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Bedfont® Scientific is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its Smokerlyzer® at this year’s conference and will be offering the opportunity for UKNSCC attendees to walk away with a free iPad.

This year Bedfont’s representative Intermedical will be at the UKNSCC, an essential event for everyone working in the smoking cessation and tobacco control fields. To celebrate 30 years of Smokerlyzer® this year, Bedfont and Intermedical are giving the lucky attendants of the UKNSCC the chance to win a brand new iPad mini as well as a variety of instant prizes on the stand.

Bedfont Scientific, based in Harrietsham, Kent, has specialised in breath analysis for 40 years and has a worldwide network of distributors. Bedfont has been working with its sole Smokerlyzer® distributor, Intermedical, in the UK for five years and are proud to be representing Bedfont at this show.

Michael Collyer, Marketing Manager at Intermedical, says,

“We are proud to be a representative of a longstanding UK company like Bedfont Scientific and are honoured to partake in the 30 years of Smokerlyzer® celebrations. Since 2011 we have sold over 30,000 Smokerlyzers® in the UK and it’s become an essential tool in Stop Smoking Services.”

The Smokerlyzer® range is a series of carbon monoxide (CO) monitors that measures the harmful amount of CO that is inhaled from smoking, which can show how much a patient has been smoking, giving smoking cessation advisors an idea on the level of dependency that the smoker has. The Smokerlyzer® is quick, non-invasive and also acts as a motivational visual aid to encourage the user to quit smoking and to measure their progress whilst doing so.

Jason Smith, General Manager at Bedfont Scientific, says,

“Smokerlyzer® has contributed to peoples’ health and has saved countless lives in the past 30 years. Running the competition with Intermedical gives us a way to celebrate its success with our customers. Looking back at the timeline, the Smokerlyzer® has come such a long way and I couldn’t be more proud.”

Bedfont Scientific, based in Maidstone, Kent, donates over 50 Smokerlyzers® to the European Network for Smoking and Tobacco Prevention (ENSP)

Bedfont Scientific, who in 2016 is celebrating 40 years in business, has donated over 50 carbon monoxide breath monitors, famously known as the Smokerlyzer®, to the ENSP. Bedfont hopes to help them establish carbon monoxide (CO) verification into European Stop Smoking Services (SSS) to motivate people to stop smoking. This decision arrives after success with CO monitoring in Smoking Cessation in the UK, following the publication of the NICE guidelines for Stop Smoking Services in February 2008.

On the 5-6th April 2016, the ENSP, held its hands-on training programme of the Global Bridges grant entitled “European Accreditation Curriculum on Tobacco Treatment”. Funded through a Pfizer Independent Grant for Learning and Change through Global Bridges, this capacity development project aimed to train and certify (with the provision of CME) professionals on treating tobacco dependency in Eastern Europe with a particular focus on clinicians from Romania, Armenia, Georgia, Ukraine and Russia.

Over 190 participants from around the globe participated in an interactive programme, which included keynote presentations from the head of the WHO FCTC secretariat and the head of the Tobacco Unit of the European Commission-DG SANTE among a number of leading researchers in tobacco control and treatment.  

Dominick Nguyen, Health Policy and Communication Manager at ENSP, says,

“The training programme received great enthusiasm from clinicians, health professionals, researchers and KOLs from Eastern Europe, who had the chance to discover and practice carbon monoxide measurements with the Smokerlyzers. Participants really appreciated receiving a CO monitor as part of their training, and looked forward to start using it on their patients.”

Jason Smith, General Manager at Bedfont Scientific, comments,

“Bedfont is honoured to play a key part in the new movements in Eastern Europe against tobacco dependency. With 30 years on its side, we hope that the Smokerlyzer proves to be as invaluable and effective at helping people quit smoking in Eastern Europe as it has been here in the UK and in our other larger markets.”

Photos for the event can be found here.

