Covidien launches new wound closure device

Covidien has announced the release of V-Loc on to the healthcare equipment market – a device that is designed to close dermal wounds quickly and securely without the need for knots.

V-Loc will be made available globally and the absorbable wound closure device is the first surgical device of its kind to feature unidirectional barbed technology.

A unique self-anchoring loop and barb combination takes away the need for knots and distributes tension across the wound to facilitate the simultaneous closure of multiple layers.

As a result, closure time with the device is 30 per cent to 50 per cent faster than conventional suturing – something that may reduce the time patients spend in the operating room.

Dr Michael Tarnoff, chief medical affairs officer for surgical devices at Covidien, said: “Secure, fast and effective, knotless surgery through our V-Loc device is a simple and elegant solution that can help hospitals and surgeons deal effectively with a number of issues.”

In August, Covidien announced the global availability of a software upgrade for its Puritan Bennett 840 ventilator, explaining that its NeoMode enhancement allows clinical staff to increase set FiO2 by 20 per cent for up to two minutes.