ECI's new glove on market

FAIRLAWN, Ohio (Aug. 5)—A new powder-free synthetic latex surgical glove produced by ECI Medical Technologies Inc. has emerged from the prototype stage and is now on the market. The firm already has received large Group Purchasing Organization orders for the new product. The glove, called Elastyren, is a re-engineered version of a product the Bridgewater, Nova Scotia-based manufacturer came out with a few years ago. That glove was pulled from the market not long after its introduction more than a year ago because, among other things, it was difficult to don which made it impractical for the operating room. The company is optimistic its newest offering, which features ECI's proprietary thermoplastic elastomer material, is far superior and should become a successful product on the market, according to Al DeMarco, ECI research and development manager, who discussed the new offering at the International Latex Conference, held July 30-31 in Fairlawn.