Medela Professional Vacuum System products are designed for high safety protection. With over 60 years of expertise in suction technology, Medela has continually enhanced its portfolio to provide optimal safety and care for both patients and healthcare professionals.
Addressing Key Challenges in Infection Prevention
Infection prevention remains a top priority in hospital environments due to factors such as:
- Increasing awareness about the risk of infection after COVID-19
- Optimizing hygiene standards in hospitals
- Breakdown of central wall vacuum systems
- Patient safety and healthcare professional protection protocols
To meet these challenges, Medela offers high-performance vacuum systems designed for superior care and protection:
1. Mobile Surgical and Airway Suction Devices: Dominant Flex, Basic, and Vario 18 pumps (a safer and more flexible alternative to wall suction systems).
2. Comprehensive Consumables Portfolio: Includes collection systems, accessories, and Vacuum-Assisted Delivery solutions.
3. Robust Technical Service Support: 24-hour feedback response, service training, a 5-year warranty, and a spare parts catalog.
How Medela’s Professional Vacuum System (PVS) Minimizes Infection Risk
Medela’s PVS portfolio is designed with advanced safety features to reduce contamination risks effectively:
- Overflow Protection Safety Set: In case of backflow, the safety set protects the pump from fluid entering and contamination.
- Virus Filter: Medela virus filters filter 99.99% of tiny particles, including viruses as small as 0.03 μm in diameter.
- Solidifier Bag: Disposable liners with solidifier bags minimize splashes, spills, and aerosolization of biomedical waste, reducing exposure risks. In some regions, this enables the disposal of canisters as non-regulated waste, significantly lowering disposal costs (subject to local regulations).
- Sterile Tubing: Disposable sterile tubing ensures hygienic system setup in operating rooms, adhering to infection control protocols.
- Patient Backflow Valve: Integrated into both disposable and reusable collection systems to prevent fluid backflow and overflow, enhancing safety for patients and healthcare professionals.
What Does the Expert Say?
Prof. Dr. MSc Andreas Widmer
Founder and president of the Swiss National Center for Infection Prevention (www.swissnoso.ch) and President of the National Center for Infection Prevention at the Public Health Services Bern
“Medela’s PVS, designed with advanced infection prevention measures, helps reduce the contamination points and surface contact associated with device use. Compared to wall-mounted suction systems, which can be more prone to contamination in certain environments (e.g., isolation rooms), PVS's flexibility and ease of cleaning contribute to reducing the spread of infections.
Mobile vacuum pumps are crucial because of their flexibility, particularly in older hospitals where retrofitting wall systems is costly. They are also more practical for outpatient or temporary care settings, which are becoming more common due to changes in healthcare policies.
Medela's products are seen as a “state-of-the-art” solution that excels in infection prevention compared to competitors. While financial constraints may prevent hospitals from easily switching, the quality and infection prevention capabilities of PVS are widely acknowledged.”
