Westmead Hospital endorse a new medical device designed to increase blood circulation and prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis

A new medical device, the geko™, designed to increase blood circulation through neuromuscular electro–stimulation to the common peroneal nerve, has received the positive endorsement of Westmead Hospital, New South Wales, as an important new development in the prevention of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT).

Following a recent clinical assessment of the wrist-watch sized, knee-worn device on a number of post-surgical patients at the Westmead Hospital, doctors there now believe the geko™ may be the answer to preventing DVT in patients that currently are not able to tolerate the more traditional pharmacological and mechanical methods of prevention.

Professor John Fletcher, Professor of Surgery at the University of Sydney and Westmead Hospital who ran the clinical assessment over a two month period in 2011 together with Dr Kerry Hitos, says he believes the geko™ fills an important and currently un-met need in the prevention of DVT.
“There is a definite need to have a better way of dealing with patients that are contraindicated to current standard prophylactic modalities and are at high risk of DVT, “he explained, “and this device certainly has the potential to fulfil this need.

“The device was well received by staff, is easy to use and was both comfortable and well tolerated by the patients. We feel its best application would also be for those patients deemed unsuitable for pharmacological or mechanical methods, which is definitely currently an un-met need.”
Current methods for prophylaxis include compression stockings that can be difficult to fit and are uncomfortable for the patient and mechanical Intermittent Pneumatic Compression (IPC) devices that are renowned for being noisy. While pharmacological methods may be a better option for some patients, for others these can also present significant risks, with some patients contraindicated for all the current options and therefore requiring critical and significant observation and monitoring.

“Indeed there are patients that are contraindicated for all the current available methods,” explained Prof Fletcher. “There is no doubt for these patients the geko™ has the potential to resolve this issue.” The geko™ is a simple to use, ‘one size fits all' self-adhesive device with no wires or leads that fits to the back of the knee and delivers painless electrical impulses that gently activate micro-contractions of the calf muscle pumps of the lower leg. Activated by the press of a button it increases blood flow back towards the heart and emulates the blood flow rate normally achieved through walking (up to 70%) without having to move or exert energy.

Noise free and comfortable to wear the device has been developed by Sky Medical Technology Ltd in the UK and is the result of a three year programme of applied research at St Bartholomew’s Hospital and the William Harvey Research Institute, London.

Dr Hitos confirmed that the geko™ is a “welcome device” that she believes also has the potential to improve patient recovery time.

“One of the other advantages to the geko™ is that patients can ambulate with the device on, as opposed to other current methods,” she explained. “This potentially can mean that recovery times are improved, which is of course both good for the patient and for the hospital.”

Following a health economic assessment of the geko™ device, Brian Wynn, Head of the UK National Innovation Centre (NIC), says “the geko™ has the potential to help save lives and considerable money for the NHS”. The device is CE marked under the Medical Devices Directive and is registered with the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration.

With nearly 15,000 people affected by DVT in Australia each year, sole distributor of the device in Australia and Managing Director of the highly respected Queensland medical and surgical supplies company, Medical and Surgical Requisites (MSR), Geoff Bailey, says that the geko™ is expected to be a valuable addition to any hospital.

“We know that DVT is a very serious problem, particularly for patients that may have to spend prolonged periods immobilised post-surgery,” he said. “The geko™ device means less inventory and medical profession training in comparison to current available DVT prevention methods which has to be a positive for any hospital.

“We are very pleased by the results of the clinical assessment at Westmead Hospital and believe this is just the beginning for of what will prove to be a very significant new piece of medical equipment.” More detail about the geko™ device can be found at www.gekodevices.com and about MSR at www.medsurg.com.au.

The geko™ device is not approved by the US FDA and is not available for sale in the USA