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Bedfont’s breath analysis medical device for helping to detect GI disorders can now be sold in the UAE

Leaders in breath analysis medical devices, Bedfont Scientific Ltd., announced that it has successfully registered its Gastro⁺™ Gastrolyzer® for sale in the United Arab Emirates.

A big part of UAE culture, food is often used to celebrate and bring people together, however according to the Food Allergy Research & Education, “as many as 15 million people suffer food intolerances”¹, and as many as 11%  are lactose intolerant according to a report published by the US Census Bureau International Data Base².

A portable hydrogen monitor, the Gastro⁺™ works by measuring the amount of hydrogen in a patient’s breath caused by the breakdown of food in the gut. This aids HCP’s in investigating if a patient has any sugar-related food intolerances, such as lactose intolerance, and it can also be used to help detect other gastrointestinal disorders such as SIBO and IBS.  Unlike more conventional methods which can take up to two weeks to diagnose, the simple breath test does not require a blood sample and provides instant results.

Jason Smith, Managing Director at Bedfont, comments, “Our Regulatory Affairs department has been working hard on this registration for 9 months, and we’re over the moon to be able to say we can now sell the Gastro⁺™ into the UAE. It’s going to help a lot of people improve their quality of life, and we looking forward to working more closely with our distributor there, Al Zahrawi Medical Supplies LLC. ”

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References:

1. The most common food intolerances, how they are diagnosed and treated [Internet]. The National. 2016 [cited 18 August 2020]. Available from: https://www.thenational.ae/lifestyle/wellbeing/the-most-common-food-intolerances-how-they-are-diagnosed-and-treated-1.179963
2. Chaturvedi A. Why can’t some of the UAE residents drink milk any more? [Internet]. Khaleej Times. 2017 [cited 18 August 2020]. Available from: https://www.khaleejtimes.com/lifestyle/food/why-cant-some-of-the-uae-residents-drink-milk-any-more

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is the most common cause of fatal accidental poisoning in the world. However, as it is colorless, odorless and tasteless, it can be difficult to detect. The standard procedure is to analyze the CO concentration in a blood sample, but this process is invasive and time consuming. The ToxCO^® from Bedfont Scientific analyzes the concentration of CO in the breath to determine the CO concentration in the blood and enables rapid, non-invasive measurement at the scene. In addition, it has proven to be as accurate as the standard procedure and so has the potential for mass screening of CO poisoning either by use of the emergency services at the scene or by clinical professionals in hospitals to speed up diagnosis.

The Dangers of CO Poisoning

Many homes still use coal, oil and gas fires as a heating source, but these appliances can pose a risk to life if they are not properly maintained or do not have sufficient ventilation. Burning these fuels produces carbon dioxide and water, however, if there is not a good enough supply of oxygen in the combustion process, carbon monoxide can also be formed. CO is poisonous as it binds strongly to hemoglobin in the blood, blocking oxygen from attaching and stopping this essential gas from being transported around the body, which in severe cases can lead to death. One study found that at least 6% of gas appliances emit dangerous levels of CO and exposure is not limited to household items, idling vehicles and house fires also emit high levels of this poisonous gas. Unfortunately, CO is difficult to detect as it is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas and so has been nicknamed “the silent killer”.

Low-level exposure to CO (>70 parts per million (ppm)) causes shortness of breath, mild nausea and headaches and is easy to mistake for the flu. Moderate levels lead to severe headaches, nausea, mental confusion and syncope. While, high levels (>200 ppm) can result in seizures and death. Due it’s difficult detection and similarity with flu symptoms at low levels, it is often the circumstances that give the clue towards diagnosis e.g. the symptoms abate when the patient is outside. CO is the most common cause of fatal accidental poisonings around the world, with 50 people killed each year in the UK, but these numbers are thought to be an underestimate as CO levels are not assessed in the 3,500 unexplained deaths that occur every year in the UK. Therefore, speed and accuracy of CO poisoning is vital.

