investments in R&D. By the year 2006, the global industry was worth US $196.65 billion. While the industry as a whole is to grow at a decent rate, some subsectors like those of implantable defibrillator, diabetes, cardiology, pain management, orthopedics and oncology are expected to supercede others in terms of revenues. The leading sectors are expected to register revenues ranging from 10% to 13%.

]]> http://www.themedica.com/articles/2008/09/an-overview-of-hospital-equipm.html http://www.themedica.com/articles/2008/09/an-overview-of-hospital-equipm.html Hospital Equipment & Supplies Hospital Equipment & Supplies Medical Equipment Medical Supplies Mon, 08 Sep 2008 12:46:24 +0000 Dietary Supplements - A Short Review

Dietary supplements also known as food or nutritional supplements, are formulations meant to supply nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, fatty acids or amino acids that are missing or are insufficient in quantity in a person's diet. The legislations of different countries have defined dietary supplements differently, some have described them as foods, while others as drugs.

In the US for instance, a dietary supplement product is considered to supplement the diet and contains dietary ingredients, viz. a vitamin, a mineral, an herb or other botanical, an amino acid, or a dietary, substance for increasing the total dietary intake. It could be a concentrate, metabolite, constituent, extract, or combination of the above constituents. Additionally, it is meant for ingestion in pill, capsule, tablet, powder or liquid form.

In the European Union dietary supplements must be demonstrated to be safe, in quantity as well as quality to be approved as dietrary supplements

Types Of Dietary Supplements

There exist a wide range of substances labeled as dietary supplements, some of the common ones are described below.

Amino Acid Supplements

Amino acid supplements are amino acids, which are considered essential or indispensable for humans. Further, since they cannot be produced (synthesized) inside the body from scratch, they must be supplied in the diet. Examples of essential amino acids for humans include phenylalanine, methionine, threonine, valine, isoleucine, tryptophan, lysine and leucine.

Fiber Supplements

Fiber supplements are the indigestible portion of plant foods that assist in moving food through the digestive

system by absorbing water and easing defecation. Dietary fiber usually comprises non-starch polysaccharides viz. cellulose in addition to several other plant components such as dextrins, inulin, lignin, waxes, chitins, pectins, beta-glucans and oligosaccharides.

Herbal Supplements

A herbal supplement is any green, leafy plant, or its parts, used to flavor food or used for medicinal purposes or is valued for other qualities. Often a distinction is made between culinary and medicinal herbs. In medicinal use, for instance any of the parts of a plant viz. leaves, roots, seeds, berries, resin, flowers, root bark, inner bark (cambium) and sometimes the pericarp or other portions, might be considered as a herb.

Mineral Supplements

Dietary minerals or mineral supplements are the chemical elements considered essential for living organisms to maintain optimal health. Although, minerals are best considered to be supplied by consuming foods rich in the required minerals. However, sometimes minerals are also ingested as dietary supplements. Some, examples of dietary minerals include Cobalt - vitamin B12, Copper, Calcium, Fluorine, Chloride, Magnesium, Iodine, Zinc, Selenium and Sodium.

Nutraceuticals

Nutraceutical is a portmanteau of the words 'nutrition' and 'pharmaceutical' and refers to

extracts of foods supposed to have a medicinal effect on human health, when taken in certain quantities. Nutraceuticals are available in several forms viz. capsule, tablet, powder in a prescribed dose. Examples of nutraceuticals and their usage includes resveratrol, which is derived from red grapes is an antioxidant, psyllium seed husk is soluble dietary fiber and supposed to help in preventing heart disease, sulforaphane found in broccoli supposedly works as a cancer preventative, etc.

Vitamins

Vitamins are essential compounds needed by the body in trace amounts for smooth running of the body's processes and good health. A compound is termed a

s a vitamin when it cannot be synthesized in sufficient quantities by the body and must be sourced from the diet. Humans need vitamins A, C, D, B series, E and K. A vitamin deficiency may make a person susceptible to disease.