Bedfont® incorporates SteriTouch® technology into the redesign of its famous monitors

Bedfont Scientific, who in 2016 are celebrating two important anniversaries – 40 years in business and 30 years of one of their most successful exports – the Smokerlyzer, are revered as pioneers in the breath analysis market. Their products are now available in over 76 countries across the world thanks to their unprecedented network of appointed distributors.

However, belonging to such a niche medical devices market, Bedfont Scientific is always innovating and improving their monitors to remain the market leaders in their fields. Following the success and feedback from integrating SteriTouch technology into their piCO+™ Smokerlyzer® in 2012, Bedfont decided to include antimicrobial technology in the redesign of their ranges.                

Current ranges now with SteriTouch technology include the Smokerlyzer, a carbon monoxide (CO) breath monitor used by Stop Smoking Services, the ToxCO™ used by emergency services to instantly diagnose CO poisoning, and the Gastrolyzer® for detecting gastrointestinal orders. The plan for the future is to continue to incorporate SteriTouch technology into Bedfont’s remaining ranges too. 

Jason Smith, General Manager at Bedfont Scientific, explains,

“We felt that including SteriTouch technology into all of our monitors was a simply natural progression. With all of our devices being used in medical and clinical environments, to ensure optimum performance and omit cross-infection which can affect patients’ results, SteriTouch technology seemed like the ideal extra protection for our breath monitors.”

GP’s and patients can be assured of a more accurate diagnosis with this product from Bedfont® Scientific.

This year, apprehensions have been rising about asthma after recent studies uncovered some horrific truths about asthma; Asthma UK found that over 120,000 asthma sufferers in the UK are at risk from wrongly prescribed medication, whilst NICE published their findings that 30% of people with asthma are suspected to have been misdiagnosed.

Asthma is an affliction that affects an incredible 334 million people worldwide and 5.4 million people alone in the UK.  This year World Asthma Day falls on 3rd May. This awareness day reoccurs every May in a bid to raise people’s awareness of this respiratory condition; how it can have a detrimental effect on your quality of life and in severe cases, result in death.

Bedfont Scientific based in Harrietsham, Kent, who are celebrating 40 years in business this year, manufacture a fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) breath analysis monitor that provides a quick, easy and non-invasive solution to the above-mentioned asthma concerns. 

Using FeNO measurements to monitor airway inflammation in asthma patients represents a significant advance in respiratory medicine. The NObreath FeNO test is a user-friendly way to assess patient adherence to treatment, enabling respiratory specialists to prescribe their patients the right levels of medication. Additionally, the NObreath FeNO test can help to differentiate between asthma and other respiratory conditions such as COPD, and asthma and COPD cross over syndrome (ACOS), resulting in fewer patients being misdiagnosed.

Natasha Smith, concerned mother of two, says,

“My eldest daughter was recently seen by the GP because we suspected she might have asthma. Reading the figures in the news recently published by Asthma UK and NICE has only increased my concerns about my daughter’s welfare. If a test like the NObreath’s was readily available at the doctors, it would put my mind at ease.”

Lois Penhaligan, Specialist Respiratory Physiologist, at the Lung Function Laboratory in Llandough, explains,

“This can be used with patients who have respiratory symptoms, particularly with an unexplained cough and we are looking for the possible cause. The FeNO breath test is used for an assessment of airway inflammation, for the assessment of the effectiveness of a treatment, for example, a bronchodilator and for the management of a disease, for example, asthma.”

A quick, easy and non-invasive breath test with the Gastrolyzer could help thousands of people suffering with IBS.

April is IBS awareness month and for the IBS Network’s 25th Anniversary show, they are highlighting IBS from the patient’s perspective.

IBS is a condition that affects 23% of people worldwide [1] and 10-20% of the UK’s population [2] alone, however, it’s thought that reported numbers are much higher due to many people not seeking medical advice. Often those diagnosed with IBS may, in fact, have a more simple-to-treat condition known as Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO). The condition produces symptoms similar to IBS and is caused by having too many bacteria in the gut.