Analysis of CO Levels

Currently, the standard method for diagnosing CO poisoning is to take blood from the patient and analyze the sample in a laboratory using a co-oximeter. A co-oximeter measures the absorption of light passing through the blood at several different wavelengths in order to determine the percentage of carboxyhemoglobin (%COHb). However, this method is invasive as it requires a blood sample to be drawn from the patient, it takes a relatively long time to get the results and cannot be performed at the scene by emergency services.

Since 2010, the funding to the NHS in England has seen a decrease compared to historical norms, and with the cost of inpatient care ranging from £128 to £9,892 per person (depending on the type of patient admitted), there is a strong drive to find initiatives that reduce costs or improve the efficiency of health care services. A recent study published by the National Audit Office on the NHS ambulance services stated that the implementation of new models of care avoided costs of admitting patients to hospitals by around £63 million in 2015–2016. Therefore, the use of rapid, non-invasive instruments to measure CO poisoning at the scene by first responders could reduce cost, time, and pressure on the inpatient health care. Pulse CO-Oximeters^® work in a similar way to standard co-oximeters as they also analyze the absorption of the blood with different wavelengths of light, but by using the pulse in a patients’ finger. Masimo produce two Pulse CO-Oximeters^®: The Rad-57^® and Radical-7^®. Another device, the ToxCO^®, manufactured by Bedfont^® Scientific Ltd, is also able to non-invasively analyze CO levels by measuring the concentration of CO in expelled breath as this correlates closely to the %COHb. Both types of device eliminate the need to draw blood and produce results in seconds, enabling rapid assessment of CO poisoning by the first responders of the emergency services, potentially reducing the number of admissions to hospitals.

It is essential that these non-invasive instruments deliver accurate data that can be trusted by the emergency services and clinicians. In 2014, Tseona compared the accuracy of these non-invasive devices to the standard CO blood analysis using a Siemens RapidPoint 500 machine. Each patient that took part in the study had a blood sample drawn, followed immediately assessment with the Rad-57^®, Radical-7^® and ToxCO^® to ensure the %COHb data for each technique was taken at the same time point and could be compared. The results found that the %COHb ToxCO^® data was comparable to the RapidPoint 500 invasive CO blood analysis, whereas the Rad-57^® and Radical-7^® gave significantly different results. These data indicate the ToxCO^® is more statistically accurate for determining CO levels in potential poisoning cases compared to the Rad-57^® and Radical-7^®.

The Non-Invasive ToxCO^®

The ToxCO^® is designed to determine CO levels in all possible environments as it comes with three sampling modes; a mouthpiece for conscious patients, a face mask for unconscious patients and ambient monitoring to allow potentially fatal levels of CO in the air to be detected. In addition, the device monitor has SteriTouch^® technology and single-use Steribreath^™ mouthpieces are used to improve infection control.

The ToxCO^® has been designed to be quick and easy to use, with visual prompts to ensure accurate results are obtained. The results are given as a green/amber/red signal, along with audible beeps for easy interpretation. In 2016, Smereka assessed the ability of 47 firefighters to identify potential CO poisoning and their use of the ToxCO^® to examine patients. After training, the firefighter knowledge of CO poisoning increased, and all firefighters were proficient with implementing the ToxCO^® if CO poisoning was suspected. In addition, the device is small, portable and does not need to be plugged in during analysis.

Rapid Assessment of CO Poisoning

As most cases of CO poisoning occur in the home and high levels can be fatal, it is essential that levels of this toxic gas can be assessed by first responders from the emergency services. The use of the ToxCO^® enables an accurate, rapid and non-invasive method of determining a patient’s CO levels at the scene, allowing treatment to be administered quickly and appropriately, and potentially reducing the number of admissions to hospitals. Due to the comparable accuracy of the ToxCO^® to the standard invasive CO blood analysis, it could also be beneficial in clinical settings to increase the speed of analysis and reduce the burden on hospital laboratories. Furthermore, ToxCO^® is able to perform environmental sampling and could be placed in residential housing to warn individuals if CO levels reach dangerous levels. A 2009 study by the UK Department of Communities and Local Governments found if CO detectors were installed in a dwellings containing a combustion device, in a similar approach to smoke detectors, the cost to roll out this initiative would be outweighed by the reduction in  incidents. Therefore, the implementation of a non-invasive, rapid, and accurate CO measurement in any or all of these settings can reduce the time, cost, and pressure placed on NHS emergency and inpatient services.