Weight Loss Supplements

Weight loss supplements are herbs or substances that may help an overweight person lose weight. Some examples include herbs viz. Bitter orange which supposedly increases the number of calories burned, Chitosan is claimed to block the absorption of dietary fat, Ephedra is thought to decrease appetite, etc.

Dietary Supplements - Sourcing Tips

When it’s about dietary supplements, it's quality that determines how effective and safe the treatments will eventually be. The importance of quality dietary supplements can’t be overstated. The following guidelines would help you to procure quality supplies of dietary supplements.

1.Establish the integrity of the source prior placing the order

2.Establish a list of approved suppliers.

3.Require that any alternative source of supply provides the following as a minimum:

a.A pedigree back to the previous source

b.Certification that it is not a diverted product

c.Certification that any actions by the alternative source will not alter any original manufacture warranties or guarantees

d.Certification that the product has been stored and handled consistent with product labeling requirements

4.Be wary if a product is being offered at an unusually cheap price.

5.Check for signs of a removed or switched product label

6.Check for subtle changes in the product’s package (compare with previously purchased products), notwithstanding legitimate parallel imported products

7.Look for variations in the size of the container (compare with previously purchased products), not withstanding legitimate parallel imported products

8.Look for differences in container length, diameters and shapes.

9.Examine for variations in diameters of bottle openings or lids.

10.Examine for variations in the thickness of glass or plastic containers and for variations in container color tints.

11.Compare the physical characteristics of the product

Industry Overview

Unlike earlier when the dietary supplement industry was confined to vitamins and minerals, the industry now covers herbal remedies, botanical products e.g. gingko biloba, amino acids and more.

Further, over the years dietary supplements have garnered a lot of attention in the media and have widely become popular as capable of treating a range of abnormal medical conditions viz. to combat cancer, anxiety, depression, impotence, heart disease, digestive problems, the common cold, fatigue, obesity, prostate problems, high blood pressure, etc.

This popularity has also resulted market growth of this segment of the medical industry. Some of the best selling botanicals in the US for instance are garlic, ginseng, Echinacea gingko biloba and St. John's Wort, accounting for over $200 million in annual sales. Directly competing with many prescription drugs.

According to the statistics of the Office of Dietary Supplements, in 2004, consumers spending on dietary supplements was worth US $20.3 billion. Studies also point to consumers increasingly searching for dietary supplements on the Internet.

The European market on the other hand is also well developed and it was the largest market for herbal and botanicals, valued at US $5.7bn in 2006. The market was worth $14.0 billion in 2006 and the supplements industry grew by 4.1% after 2005. In Europe growing public awareness of health and dietary Issues and an aging population is expected to stimulate the growth of the dietary supplements' market.

]]> http://www.themedica.com/articles/2008/09/dietary-supplements-a-short-re.html http://www.themedica.com/articles/2008/09/dietary-supplements-a-short-re.html Dietary Supplements Dietary Supplements Mon, 01 Sep 2008 12:44:18 +0000 A Mini-Guidebook On Cleanrooms A cleanroom is an enclosure used in manufacturing or in hospitals wherein a low level of environmental pollutants such as dust, airborne microbes, aerosol particles and chemical vapors needs to be maintained. These low levels of environmental pollutants are monitored and maintained with the aid of special equipment meant for the purpose.

Further, the controlled level of contamination is specified by the number of particles per cubic meter at a specified particle size.

Cleanrooms can be of variable sizes based on the requirement. For instance very large cleanrooms are often used in manufacturing facilities, or even the whole of a manufacturing unit may be built into a cleanroom. For the most part, they have applications in semiconductor manufacturing, biotechnology, life sciences and other fields that are acutely sensitive to environmental pollution.

The working of a cleanroom entails an air filtration unit so that the air entering a cleanroom is filtered to exclude contaminants, while the air inside is recirculated by means of high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) and ultra low penetration air (ULPA) filters. These filters are meant to clean up the pollutants generated due to the processes taking place inside the cleanroom.

