Desert Regional was one of the first in California to implement the use of the OrthoPAT in orthopedic surgery. It has worked well for us for the past 5 years. I have a protocol for anyone if requested. Cost for disposible kit runs us $460. Most new facilities will pay appreciably more, like $600 per kit. However, other options are now available that we are seriously looking at. I would recommend a similar device to the OrthoPAT that collects shed blood but does not spin it, thus giving back only red cells. For those that were in Miami, perhaps you visited the CellTrans booth. They collect shed blood and with the use of a 40 micron filter, filter out fats, bone debris, glue fragments etc. They give back all necessary components of blood for hemostatis. Their website is:
www.summit-medical.co.uk email is: info@summit-medical.co.uk They were approved for use in America by the FDA in June of this year. Cost runs about $225-275 per case. The other device is TissueLink. They use bovie energy with 0.9% saline to blanch the open tissue, thus locking the blood where it belongs, in the body. Our experience with TissueLink has been very good. They have greatly increased the power of the energy generated, thus making its use fast and effective for controling blood in the OR. Drains as a rule are not necessary. Cost is $425 per disposible.You can find them on the web at: www.tissuelink.com