News Releases

CIVCO Medical Solutions to Introduce Envision™ Viral Barrier at RSNA 2018

Envision allows for 100% gel-free ultrasound procedures

Coralville, Iowa (November 20, 2018) – Infection control leader CIVCO Medical Solutions will present Envision, the next generation of ultrasound probe covers and scan pads at this year’s Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting in Chicago, IL, November 25-29.

Envision ultrasound probe covers and scan pads are viral barriers allowing for 100% gel-free ultrasound procedures. Radiology physicians and clinicians simply activate Envision with a sterile liquid to perform ultrasound procedures, removing the need for gel. The elimination of gel from procedures utilizing Envision can improve the quality of FNA specimens, reduces the risk of contamination, and simplifies workflow.

Improve the quality of FNA specimens

Envision covers can help improve the visibility of cells in fine needle aspirations (FNAs) by eliminating the need for gel from these procedures. Several studies show the adverse effects gel can have on FNAs:

Impairs the visibility of cells and interferes with staining of cells¹
Causes a significant increase in the number of slides with artefacts¹
Causes widespread cell lysis, increasing the risk of misinterpretation and a false positive diagnosis²
Mimics colloid, creating difficulty in differentiation between artefact and colloid^1,3

Reduce the risk of contamination

The removal of gel when using Envision can help reduce the risk of contamination during needle-guided ultrasound interventions or while scanning non-intact skin. Ultrasound gel has been shown to harbor and spread infection and can:

contribute to increasing nosocomial infection, the spread of hospital acquired infections^4,5,6,7
cause bacteria to be introduced into the blood stream^6,9
make the disinfection of sterilization process of devices, including ultrasound probes, less effective⁸

Simplify workflow

The Envision ultrasound probe cover and scan pad enable physicians and clinicians to simplify workflow throughout a procedure.

A quick-peel, silicone liner adheres safely to the probe face or to the patient’s skin – no gel needed inside the cover or applied to the patient
Apply a sterile liquid, such as sterile saline, to the Envision cover or pad, or directly on the patient’s skin, and begin scanning
Pre-cleaning of the ultrasound probe is simplified without gel, before sending to high-level disinfection

Visit CIVCO’s booth #2407 at RSNA to try Envision and learn about its many benefits during ultrasound procedures.

Envision is 510(k) clearance pending.

Visit www.CIVCO.com/envision to learn more.

About CIVCO

CIVCO Medical Solutions has over 35 years of experience and offers cutting-edge medical technology to a diverse group of medical professionals. CIVCO designs and manufactures accessories for use in diagnostic and therapeutic imaging and interventional procedures with a strong focus on ultrasound. CIVCO’s specialties include: infection control (ultrasound probe and system covers), high-level disinfection of ultrasound probes, needle and device guidance, electromagnetic needle tracking, and transperineal prostate solutions. Corporate information is available at www.CIVCO.com.

For more information or product images, please contact:

Erin Dougherty
CIVCO Medical Solutions
Tel: 319.248.6510
erin.dougherty@civco.com

Sources

1. A. Lalzad, D. Ristitsch, W. Downey, A. F. Little and M. E. Schneider-Kolsky “Effect of ultrasound transmission gel on ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytological specimens of thyroid” Cytopathology 2012, 23, 330–333

2. A. J. Molyneux, S. B. Coghill “Cell Lysis Due to Ultrasound Gel In Fine Needle Aspirates; an Important New Artefact In Cytology” Cytopathology 1994 5, 41-45

3. Royer MC, Davidson DD, Dimitrov RK, Kuo CY, Kokaska MS “Ultrasound gel causes fine needle aspiration artifact? A clear choice.” Acta Cytol. 2012;56(2):146-54

4. Oleszkowicz SC, Chittick P, Russo V, Keller P, Sims M, Band J. “Infections Associated with Use of Ultrasound Transmission Gel: Proposed Guidelines to Minimize Risk” Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology Dec. 2012, vol. 33, no. 12

5. Esteban C. Nannini, Adriana Ponessa, Rosa Muratori, Patricia Marchiaro, Viviana Ballerini, Luis Flynn, Adriana S. Limansky “Polyclonal outbreak of bacteremia caused by Burkholderia cepacia complex and the presumptive role of ultrasound gel” The Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases 2015;19(5);543-545

6. Shaban RZ, Maloney S, Gerrard J, Collignon P, Macbeth D, Cruickshank M, Hume A, Jennison AV, Graham RMA, Bergh H, Wilson HL, Derrington P “Outbreak of health care-associated Burkholderia cenocepacia bacteremia and infection attributed to contaminated sterile gel used for central line insertion under ultrasound guidance and other procedures” AJIC 45 (2017) 954-8

7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “Pseudomonas aeruginosa respiratory tract infections associated with contaminated ultrasound gel used for transesophageal echocardiography - Michigan, December 2011-January 2012.” MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2012 Apr 20;61:262-4.

8. William A. Rutala, Ph.D., M.P.H.1,2, David J. Weber, M.D., M.P.H.1,2, and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee “CDC - Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities, 2008” www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/pdf/guidelines/disinfection-guidelines.pdf

9. Australian Government Department of Health Therapeutic Goods Administration “Safety Advisory – risk of bacterial contamination” 2017 https://www.tga.gov.au/alert/meditech-ultrasound-gel

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