There are also airlocks, typically with air shower stages, at the entry and exit points of cleanrooms. Usage of protective clothing such as boots, gloves, face masks and cover-alls is the norm for staffers.

Furthermore, the equipment inside the enclosure is specially designed to produce the minimum levels of pollutants. Office stationary viz. paper, pencils for use are made from natural substances or at best aren't allowed inside. Additionally, many cleanrooms are kept at a positive air pressure, so as to prevent any contaminated outside air to get in, in case there's a leakage.

Some Common Types of Cleanroom Supplies

As already outlined, there are a host of equipment and supplies that are specially designed for use in clean rooms. Some classes of essential supplies for cleanrooms are described below.

Cleanroom Disposables

Cleanroom disposables refers to all the products, items and packaging used once or only a few times within the cleanroom before being discarded. Examples of cleanroom disposable include Medical and Cleanroom Apparel, that is clothing and masks used in healthcare and pharmaceutical cleanrooms, or gloves meant for handling cytoxic formulations, etc. or Specialty bags and Packaging such as Light Inhibiting Bags, Sterile & Isolator Waste Bags or Theater Products meant to control contamination operation theater environment which entail supplies like floor mats, camera bags, filters, etc.

Cleanroom Equipment

Cleanroom equipment refers to tools, devices or other items necessary used in carrying out critical processes within cleanrooms, while maintaining a pollution free environment. They could

include Cleanroom Furniture viz. Operator/Technician Workbenches, Seating, Laboratory Furniture, Mobile Trolleys etc. or Cleanroom Wall Systems such as Demountable Partitions, Cleanroom Doorsets, Pass Through Hatches, Wall Cladding Systems and the like, or items needed for Cleanroom Laminar Flow like Laminar Flow Hoods, HEPA Filtered Fan Modules, Fume Cupboards, Air Showers, etc. Pass Thru Air Locks, Wet Process Stations, Cleanroom Garment Racks, Step Ladders are some other necessary cleanroom equipment.

Cleanroom Garments

Cleanroom Garments refer to clothing that prevents the contaminants on the body to mingle with the clean

environment within a cleanroom enclosure. Cleanroom garments are made of selected fabrics viz polyester, that are durable, lightweight and have other desirable properties. They are designed to meet the most stringent requirements of cleanliness that cleanrooms warrant. Examples of such garments include special Gloves, Masks, Shoecovers, Coveralls, Gowns and Smocks, Head Covers, Undergarments, etc.

Cleanroom Services

Once a cleanroom has become operational it requires a series of maintenance procedures carried out at set time intervals or as needed, to ensure the upkeep of its 'cleanroom' status. Controlling and maintaining contamination is the hallmark of cleanrooms and expertly trained technicians

and sophisticated gadgets are often needed to conduct effective cleanroom services. Some examples of cleanroom services include regular Floor Care and Testing /Certification, Cleanroom Cleaning, Clean Room Sterilization, Micro-cleaning, Contamination Control, Protocol Development, Particle Count Certification, Sterile and non-sterile garment services, Cleanroom Training & Consulting, Cleanroom Audit, etc.

Tips For Ordering Cleanroom Products and Services

For the most part it's the quality of cleanroom products based on the requirements that determines their effectiveness. Supply and distribution of substandard cleanroom products poses a major challenge for buyers and consumers of these products. Use of substandard products can result in major losses to the users of these products. Quality of cleanroom supplies can be ensured to quite an extent through the following meassures.

1.Establish the integrity of the source prior to need.
2.Establish a list of approved suppliers.
3.If you source from an alternative source ensure that at least the following information is provided:
    a. A pedigree back to the previous source
    b. Certification that it is not a diverted product
    c. Certification that any actions by the alternative source will not alter any original manufacture warranties or         guarantees
    d. Certification that the product has been stored and handled consistent with product labelling requirements

4.Be wary of cleanroom products that are offered at an unusually cheap price.

