SMARTERIALS TECHNOLOGY

Smarterials Technology GmbH was supported by Phase II of the SME Instrument by the European Commission... Injuries caused by needlesticks and sharp instruments are one of the most common and serious risks to healthcare workers in Europe and worldwide. Infections, which can be potentially transferred, include Hepatitis B/C and HIY Healthcare professionals protect their hands from the imminent dangers inherent in operating rooms by wearing two pairs of gloves, the so- called double-gloving. The use of double-gloving provides an extra barrier to contamination. More sophisticated systems integrate a perforation indicator, which warns in case of breach of the gloves. As a downside, these systems suffer from cumbersome donning, increased pressure on the hands and poor tactile sense, while the amount of contaminated hospital waste is piling up. The team at Smarterials Technology has developed a technology which integrates the benefits and functionality of double-gloving into single gloves...