Augustine wrapping up warming blanket market with new cardiac blanket – Augustine Medical Inc
Augustine Medical Inc. has developed a product designed to reduce temperature drops in patients during cardiac surgery, and the new product complements its existing lines of forced air warming blankets. Temperature drops as small as 1.5 degrees Celsius could interrupt a patient’s vital functions. Eden Prairie, Minn.-based Augustine introduced the new sterile blanket, called the Bair Hugger[R] Model 630 Cardiac Blanket, in July.
Augustine says the Model 630 is designed as a foldout blanket that allows for application during patient prepping while keeping the product out of the clinicians’ way during a surgical procedure. The 60[inches]x30[inches] blanket weighs only 8 ounces.
The company is targeting cardiac anesthesiologists, perfusionists, the cardiac surgical team and cardiovascular intensive care unit nurses as buyers and product decision-makers for the Model 630. To reach those professionals, Augustine has mounted a marketing campaign utilizing four-color product literature, direct sales and product brochures. Plans for a journal ad campaign are still in the formulation stage.
The product will be displayed at several trade shows, starting with the American Society of Anesthesiologists (this month in Orlando, Fla.), and the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists annual meeting next April in Seattle.
Augustine is also offering the Model 640 Blanket, a similar, but non-sterile product designed to warm the lower extremities of patients during cardiac surgery.
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