5.Make a list of key cleanroom equipment that will not be purchased from any other source but the manufacturer, or authorised distributor.

6.Look for changes in the product’s package and compare them with previously purchased products, tears in the sealing tape and seals and variations in the size of the container.

Industry Overview

North America and Europe are the major markets for cleanroom products and services. The demand for cleanroom consumables in the US has grown at an annual rate of about 6 percent through 2007. Aside from the medical industry, the semiconductors industry and expansion of clean room technologies are the drivers of this growth. Products with the maximum demand will be drugs, hard disk drives, foods and beverages, flat panel displays, chemicals, apparel, wipes and swabs. The US market for clean room consumables is estimated to be worth US$ 1.2 billion.

Europe makes up for about 28% of the world's market. France and Germany are the leading European buyers of pharmaceutical clean rooms. The demand for clean room technology to be used in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry is on the rise. Moreover, the bio/pharmaceutical industry is the Europe's second largest consumer of clean room space.

Much of the demand for cleanroom products and services attributed to pharmaceutical industry is centered around contamination, where presence of bacteria and viruses can have a devastating effect on medicines packaged as tablets, capsules, liquids, etc.

As for investments, the year 2000 saw the European pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms spend $128 million on new clean rooms. Whereas the expenditure was US $542 million for the entire European industry on new clean rooms, during the same year. From 2002 through 2006 the clean room consumables purchases by the European industry rose from US $121 million to US $151 million.

The world market for clean rooms on the other hand grew from US $6.5 Billion in 2000 to US $9.1 Billion by 2006.]]> http://www.themedica.com/articles/2008/08/a-miniguidebook-on-cleanrooms.html http://www.themedica.com/articles/2008/08/a-miniguidebook-on-cleanrooms.html Clean rooms Clean Room Services Clean Rooms. Clean Room Supplies Mon, 25 Aug 2008 05:09:06 +0000 Biotechnology Products A Short Overview Biotechnology is the science of making use of living organisms and their constituents to produce services and goods. Biotechnological products are produced by manipulating and modifying organisms, usually at molecular level. It is a vast discipline and has numerous practical applications in agriculture, medicine and industry.

Biotechnology brings together the knowledge, procedures and practices a large array of disciplines including genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, embryology, cellular biology, biochemistry, immunology, cell biology and more. It also spans across other fields such as chemical engineering, information technology, and robotics.

Just in the territory of agriculture, applications of the field can be witnessed in the form of modified agricultural produce including improve yield from crops, better immunity of crops to environmental stresses, enhanced nutritional qualities of food crops, qualitative improvements in texture, taste or appearance of food items, decreased dependence on pesticides, fertilizers and other agrochemicals, production of new substances in crops, etc.

Perhaps the most fascinating developments of biotechnology have appeared in medicine where it finds applications in pharmacogenomics, genetic testing, pharmaceutical drug production and gene therapy.

As the discipline has evovled different classifications of it based on applications have also surfaced, some of them are:

Green biotechnology: This term refers to the discipline's applications in agricultural processes. An example is growing of food crops with enhanced nutritional content.

Bioinformatics: Bioinformatics is yet another interdisciplinary field that entails solving biological problems using computer applications, and is used to quickly organize and analyze biological data.

Blue biotechnology: This term refers to biotechnology's marine and aquatic applications applications.

Red biotechnology: This one refers to its applications in medical processes. For instance, production of organisms to produce antibiotics, or providing genetic cures by means of genomic manipulation.

White biotechnology: It refers to biotechnology used in industrial processes. For instance designing an organism to produce a needed chemical compound.

All final products derived from biotechnological processes and any intermediate ingredients used to make the final products are known as biotechnological products.

Types of Biological Products

Antibodies

Also known as immunoglobulins, antibodies are gamma globulin proteins found in blood and several other bodily fluids of vertebrates (including humans). The function of these proteins is to act as a constituent of the immune system by identifying and neutralizing foreign objects, such as bacteria and viruses, that invade our bodies. Antibodies are produced by a type of white blood cell known as a "B cell." Structuraly, comprising heavy chains, antibodies are of many types and are grouped into different isotypes depending upon which heavy chain they comprise.

