Fenwal, a global medical technology company focused on improving blood collection, to ensure the availability, safety and effectiveness of blood components, received FDA clearance for wireless data export on the Fenwal AMICUS system, which is used to collect platelets, and the Fenwal AUTOPHERESIS-C system, which collects plasma. Now, the FDA granted Fenwal 510 k clearance to market its ALYX component collection system with new wireless data export capabilities.
Unique in offering data export capabilities designed for open-source compatibility with blood and plasma center information systems, Fenwal is greatly committed to transfusion medicine.
The ALYX system that recently received FDA clearance is a mobile blood component collection device used primarily to collect red blood cells. In less than 30 minutes, the ALYX system can collect two units of red cells from a single donor. By adding wireless data export capabilities, information about donation procedures on mobile and fixed-site drives can be accessed. This enables professionals to track and improve blood center performance and also enhance the experience of donors.
Scheduled for release in the first half of 2011, the Fenwal data exchange system will allow centers to create customized reports with regard to procedure and other data from the ALYX system. Information thus obtained can be directed to enhancing operator and system performance.
In a press release, William H. Cork, chief technology officer for Fenwal, said, "In providing data export for apheresis systems, our objective is to help the professionals who collect blood and plasma to improve how they work, optimizing their productivity and offering a positive experience for donors."
Cork emphasized the importance of blood collectors to the nation's blood supply system, and re-iterated Fenwal's dedicated support to their mission. As the ALYX system was used in many different settings outside blood centers, the existence of wireless capability was helpful to forward information about mobile collection, allowing centers to gain new insight into the efficiency on mobile blood drives.
Fenwal became an independent company in 2007, and is based in Lake Zurich, Illinois, but its roots go back to 1949 with the founding of Fenwal Laboratories. Today, the company's products and advanced collection and separation technologies are used to help treat patients on six continents.
In a related news release, Fenwal, Inc. and Healthcare-ID announced they are collaborating to develop and market productivity-enhancing software applications. The applications will be designed to improve blood center productivity and regulatory compliance, while reducing errors associated with current manual processes for recording donor and procedure data.
Mini Swamy is a contributing editor for HealthTechZone. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.Edited by
Jaclyn Allard
