Raumedic develops tubing to aid wound treatment

HELMBRECHTS, Germany—Raumedic A.G. has developed new products for treating wounds with a silicone tube designed for medical device and hygiene products supplier Lohmann & Rauscher GmbH & Co. K.G..

The quadruple-lumen tube is a key part of the deep-drainage set used to manage exudate, which is the mass of cells and fluid that seep from blood vessels and organs during inflammation.

Exudate stimulates healing in acute wounds by maintaining an optimal moist environment.

However, that balance can be upset. Some wounds drain more due to infection, size or location, and other wounds are chronic from diseases like diabetes, neuropathy or vascular disease. Any increases in the amount or consistency of exudate along with a change in color or odor is cause for concern.

To support the healing process, medical manufacturer Raumedic came out with a line of therapies—branded as Suprasorb CNP P33—to use in negative pressure wound treatment. CNP is an acronym for controlled negative pressure.

Negative pressure wound therapy uses a layered foam bandage, tubing, a negative pressure device and a canister to collect fluids. Health care professionals fit the foam dressing to the shape of the wound and seal it with a film that has an opening where a tube is attached. The tube leads to a vacuum pump that pulls fluid and infection from the wound.

The therapy also can be used to push antibiotics and saline into the wound.

The quadruple-lumen silicone tube developed by Raumedic consists of a large inner lumen to transport secreted exudate from wounds within the body. The three small lumens in the tubing wall ensure that aeration can be actively managed during drainage.

"This special design is our unique selling proposition," Arno Herzele, who is responsible for research and development for this therapeutic system at Lohmann & Rauscher, said in a news release.

Raumedic is seeking patent protection for the deep drainage system, according to Axel Wunderlich, the company's product manager in applications technology. He pointed to the production challenges posed by extruding and handling the silicone tubes.

"You need lots of experience and technical know-how if the soft tubing wall should also have additional lumen, side drainage openings and X-ray contrast stripes," Wunderlich said.

Raumedic also makes C and Y connectors that it said offer optimal bonding to extend the drainage sets and to connect them to the exudate bag. The connectors are equipped with a user-friendly locking function, according to Wunderlich

"They are made of hard and soft components and are very complex," he said. "But they have several more important features: They facilitate a fast and simple connection, dependably seal the system and prevent wound secretion from flowing back into the body."

Lohmann & Rauscher will supply the medical devices. The company offers a range of products from conventional dressing material to modern treatment and nursing systems.

Helmbrechts-based Raumedic was formed in 2004 after it was spun off by Rehau A.G. Raumedic extrudes and injection molds tubing, parts, catheters and components for the medical and pharmaceutical industries.