Assay Systems

The term assay refers to a procedure by which a property or concentration of substance used in a laboratory is measured. A large number for biological and medical purposes exist e.g. competitive protein binding assay, bioassay, antigen capture assay, immunoassay, stem cell assay, microbiological assay, and many more types. For instance typical assays for researching proteins' interactions with DNA include, DNase footprinting assay, filter binding assay, gel shift assay. An example of Assays meant to study how toxic a compound is to cells typically entails MTT assay, SRB (Sulforhodamine B) assay. Assay systems on the other hand refers to tools and kits meant to conduct such an analysis.

Proteins

Proteins are large molecules that assist living organisms in their structure, function, and regulation of the body's organs, tissues and cells. There are different types of proteins and each of which has a specialized function. They are also the main components of

bones, muscles, skin, and other parts of the body. Additionally, they also serves as a sources of energy for the body. In case of cells, proteins are the chief actors that govern the myriad cellular acivities specified by the information contained in the genes. Enzymes too are a type of proteins that aid in accomplishing various functions such as metabolism, catabolism, DNA repair, DNA replication, and RNA synthesis. Antibodies are themselves proteins with the funtion of protecting the body by binding them around antigens, or any foreign substances inside the body, and destroy them.

Buying Tips

When it’s about medicinal formulations and equipment for use in biotechnology, it's the quality which determines how effective and safe the final products will be. The importance of the quality of biotechnology products can’t be overemphasized. The following tips would help you to procure quality biotechnology product supplies.

1.Establish the integrity of the source prior placing the order.

2.Establish a list of approved suppliers.

3.Require that any alternative source of supply provides the following as a minimum:

    a.A pedigree back to the previous source
    b.Certification that it is not a diverted product
    c.Certification that any actions by the alternative source will not alter any original manufacture warranties or     guarantees
    d.Certification that the product has been stored and handled consistent with product labeling requirements

4.Be wary if a product is being offered at an unusually cheap price.

5.Check for signs of a removed or switched product label

6.Check for subtle changes in the product’s package (compare with previously purchased products), notwithstanding legitimate parallel imported products

7.Look for variations in the size of the container (compare with previously purchased products), not withstanding legitimate parallel imported products

8.Look for differences in container length, diameters and shapes.

9.Examine for variations in diameters of bottle openings or lids.

10.Examine for variations in the thickness of glass or plastic containers and for variations in container color tints.

11.Compare the physical characteristics of the product

Industry Overview

Biotechnology is a fast growing and a dynamic sector of the medical industry. After World War II the industry has been pursued with large investments in capital for research and developments. Thousands of new companies have mushroomed to formulate find new solutions and products based on biotechnology and is has also become the mainstay of the healthcare industry. The rate of expansion in the industry is comparable only to the information technology sector.

Biotechnology garners so much interest due to the fact that it has numerous applications. For instance in healthcare it is pursued to develop new medicines and drug compounds. Furthermore, its industrial uses entail development of new solvents or applications to be used in new processes and technologies. Additionally, it continues to be used in the agricultural sector where it helps to create hybrid crops, enhance crop productions, grains, etc.

A lot of small and medium–sized biotech firms are owned by or are associated with larger players. For the most part, the major share of the industry is held by enterprises that were the original founders. At the same time the capital requirements for research and development is huge and hence its not uncommon to find venture capital firms with large stakes.

The magnitude and the growth trends of the industry can be ascertained by observing the US biotech industy, which has a major stake in the world's market. The U.S. biotech industry has grown at an annual rate of about 14%. Forecasts predict the worth of the industry revenues to touch US $150 billion by 2010.

Back in 2002 itself, there were about 1500 biotechnology firms in the U.S. And about 350, out of which were publicly held. The market capitalization for the year 2006 was valued at US $400 billion.

