A member of the Reviews in Obstetrics & Gynecology editorial board reviewed the following devices. The views of the author are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Reviews in Obstetrics & Gynecology or MedReviews®, LLC.
Design/Functionality Scale
1 = Poor design; Many deficits
2 = Solid design; Many deficits
3 = Good design; Few flaws
4 = Excellent design; Few flaws
5 = Excellent design; Flaws not apparent
Innovation Scale
1 = Nothing new
2 = Small twist on standard technology
3 = Major twist on standard technology
4 = Significant new technology
5 = Game changer
Value Scale
1 = Added cost with limited benefit
2 = Added cost with some benefit
3 = Added cost but significant benefit
4 = Marginal added cost but significant benefit
5 = Significant cost savings
Overall Scale
1 = Don’t bother
2 = Niche product
3 = Worth a try
4 = Must try
5 = Must have
Design/Functionality: 4.8
Innovation: 2
Value: 2
Overall Score: 4
Background
History is chock full of great combinations. Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh-Jennings. Peanut butter and jelly. Airplane seats and television monitors. When putting together a combination, the creator needs to answer only one basic question: Is the sum greater than the parts? In that vein, SurgiMark, Inc. (Yakima, WA) has thrown into the day-to-day fray of operating rooms everywhere the combination of Yankauer and Poole.
Design/Functionality
The Via-Guard® Suction Set is really clever in its simplicity. The base suction tip component is more or less the standard Yankauer tip we have all come to know and love. But, instead of disconnecting the Yankauer tip and replacing it with a separate Poole suction tip, the Via-Guard has a flexible, polyvinyl chloride Poole suction sheath that slips over the Yankauer tip and conforms to its shape. In trial use in the operating room, the Via-Guard Suction Set worked perfectly. Slip the cover on—it’s a Poole sucker. Take it off—it’s a Yankauer tip. Pretty simple.
Design/Functionality Score: 4.8
Innovation
Via-Guard is more or less a suction slip-cover. That’s it. No fancy electronics or software. No extreme titanium alloy microfabrication.
Innovation Score: 2
Value
Via-Guard is reasonably priced. However, disposable plastic Yankauer and Poole suckers are generally commodity items that are typically bundle priced for hospitals by their suppliers. Thus, even with its low price, Via-Guardcould be relatively expensive for your hospital. If you can get your operating room supplier to bundle price it, absolutely go for it!
Value Score: 2
Summary
The Via-Guard Suction Set is so simple it is a wonder this is a new invention rather than the standard. By every reasonable criterion, if the cost is the same, I cannot imagine why anyone would use two separate suction tips when this product is available. It’s less inventory, easier to switch back and forth, and a cool blue color.
Overall Score: 4
Via-Guard® Suction Set. Image courtesy of SurgiMark, Inc. (Yakima, WA).
Footnotes
Dr. Greenberg reports no personal financial relationships with any of the companies whose products he reviews in this column.