Bedfont® Scientific, based in Harrietsham, Kent, manufacture the Gastrolyzer monitors that can help with the investigation of IBS through a simple breath test. By measuring the amount of hydrogen and methane in a patient’s breath that is caused by the breakdown of food in the gut, the Gastrolyzer investigates if a patient has IBS or if they instead have another gastrointestinal disorder, by detecting SIBO or any sugar-related food intolerances, including lactose intolerance.

 Jason Smith, Bedfont’s General Manager, comments,

“IBS Awareness Month is the perfect time to highlight the Gastrolyzer and how it can save both the patient’s and doctor’s time in diagnosing gastrointestinal disorders. 
Unlike more conventional methods which can take up to two weeks to diagnose, using the Gastrolyzer means patients will have an instant diagnosis so they do not have to prolong their discomfort, whilst health professionals can see up to 10 patients in one sitting with the protocol mode, saving valuable time. Additionally through breath analysis, because there is no need for a blood sample, people who have a fear of needles can now be diagnosed and treated at ease.”

Bedfont Scientific Ltd. has sold its U.K. subsidiary, NOxBOX Ltd, to Praxair Gases UK, Ltd., a subsidiary of Praxair, a Fortune 250 company with 2015 sales of $11 billion and one of the largest industrial gas companies worldwide. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Bedfont’s sale of NOxBOX Ltd includes the full NOxBOX range of critical care delivery and monitoring devices for inhaled nitric oxide therapy. This announcement comes shortly after Bedfont announced the move to create the subsidiary NOxBOX Ltd after unprecedented success with the NOxBOX® range of products, which have been globally available in different forms since 1997.

Bedfont’s Managing Director, Trevor Smith, reported,

“This transaction will allow our company to focus on its core business in diagnostics using exhaled breath analysis which we see as a tremendous opportunity in the future. Our NOxBOX range of products will much better be supported by Praxair, a global industrial and medical gas company.”                      

It is expected that the transfer of ownership will be largely seamless with a “business as usual” approach. The NOxBOX Ltd company will continue to be located in the UK and staff members previously involved are transferring with the business.

A leading manufacturer of exhaled breath and gas monitoring instruments, who in 2016 is celebrating two important anniversaries – 40 years in business and 30 years of one of its most successful exports – the Smokerlyzer®, Bedfont Scientific is revered as a pioneer in the medical gas analysis market.

Bedfont Scientific, based in Harrietsham, Kent have made a generous donation to help those wishing to quit on No Smoking Day. They have offered local Stop Smoking Services, several free iCO™ Smokerlyzers® to help with their No Smoking Day promotions.

To recognise World No Smoking day 2016, Bedfont Scientific is working with their local Stop Smoking Services (SSS). By donating a few iCO Smokerlyzers as prizes for competitions, Bedfont hopes to raise awareness of the dangers involved with smoking, encourage people to quit and inform the public about how the Smokerlyzer can help.
 
The Smokerlyzer brand is widely recognised by those who have quit smoking, those who are trying to, and the health advisors that aid them. The name is renowned for its quality and effectiveness in helping people to give up the habit.

The Smokerlyzer range is a series of carbon monoxide (CO) monitors that measures the harmful amount of CO that is inhaled from smoking, which can show how much a patient has been smoking, giving smoking cessation advisors an idea on the level of dependency that the smoker has. The Smokerlyzer is quick, non-invasive and also acts as a motivational visual aid to encourage the user to quit smoking and to measure their progress whilst doing so.

Bedfont Scientific, is celebrating 40 years in business this year and are revered as pioneers in the breath analysis market. Founder, Trevor Smith, created the Smokerlyzer in 1985, which is also celebrating its 30th birthday in 2016.  With more than 514852 units sold since existence, the Smokerlyzer is one of Bedfont’s most successful exports and can now be found in over 61 countries across the world.