Aside from the US the other countries with large investments in biotechnology research include Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Australia, Denmark and New Zealand.]]> http://www.themedica.com/articles/2008/08/biotechnology-products-a-short.html http://www.themedica.com/articles/2008/08/biotechnology-products-a-short.html Biotechnology Products Biotechnology Biotechnology Products Mon, 18 Aug 2008 05:22:31 +0000 Medicated Personal Care Products - A Quick Guide Personal care products also known as toiletries, refer to the industry which manufactures consumer products used in personal beautification and hygiene. Personal care products include cosmetics, and products meant for feminine hygiene. There's a slight difference between personal hygienic

products and cosmetics, as cosmetics are specially meant to be used for beautification. However, in practice little or no distinction is made vis-a-vis the products' placement in retail stores. The industry is large and diverse, and incorporates a wide array of products such as colognes, cotton swabs, facial tissue, eye liner, lipstick, hair clippers, lotion, toilet paper, makeup, mouthwash, perfumes, nail files, razors, shampoo, personal lubricant, toothpaste, skin cream, shaving cream, toothbrushes and deodorants.

Furthermore, different countries have different regulations governing the classification and trading of personal care products. For instance, in Canada a sunscreen that makes a therapeutic claim or contains an ingredient not meant to be used in cosmetics might be classified as a drug. Consequently, such a product may be refused to be supplied to the country, as a cosmetic.

Personal Care Product Classification

Usually there are two grounds for classifying personal care products (a) The composition and (b) Intended Use of the Product.

(a) Composition: A presence of a particular ingredient by itself isn't enough for classification, rather other considerations such as the concentration in addition to the composition actually determines the class (viz. cosmetic, drug) of the product.

(b) Intended Use: A products' claims about its usage such as those advertised, or indicated on packaging and labeling points to its usage. Based on these statements and messages a distinction is drawn between different types of personal care products.

Personal Care Product Types

Herbal Cosmetics: These are derived from plants and their parts viz. leaves, roots, flowers, seeds, resin, which are valued for their medicinal properties, flavor, scent, soothing effect, etc. Some common herbs are: basil, chicory, alfalfa, aloe, anise, dandelion, basil and catnip.

Aloe Vera: Aloe Vera is a prized herb and commonly found in many personal care products viz. Aloe Vera Body Lotions, Cleansing Milk, Soaps, etc. Also known as Curaiao, Barbados, Zanzibar Aloe, Socotrine and Cape, the plant is often indicated for scrapes, sunburns, burns, scalds, and used as an anti-infective agent. In cosmetics it is valued for its smoothening and beautifying effects on the skin.

Henna: Henna is yet another herb that's been highly regarded for centuries, it even holds a special value in some cultures as a form of body art. Mostly found in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, and Australasia. Common henna products entail, Henna Hair Dyes and Henna Powder.

Skin Care Products: These products refer to a plethora of creams and lotions meant to moisturize the face and body, protect the skin from damaging UV radiation, treat, repair or hide skin imperfections (e.g. wrinkles, acne, stretch-marks), or to enhance personal hygiene. Some commonly used personal care products are Antiseptic Lotions, Body Talcs, Body Washes, Chewing Gums, Cleanser and Conditioners.

Buying Tips

There has been an increase in the number of counterfeit personal care products such as articles like razor blades and moistening creams supplied to Europe and other regions. Being cautious is the key to prevent getting a supply of fake or counterfeit personal care products. Some useful tips follow.

1.Establish the integrity of the source prior to need

2.Where possible, establish a list of reliable suppliers.

3.If a product is being offered at an unusually cheap price, be wary about the treat with extra caution.

4.Look for variations in packaging and sizies (compare with previously purchased products)

5.Conduct due diligence checks regularly and review the buying process, if needed.

6.Always purchase personal care products from from reliable, trusted wholesalers and suppliers.

