Study finds demand for trauma trays
Uvamed, manufacturers of Rainbow Trays and Tamper Evident Rainbow Trays for anaesthetic drugs, has won an Innovate UK award to develop the Trauma Tray procedure-pack/crash-box.
Trauma Trays are secure and auditable complete procedure packs for use away from regular hospital environments such as rescue services, ambulances, field hospitals, care homes and in emergency departments. The secure tray packs will contain all equipment, supplies and where appropriate the drugs required to perform procedures in remote locations.
A usability study led by TM-MIC/MD-TEC (Trauma Management MedTech Cooperative/Medical Devices Testing and Evaluation Centre), sought specialist opinion from a select group of healthcare professionals working within the field of anaesthesia, regarding imagined use of the product outside of their typical working environment for RSI (Rapid Sequence Induction) procedures. The study suggested a good level of demand and acceptance for the Trauma Tray concept, yielding many key insights for consideration.
Other healthcare professionals have provided significant and effective feedback into the Trauma Tray design, use, function and suitability, the value of which has been fundamental to creating a product that will address the needs of healthcare professionals in their working environments.
Bev Fawdington, director at Uvamed, said: “The feedback we have received from healthcare professionals will augment the basic principles of the Rainbow Trays including the Tamper Evident version, to include colour coding, compartmentalisation, order of progression and secure tamper-proofing with chain of custody auditable labelling.
“Our Trauma Trays aim to support professionals when stressed or fatigued at work, providing comprehensive procedure packs that include all equipment, supplies and drugs for use in ambulances, hospitals and communities, especially where surroundings are unfamiliar, and communication is restricted.”
Procedures identified that could benefit from a Trauma Tray include: Routine IV cannulation; arterial/central line insertion; Tracheotomy; RSI or basic suturing kits.
Funding from the UK Innovate project has allowed Uvamed to develop Trauma Trays to a level where they have two tray types ready for evaluation by end users. An IV cannulation tray for use in a wide range of applications, and a more complex Central Venous Catheter tray to demonstrate the robustness of the design for both simple and complex procedures. Moving forward the company plans to design trays for more procedures including RSI and tracheostomy.