References and Further Reading

1. Bebout D.E et al. (2009). Performance Observations of the Rainbow “Pulse CO-Oximeter”. Neonatal Intensive Care. https://www.nicmag.ca/pdf/NIC-22-1-JF09-web.pdf
2. West Yorkshire Health Protection Unit (2010). Silent Killer.
3. Smereka J. et al. (2016). The Ability of Firefighters to Recognize Carbon Monoxide Poisoning. American Journal of Emergency Medicine. Doi: https://www.ajemjournal.com/article/S0735-6757(16)30238-8/fulltext
4. United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. (2020). Carbon Monoxide Questions and Answers. https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Carbon-Monoxide-Information-Center/Carbon-Monoxide-Questions-and-Answers
5. Tseona S.S. (2014). Carbon Monoxide Monitoring. Millersville University Respiratory Therapy.
6. ToxCO^®. (2020). Bedfont^® Scientific Ltd. https://www.bedfont.com/toxco
7. NICE Guidelines for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning https://cks.nice.org.uk/carbon-monoxide-poisoning#!scenario
8. CO-gassafety.co.uk. (2020). Statistics of Deaths and Injuries. https://www.co-gassafety.co.uk/information/co-gas-safetys-statistics-of-deaths-and-injuries/
9. Dreyer K. (2019). A Descriptive Analysis of Health Care Use by High-Cost, High-Need Patients in England. https://www.health.org.uk/sites/default/files/upload/publications/2019/Health-care-use-by-high-cost-high-need-patients-WP07.pdf
10. Nao.org.uk. (2017). NHS Ambulance Services. National Audit Office. https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/NHS-Ambulance-Services.pdf
11. Communities.gov.uk. (2009). Study on the Provision of Carbon Monoxide Detectors Under the Building Regulations. Department for Communities and Local Government. webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120919132719/http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/1324663

The new Bluetooth^® CO monitor from Bedfont^® Scientific Ltd. has helped Stop Smoking Clinics to continue giving essential advice to its patients through remote CO monitoring

Medical device manufacturer, Bedfont^®, has launched its new iCOquit^® – a portable, personal Bluetooth^® Carbon Monoxide (CO) monitor to help people quit smoking, which is helping Stop Smoking Services to support their patients remotely during the Coronavirus pandemic.

According to the NHS, “Smoking is one of the biggest causes of death and illness in the UK”, responsible for around 78,000 deaths each year, in addition to even more suffering from “debilitating smoking-related illnesses”¹. Carbon monoxide monitoring is a very effective tool in smoking cessation; it can validate a person’s smoking status and acts as a great motivational tool for the patient, showing them visible proof of harm caused by tobacco smoking, plus, studies show that smokers who use CO monitoring during their quit attempt are more likely to be successful².

Despite face-to-face smoking cessation consultations being postponed due to the pandemic, now thanks to the iCOquit^®, patients can quickly and easily monitor their CO levels at home to receive instant results on their smartphone or tablet, and share them directly with their Stop Smoking Advisor. This means they can receive instant CO validation of smoking status, and Advisors can better maintain provision of stop smoking medication in addition to providing remote behavioural support.

Jason Smith, Managing Director at Bedfont Scientific Ltd, explains, “The Smokerlyzer range of CO monitors has been helping people quit smoking in clinics for over 40 years. With the evolving healthcare markets and improvements in personal healthcare technology, we wanted to put all those years of experience into creating a device for people to use anytime, anywhere, so they could really invest in their quit smoking attempts in-between their Stop Smoking consultations. We are now working alongside several Key Opinion Leaders to put together educational resources to help people adapt to remote CO monitoring, and with the iCOquit^®, it couldn’t be easier.”