Industry Overview

As of today annual expenditures for cosmetics are valued at is estimated at about US$18 billion. The personal care product industry is dynamic subset of the medical industry and is growing fast. For instance in 2005, natural and organic personal care surged to reach a figure of US$4.3 billion in sales, in the USA. Expected to grow further on similar lines, the industry will attain a new peak of US$6.6 billion in sales by 2010.

In the USA the trend of growth for natural personal care products is powered by Baby Boomers and Gen-Xers, who now demand non-chemical-based, deodorants, anti-aging preps, safer, toothpastes, shampoo, etc. An effect of the changing needs is expected to result in the baby boomers and Gen-Xers exploring aisles of retail outlets viz. supermarkets, chain drugstores for more of such products.

During the year 2005, some of US based multinationals in personal care products registered excellent financial results, this led the industry experts to raise the bar of their expectations for the following year. For instance, Colgate experienced a 24 per cent hike in its fourth quarter profits, amounting to US$361.2 million.

Another trend started to emerge during 2005. The composition of many skin-care products became sophisticated, which also raised their prices and the Anti-aging products remained to be the blockbusters. These new products directly competed with Botox, as their performance was similar but required no injections and they could be used at home itself.

That very year, a host of new skin peel products were also launched, though costlier, they were cheaper than professional beauty care expert consultations, and were convenient for usage as well. Other product categories that bloomed were the organics category and baby personal care products, including organic baby care products.

In other parts of the world, the trends are similar. For example, in Australia the market for color cosmetics was worth about US$657 million in 2007. For 2008, the demand is expected to grow at a rate of 5 percent per annum.

Aside from the US, the upcoming markets are Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region, especially China and Japan. In China, for example cosmetics usage grew 11% in 2005 and reached US $10.8 billion, and by by 2010 it is forecast to be valued at about US$18 billion.

]]> http://www.themedica.com/articles/2008/08/medicated-personal-care-produc.html http://www.themedica.com/articles/2008/08/medicated-personal-care-produc.html Medicated Personal Care Product Medicated Personal Care Products Personal Care Mon, 11 Aug 2008 11:09:30 +0000 What You Ought To Know About Pharmaceutical Drugs The term pharmaceuticals is derived from “pharmaceuticus” (Latin) and “pharmaceutikos” (Greek)

and implies “to administer medicines.” In the modern usage of the word, pharmaceutical drugs are substances used to diagnose, prevent or treatment abnormal medical conditions and diseases, viz. pain, malaria, anxiety, etc.

Pharmaceuticals are classified in several ways, based either on their chemical properties, or mode of administration, or biological system affected, etc. A widely recognized and prevalent system for classification is the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System (ATC system). Examples of such classification include, dermatologicals (drugs for the skin), Nervous system (drugs for the brain and nerves), Anti-infectives (drugs meant to kill harmful invasion of the body by bacteria, viruses, etc.)

The pharmaceutical industry is large and fast paced. For instance, global spending on pharmaceutical reached US$643 billion in 2006. Moreover, as standards of healthcare improve and the world's population ages, the damand for newer, better and effective drugs would scale new heights.

Selected Drug Types

Medicines and drugs are classified several different ways, for instance based on their mode of administration, chemical properties, or the biological system affected.

Anti-Allergic Drug

While there's no cure for allergies, most anti allergic medications act systemically to reileve painful symptoms of allergies, viz. congestion, runny nose, heavy breathing during allergic episodes. Several types of anti allergic drugs include, antihistamines, decongestants, steroids, bronchodilators, mast cell stabilizers, leukotriene modifiers and immunotherapy medicines.

Anti Diabetic Drug

Today there as many medications available for treating Type 2 diabetes or diabetes mellitus. Aside from injectable insulin, most oral pills control diabetes by stimulating our bodies to secrete more insulin, or by enhancing insulin's effectiveness, or by other mechanisms. Sulfonylureas, Biguanides, Thiazolidinediones, Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, Meglitinides, Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitors, are some common drugs for diabetes.

