Aesculap Inc., which is the surgical division of the B. Braun family of companies, has entered into a partnership with QMed Innovations, Inc., a Rhode Island-based technology company which has developed an advanced, connected and “smart” sensor-based tracking technology to help manage global surgical tray and implant inventory logistics.
Aesculap Adding ‘Smart’ Tracking Logistics With QMed Deal
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QMed Innovations provides asset (sterile container systems, for example) management solutions for the orthopedics industry. Specifically, according to QMed, its sensor-based technology is an “internet of things” (IoT) style of software solution which helps hospitals, clinics, and manufacturers manage the dynamic global logistics of surgical trays and implant inventory.
Aesculap manufactures sterile container systems. Under the just signed partnership agreement, a QMed internet connected smart sensor can now be attached to the Aesculap Aicon™ Sterile Container System.
OTW spoke with QMed Innovations Founder and CEO Victor Nunes about the partnership. Nunes told OTW, “With the ever accelerating migration of joint replacement procedures to the ambulatory surgery center setting, sterilization bandwidth at these facilities is necessitating creative solutions for instrument tray management. Moving to sterile containers is one such option and Aesculap Inc. is the dominant player in this market.”
Nunes continued, “With the Aesculap partnership, QMed Innovations will offer autonomous cellular IoT-based asset management of sterile containers in addition to our current capabilities streamlining instrument tray and implant tote supply chains for orthopedic OEMs.”
The Quest sensor attaches to the container. It transmits location and temperature data to the cloud to be analyzed and reviewed. Data is reviewed via QMed Innovations’ QVue portal. Effectively, then, the portal helps customers manage and track inventory, increase efficiencies, and “ensure compliance with sterile processing guidelines.”
OTW also spoke with Nunes about goals for the partnership for 2023. Nunes said, “In 2023, QMed Innovations will offer the option for autonomous management of Aesculap sterile containers, allowing orthopedic OEMs [original equipment manufacturers] visibility into their instrument tray utilization, freight costs, and audit management while improving sales rep efficiency.”
Nunes continued, “Additionally, both Aesculap and QMed Innovations will continue to collaborate on the technology front and maximize the opportunity for providing real time data analytics to our OEM customers, hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, 3rd party logistics companies, and sales distributor networks worldwide.”
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This is a fascinating development. In my practice we've seen similar outcomes with the revised protocol. The key differentiator seems to be patient selection criteria. Has anyone else noticed the correlation with BMI thresholds?
Great point. I'd push back slightly on the conclusion, the sample size in the cited study is too small to draw population-level inferences. That said, the directional signal is compelling and worth a larger RCT.
We implemented a similar approach last year. Early results are promising but we're still gathering 12-month follow-up data. Happy to share our protocol if anyone is interested.
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