To see how the iCOquit^®️ is helping with remote CO monitoring, watch our video here: https://youtu.be/f3bSLspUVP8

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References

1. What are the health risks of smoking? [Internet]. nhs.uk. 2021 [cited 1 February 2021]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/lifestyle/what-are-the-health-risks-of-smoking/#:~:text=Smoking%20is%20one%20of%20the,than%2050%20serious%20health%20conditions.
2. Shahab L, West R, McNeill A. A randomized, controlled trial of adding expired carbon monoxide feedback to brief stop smoking advice: Evaluation of cognitive and behavioral effects. Health Psychology. 2011;30(1):49-57.

Bedfont hosts a virtual launch party to officiate the opening of Bedfont GmbH

On 3^rd September, Bedfont hosted a virtual launch party to open their first overseas office, Bedfont GmbH, based in Salzburg, Austria. Earlier this year Bedfont announced the acquisition of its former distributor, Dr Lahner Medizintechnik, which now serves as the new GmbH headquarters.

Determined to not let COVID-19 halter their growth, Bedfont opted to virtually open their overseas office via a video call. The whole company was present, including the Bedfont Family based in Austria, and their German distributor, newly established by the GmbH office. The launch consisted of a few speeches from Bedfont’s Chairman, Trevor Smith, the Managing Director, Jason Smith, and former owner of Dr Lahner Medizintechnik, Dr Dorothea Lahner, who will be involved in business development and customer relationships for Bedfont GmbH. Complete with celebratory gifts, a sign unveiling, and a mini ribbon cutting ceremony, the launch was well received.

Dorothea comments, “These are very exciting times and they’ve only just begun for Bedfont GmbH. I’m glad we had the launch virtually as it was quite fun to film the sign unveiling for the Bedfont Family to watch. I look forward to helping Bedfont GmbH grow.”

Jason comments, “This is a huge milestone for Bedfont; although we are a small family business, exporting is one of our strengths. Opening an overseas office has always been a goal of ours and I’m absolutely over the moon we’ve managed to achieve this. Despite Brexit, we hope our new GmbH headquarters will strengthen our market positions across Europe. Whilst it would have been lovely to open the offices in person, the virtual launch was very innovative and successful.”

A short clip of the Bedfont GmbH sign unveiling during the Launch can be found on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJKI4G0RxTQ

Medical device manufacturer launches new incentive spirometer, Breathacise®

Market leaders in medical breath analysis, Bedfont® Scientific Ltd. announces a new venture in pulmonary health with the launch of their incentive spirometer, Breathacise®.

Through deep breathing exercises, the Breathacise® can be used to measure lung inspiratory reserve volume (IRV), train, and improve lung capacity for a healthy lifestyle, endurance training and exercise, or to help with recovery after surgery. Easy to use, with a unique visual incentive in the form of a basketball game, the Breathacise® can be used by all ages for a number of beneficial purposes.

Research shows that exercising your lungs with an incentive spirometer retrains them to take slow deep breaths, increasing your lung capacity. This, in turn, helps improve your ability to breathe as it keeps your alveoli inflated. Keeping your alveoli inflated and working properly helps your lungs exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide more effectively.

Jason Smith, Managing Director at Bedfont, comments, “It’s an uncertain time for small businesses right now we’ve got to be adaptable, which is why the launch of our Breathacise® incentive spirometer is very exciting. Not only is Breathacise® a new respiratory venture for us, but it is also a product that can help with pulmonary recovery – something that is much needed at this time.”

The Breathacise® incentive spirometer can be purchased from Amazon.co.uk here.

If you needed a little Monday pick-me-up, have you seen our latest corporate video? Even if you already have, a re-watch of our typical British humour might be just what you need!

This video is a little different from our previous ones; we wanted to add an element of humour to portray the family side of our business, whilst also getting in the key information about who we are and what we do.