Anti-infective Drugs

Anti-infective medicines inhibit the growth of harmful infection causing organisms (bacteria, fungus, viruses, etc), or by kill them outright. Consequently, anti-infective medicines are of several types, including antibacterials, antibiotics, antifungals, antiprotozoans and antivirals, immune sera and immunoglobulins.

Antihistamine

Antihistamine or a histamine antagonist is a chemical agent that either inhibits the release or action of histamine in order to manage allergies. Mainly two types of antihistamines are in use today, namely H1 and H2 receptor antagonists (e.g. Diphenhydramine, Loratadine, Cimetidine, Famotidine, etc.) However H3- and H4-receptor antagonists viz. ABT-239, Thioperamide, are being used on an experimental basis. Other antihistamines such as Cromoglicate are used to inhibit the histamine release itself.

Antineoplastic Agent

Antineoplastic drugs, also known as 'antitumor antibiotics' are meant to inhibit or prevent the maturation and growth of of new cells that may become malignant. They achieve this objective by targeting the DNA. Many cancer drugs too are antineoplastic. Examples of these drugs include actinomycin, doxorubicin, daunorubicin, bleomycin, mitomycin and plicamycin.

Antiviral Drug

Pharmaceutical drugs meant to treat infections caused by viruses are known as antiviral drugs, each of these drugs traget a particular virus. Antivirals belong to the broader class of antimicrobials. Abacavir, Aciclovir, Combivir, Entecavir, Fosamprenavir and Indinavir are some common antivirals.

Cancer Drugs

Cancer drugs as the name implies are used to treat cancer. These drugs work by inhibiting mitosis

i.e. cell division and target fast-replicating cells. Since the drugs work by damaging cells they are also known as cytotoxic. Some cancer drugs are abarelix, anakinra, bortezomib, docetaxel,

paclitaxel, rituximab and tamoxifen.

Vaccine

A vaccine is a formulation that improves the immunity of a persoon to a particular disease. The term is derived from Edward Jenner's use of cowpox as "vacca" means cow in Latin. Vaccines are used either for prevention or treatment of diseases. The ones use in prevention are known as prophylactic (e.g poliomielitis), whereas therapeutic vaccines are used in treatments of diseases (e.g. cancer vaccine).

Tips For Buying Pharmaceutical Drugs

For the most part its the quality of medicines that compromises their effectiveness. Supply and distribution counterfeit drugs is a major challeng before the industry which not only puts the consumers life in jeopardy but also result in losses to the industry worth billions. Quality of drug purchases can be ensured by the following meassures.

Establish the integrity of the source prior to need
Establish a list of approved suppliers.
If you source from an alternative source ensure that at least the following information is provided:

A pedigree back to the previous source
Certification that it is not a diverted product
Certification that any actions by the alternative source will not alter any original manufacture warranties or guarantees
Certification that the product has been stored and handled consistent with product labelling requirements

Be wary of pharmaceutical products that are offered at an unusually cheap price.

Make a list of key pharmaceutical drugs that will not be purchased from any other source but the manufacturer, or authorised distributor.

Watch out for signs of a removed or switched product label. This is useful becauses counterfeiters often tend to remove the original label and replace it with a counterfeit label. Specifically, look for tacky residue on the container or signs of a label faded or discoloured along the edges.

7. An altered expiry date raises a red flag.

Look for minute changes in the product’s package and compare them with previously purchased products. Examine differences in paper texture, size and thickness of the labels, the gloss or finish on the paper, fonts and font sizes, print colour or raised print, holograms, colour shifting inks, tears in the sealing tape and seals and variations in the size of the container.

Industry Overview

On the whole the industry's outlook for the future is positive. As the world's populaton ages and health care reaches out to more and more people the demand for pharmaceutical drugs too will rise. Over the years, some new players in the pharmaceutical industry have gathered limelight. For instance China is experiencing the fastest growth in pharmaceutical markets at present. It rose by 28% in 2004 compared to 7% growth rate globally. Further, it is expected to overtake Germany and France by 2015, if it continues to grow at the same rate.