Jason Smith, General Manager at Bedfont Scientific, comments,

“ We are pleased to be supporting No Smoking Day in this way by donating some of our products to assist the Stop Smoking Services. According to the HSCIC, smoking was attributable to almost 80,000 deaths in England in 2013, a figure which has not changed since 2003, and 454,700 hospital admissions. Even more alarming are the figures released by the ONS showing that the number of people willing to quit smoking in recent years is stagnating. Bedfont’s aim is to help people quit by highlighting the diseases brought about by CO poisoning through smoking, as well as the benefits of quitting such as preventing cancer and other smoking related diseases.” [1][2]

Photo above, inset: Jane Wright, Public Health Manager at Warwickshire Stop Smoking Service with one of her free iCO Smokerlyzers. 

Local company urges smokers to quit smoking with the Smokerlyzer® for World Cancer Day.

World cancer day takes place every 4th February across the globe and this year the taglines are “A Day to Unite” and “We Can, I Can”, in a bid to show support for all those affected by cancer. The day also aims to increase awareness of cancer and to educate and encourage the world to donate, and help prevent cancer; a disease which claimed the lives of 8.2 million people worldwide in 2012 and is expected to claim up to 13 million by 2030 [1].

Statistics show that lung cancer is the “leading cause of cancer death in men and the second leading cause in women” but unfortunately “smoking is by far the most important risk factor for lung cancer” and the most preventable one (American Cancer Society, 2015) .

 A leading manufacturer of exhaled breath and gas monitoring instruments, who in 2016 are celebrating two important anniversaries – 40 years in business and 30 years of one of their most successful exports – the Smokerlyzer, Bedfont Scientific are revered as pioneers in the medical gas analysis market.

 Jason Smith, General Manager at Bedfont, comments,

“The Smokerlyzer is a breath analysis monitor that detects the harmful amount of carbon monoxide (CO) in your lungs, and therefore your blood, that is inhaled from smoking. Those who smoke can build up high levels of CO in the blood, which can lead to heart disease, circulation problems and high blood pressure. Used in smoking cessation clinics, it is a way to establish a smoker’s status whilst acting as a motivational visual aid to encourage them to quit and to measure their progress whilst doing so, helping to prevent cancer and other smoking related diseases.”

 Jane Wright, Public Health Manager at Warwickshire Stop Smoking Service and long-term advocate of the Smokerlyzer, said,

“The Smokerlyzer CO monitors have been providing support to health professionals and acted as a motivational aid to smokers for the past few decades. Being able to support smokers daily and incorporating stop smoking treatment into their tech-products will massively increase the chance of helping smokers to quit.”

REFERENCES
[1] American Cancer Society. Global Cancer Facts & Figures 3rd Edition. Atlanta: American Cancer Society; 2015

Local Kent company based in Harrietsham – Bedfont Scientific Ltd – has now released its video as part of the campaign to compete for ‘National Public Champion’ in this year’s European Business Awards and they need your votes!

Bedfont Scientific, based in Harrietsham, Kent, has posted a video explaining why you should vote for them on its website at www.bedfont.com, giving a powerful insight into the story of the business and its success. In 2016, the company is celebrating two important anniversaries – 40 years in business and 30 years of one of their most successful exports – the Smokerlyzer.  Revered as pioneers in the breath analysis market, their products are now available, in over 70 countries across the world with an unprecedented network of appointed distributors.

The European Business Awards was created to recognise and promote business success and support the development of a stronger business community throughout Europe. 

Competing against all other country National Champions for the public vote, the company with the most votes will be named ‘National Public Champion’ for the UK on 7th March 2016. The first phase of the online voting is open from 11 January to 26 February 2016. 

Trevor Smith, Managing Director at Bedfont, says:

“We are grateful for the opportunity to show the people of Kent what our business does and how we save lives. We are encouraging people to vote online for us once they have viewed our video. The public vote means a great deal as it’s not just our existing and potential customers giving their approval to our success but also all the people we’ve helped in our 40 years of business.”

Adrian Tripp, CEO of the European Business Awards, said,

“Last year the public vote generated over 170,000 votes from across the world.  It is a very important part of the Awards as it gives these entrepreneurial companies another way of showcasing their achievements.”