Vygon talks single use medical devices
Stéphane Regnault, chairman of Vygon’s board of management explains the company’s role in the single use medical devices sector
MPN: Who are you and what do you do?
SR: Vygon designs, manufactures and markets high-tech single-use medical devices for healthcare professionals in hospitals and for use by private or independent practitioners.
The company offers a range of products in a number of clinical specialties including: neonatology, adult and paediatric critical care, anaesthesia,oncology, emergency, surgery and home care.
Our key products include Bionector – a closed needleless connector, Leadercath – venous and arterial catheters, Nutrisafe 2 - the first safety enteral nutrition range for newborns and children and CPAP Boussignac – a non-invasive ventilation device.
With expertise right along the value chain, from product design to the delivery of training for medical personnel, Vygon offers health professionals the most efficient and innovative medical products available.
MPN: What projects have you been focused on recently?
SR: Vygon is currently investing in Asia and South America through its subsidiaries and local partnerships.
In September 2015, Vygon opened a subsidiary in Turkey’s administrative and academic capital, Ankara. This is the group’s first in the Middle East region. Its purpose is to promote and market Vygon’s medical devices through communication and training initiatives. With a population of 80million, the country’s spending on healthcare has increased significantly in recent years; rising to nearly 7% of GDP in 2010.
Another focus has been on strategic acquisitions. In July 2015 Vygon acquired Perouse Medical. Perouse Medical is a French company that designs, manufactures and markets cardiovascular medical devices and long-term vascular access devices. This strategic acquisition has reinforced Vygon’s existing product range and strengthened its position in the adult long-term vascular access market, estimated to be worth €1.1 billion (£848 million).
In 2014 Vygon expanded its range of enteral nutrition products for hospital and home use with the acquisition of Medwin. Medwin is a company based in southern France, and specialises in enteral nutrition (feeding pumps) and related accessories. Enteral nutrition is an artificial feeding technique that replaces standard meals with liquid food for individuals who can no longer feed themselves by mouth, but whose digestive system continues to function. Worldwide sales of oral and enteral nutrition products totalled nearly €6.6 billion (£5 billion) in 2011[1].
MPN: Describe your latest innovation?
SR: Neohelp is the first device with CE marking designed specifically to prevent hypothermia in newborns.
The product was developed in partnership with two health care professionals from the National University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Denmark. The double layered plastic pouch can be adjusted to fit the newborn infant and offers protection from anything that may cause the newborn’s body temperature to drop. Neohelp creates a protective microclimate and acts as an effective barrier against heat loss.
Neohelp is designed to improve observation, stabilisation, handling and resuscitation of the infant during the first vital minutes of life without the infant being exposed to a cold environment.
The device is easy to use and suitable for every setting where birth may take place – delivery room, operating room, intensive care unit, emergency room, at home or in an ambulance during transportation.
MPN: What does it mean for the medical sector?
SR: The product was developed in response to an unmet medical need for prevention of life threatening hypothermia in our most vulnerable patients – the sick, newborn and preterm infant.
Hypothermia affects newborn babies worldwide. It is present in all climates and can occur regardless of the weight and gestational age of the newborn. Hypothermia is one of the main risk factors for morbidity and mortality in the newborn population. Thermal balance is essential for cardiorespiratory development in newborn babies.
A baby’s body temperature can drop by at least 2-4°C during the first 10-20 minutes of life. For every 1°C fall in temperature, the risk of mortality increases by 28%. Premature babies are even more susceptible to hypothermia; in fact more than 56% of premature babies weighing less than 750g have significant hypothermia upon admission to the neonatal intensive care unit. The urgent imperative to warm up consumes all available energy resources of the newborn in just a few moments, sometimes with serious long-term consequences, particularly in premature babies.
Plans for the future?
Vygon plans to launch new game-changing products every three years, in highly specialised clinical fields, such as oncology (protecting medical staff from drugs contamination), emergency (treating cardiac arrest faster and better) and adult intensive care (controlling beat by beat cardiac output).
[1] Source: Global Industry Analysts, 2011