Unfortunately due to the world going into lockdown, we didn’t have much of a chance to ‘officially’ launch this video, but we wanted to share our work nonetheless: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=P-h7KpMn5Ds

Today is World Environment Day – an awareness day held annually on June 5th and organised by the United Nations to encourage consciousness and action for the protection of our environment – which is why it is the perfect day to announce Bedfont® Scientific Ltd.’s #EcoResolution.

As the threat of global warming seems ever pertinent and with technology making more people aware of climate change and its devastating effect, more and more people are beginning to think about their impact on the environment and so it only makes sense that as companies we should consider our carbon footprints also, and how to reduce them.

If the past few months during lockdown have proven anything, it is that nature is a wonderfully resilient thing; carbon emissions have fallen sharply and the lower pollution levels and lack of human footfall have allowed for the water in Venice to become clear enough for fish and even jellyfish to be seen swimming in the canals, and for endangered sea turtles to have a rise in population.

While the environment has been able to recover over a short period of time, it makes one think how much of an impact we really have on eco-systems and how we can make changes going forward to not reverse the good that has come about.

At Bedfont®, we’ve always been conscious of our carbon footprint, and today we are proud to announce our #EcoResolution to make all of our consumables eco-friendly by 2025. This not only includes changing the materials our consumables are made of, but also making changes throughout its production lifetime to reduce our climate impact, including sourcing new eco-friendly materials from sustainable resources.

We’re excited to share that our first step in making this happen is by introducing our SteriBreath™ Eco mouthpiece. Whilst the current polypropylene SteriBreath™ mouthpieces are recyclable, there are not many facilities available to break down this grade 5 plastic. Unfortunately, polypropylene also takes several years to break down naturally in landfills, and because it is plastic, when incinerated it results in the release of toxic fumes, which contribute to pollution levels.

It is, for this reason, we have conscientiously sought after a way to provide more environmentally-friendly mouthpieces. The SteriBreath™ Eco is 100% made from paper and therefore it is 100% recyclable and 100% biodegradable, including its packaging. Even better, all the materials are from sustainable sources, meaning we are reducing our carbon footprint in even the production phase. It’s going to be a difficult journey to change the norm of consumables in the medical device industry, but like the story of the butterfly effect, the smallest changes can have the biggest impacts.

The NObreath Fractional exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) monitor from Bedfont is being used in a novel study to see if FeNO levels are affected by COVID-19

Testing has started at the Hospital Policlin São José dos Campos in Brazil to establish what effect SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19) has on FeNO levels, and if measuring FeNO can act as a biomarker of prognosis for COVID-19 patients. The study, conducted by Professor Rodolfo de Paula Vieira, uses the NObreath® FeNO monitor from Bedfont Scientific Ltd. to take measurements during the initial consultation, together with other parameters.

Prof. de Paula Vieira explains, “High levels of FeNO have been associated with bronchial inflammation, remodeling (fibrosis) and hyperresponsiveness in asthmatic patients, and especially asthma severity and prognosis. Thus, due to the nature of the inflammatory and rapid fibrotic process found in COVID-19 patients, we hypothesized that COVID-19 patients could present high levels of FeNO at the beginning of the disease. In addition, some mild and moderate symptomatic patients presenting COVID-19 symptoms have come to the hospital and some of them develop the severe form of COVID-19. The study will evaluate the possible correlation between FeNO levels with the progression of severe COVID-19 patients and if a correlation can be found between FeNO and the progression and severity of COVID-19, FeNO could be introduced to general practice for initial trial of individuals with COVID-19 symptoms, aiming to permit an early medical intervention to avoid the illness becoming more severe.”

Managing Director, Jason Smith, says, “We have been working with Professor de Paula Vieira for some time now and are privileged to have him and his enthusiastic team on our Medical Advisory Board. We have collated as much clinical theory as possible on this subject; some suggest FeNO levels could rise some suggesting it could fall, but as this virus is very new and novel there really is no replacement for targeted testing which we believe will be the first of its kind.”