Glasgow-based product design, development and manufacturing consultancy Wideblue, has developed a new medical device for Edinburgh-based Softcell Medical which measures and displays the pH of a patients tissue during surgery in real-time.
This new pH monitoring system comprising a pH Probe and pH Monitor has been developed to assist with the assessment of patients who have either sustained injuries, or have developed disease processes that make them susceptible to ischaemia or localised tissue death.
The pH probe enables a precise assessment of tissue pH, to help prevent the development of compartment syndrome or generalised tissue death. As with all diagnostic and monitoring devices, it should only be used as a guide to the clinician, who should use his or her clinical judgement in addition to the information provided by the pH system, to make the final decision concerning patient care.
Wideblue managing director, Russell Overend, commented: “Wideblue has developed and designed this highly accurate pH Monitor for Softcell including ergonomic design, software design of the display screens and operation of the device, electronics design, manufacturing of the first units for clinical trials purposes plus production of the packaging, labels and instruction manual.
“The device works on the principle that if the blood supply is limited to parts of the body the organs/tissues become slightly acidic. The level of acid build up will guide the treatment of the patient. The device is used before, during and after an operation to measure and display pH at various sites in the body to allow the surgeon to takeappropriate action.”
Kirsty McIntosh, CEO of Softcell Medical said: “We are delighted to be working with Wideblue on this innovative project and would highly recommend them to other companies developing medical devices.”
