“Patient safety and infection control are critical for hospitals and healthcare providers to produce the best possible outcomes for patients and avoid preventable infections and errors. This list examines technology and products designed to disinfect medical instruments and operating rooms, reduce preventable complications, stop the spread of germs and make surgery safer for patients.
The products featured here include UV disinfectants, catheters and central lines, disinfectants and detergents, hand hygiene products, health technology, reprocessing, products for surgical procedures and textiles among other items designed for infection control.
The Becker’s Healthcare editorial team developed this list based on nominations and internal research. Companies do not pay and cannot pay for inclusion on this list. Products are listed in alphabetical order by category.”
Cupron Partner: Under Armour Debuts Cupron Enhanced Boxer Jock
This month Under Armour debuted a new version of their best selling men’s boxer jock featuring Cupron’s antifungal technology. The boxer jock is available in sizes from XS-5XL and a variety of colors from various retail outlets selling the UA brand. The product description:
Cupron AntiFungal Pro Fibers kill 99.9% of the jock itch fungus (T. mentagrophtes) after 12 hours of contact with fibers. Lightweight, smooth HeatGear fabric & articulated mesh fly panel. 4-way stretch construction moves better in every direction. Material wicks sweat & dries really fast.
Cupron Partner: Netafim USA’s Techline® HCVXR Landscape Dripline Wins People’s Choice Award at 2016 Irrigation Show
FRESNO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Netafim USA, the leading provider of innovative drip irrigation solutions for landscape and agriculture applications, announced today that its industry-leading Techline HCVXR landscape dripline has won the 2016 Irrigation Show People’s Choice Award in the Landscape Irrigation category of the New Product Contest. The People’s Choice award, given annually since 2012, recognizes the most innovative products released in the last 12 months and is voted on by attendees at the Irrigation Association Show and Education Conference, which was held this year in Las Vegas from December 5-8, 2016.
“We’re delighted to be recognized by the Irrigation Association and industry colleagues for HCVXR, as it sets a new standard for innovation with its unparalleled features, functions, and attributes, many of which are found in Netafim’s agricultural-grade driplines”
The latest addition to the best-selling line of landscape dripline, Netafim’s Techline HCVXR is the only landscape dripline that infuses Cupron® copper oxide directly into the mold of each emitter to provide a long lasting root barrier for subsurface drip irrigation systems. By embedding copper oxide into the material used to create each emitter during the manufacturing process, the dripline’s root resistant properties will not wash off or migrate out of the emitter after years of use.
In the Media: Cupron Moves Into Larger Space
Cupron is moving from a 2,000-square-foot office at the Biotech Center to a facility in the Interport Business Park near Richmond International Airport. The facility has 3,000 square feet of office space and 11,000 square feet of warehouse space, according to an announcement Wednesday from the Virginia Biotechnology Research Park.
In a statement, Cupron’s chief executive officer, Chris Andrews, said the company’s time working at the Biotechnology Park has been “invaluable.”
“Now, as we transition from clinical to commercial deployment on a broad scale and geographies, Cupron needs to occupy its own commercial space with expanded logistical capabilities,” Andrews said.
“It is a tremendous milestone for Cupron, and we appreciate all of the support from the Research Park that has been critical to getting us here,” he said.”
A Large-Scale, Multi-Site Test of Cupron Antimicrobial-Protected Materials
Sentara Healthcare, Cupron, EOS Surfaces, and Encompass Group are joining together to evaluate the clinical and economic effectiveness of deploying antimicrobial copper-based hard surfaces and textiles in a range of healthcare environments.
This comprehensive program is believed to be the world`s largest hospital evaluation to-date of antimicrobial-protected materials, with the goal of combating the spread of pathogens that are known to contribute to healthcare infections. Cupron-Enhanced EOS Surfaces and Cupron-enhanced textiles will be evaluated at multiple sites, including a new 250-bed acute-care facility, to assess the improvement of patient outcomes and the reduction of healthcare costs.
This large-scale program will include the installation of more than 15,000 horizontal square feet of patent-pending Cupron-Enhanced EOS Surfaces. The antimicrobial hard surfaces will be installed on virtually all clinical and patient room surfaces. Textiles manufactured by the Encompass Group will be used for patient bed linens, patient gowns and other textiles.
The trial will initiate this April at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, followed by a large-scale study that will take place at Sentara Leigh Hospital in Norfolk, Va., where a series of acute care towers are now under construction. The first Cupron-enhanced units are slated to open in Q4 2013. The existing acute care tower without any Cupron-enhanced surfaces or textiles will serve as the comparative. Additional studies are planned for various long-term care facilities and outpatient centers.
Cupron received the Virginia Governor’s Award for Science Innovation for 2013
Governor McDonnell Announces Virginia’s Outstanding Scientists and the Governor’s Award for Science Innovation for 2013
RICHMOND – Governor Bob McDonnell and Science Museum of Virginia Chief Wonder Officer Richard C. Conti are pleased to announce Virginia’s Outstanding Scientists of 2013 and the recipient of the governor’s Award for Science Innovation presented by Altria. Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling will present the awards at the Science Museum of Virginia’s General Assembly Reception tomorrow, Thursday, January 17, at 6 p.m.
“I am honored to recognize Virginia’s top science talents for 2013,” said Governor McDonnell. “This year’s outstanding scientists are known worldwide for their contributions in predicting forest development, growth and yield, and for becoming the world’s foremost expert in the field of biomineralization. The company receiving the Governor’s Award for Science Innovation has developed technology that uses copper to enhance everything from footwear, clothing and cosmetics to hard surfaces. I hope that their creativity, contributions and dedication will inspire other Virginians in their scientific studies and pursuits.”
Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling said, “On behalf of the Governor, I am pleased to present Virginia’s Outstanding Scientist Awards and the Governor’s Award for Science Innovation again this year. These recipients have exhibited un-paralleled ingenuity and creativity to advance discoveries benefiting not only Virginians but citizens around the word. Their scientific research is further proof that Virginia’s science sector and research universities are continuing to thrive and grow and will help drive Virginia’s economy into the future.”
“Once again we have a chance to recognize globally significant scientific research taking place across Virginia,” said Conti. “These individuals are improving our quality of life through their stellar accomplishments.”
Governor’s Award for Science Innovation presented by Altria
Cupron Inc.
A private global company based in Richmond, Virginia, and Israel, Cupron is the developer of a proprietary and patented technology that transforms regular products into extraordinary ones by introducing the unique properties of copper, an essential element of the human body.
Cupron Enhanced products — including hard surfaces, footwear, clothing and cosmetics — are helping to improve people’s lives in the consumer, industrial, military and healthcare fields. Whether it is a hospital sheet that is turned into an antimicrobial device, military socks that extend soldier field time or a pillowcase that is turned into a cosmetic device — Cupron improves the quality of life.
In 2010, the world followed the amazing story of 33 Chilean miners who were trapped in a collapsed mine, 2000 feet underground, for 69 days. The physical conditions they encountered in the mine — dirt, high temperature and high humidity — were an ideal environment for fungal and bacterial growth. Cupron Enhanced antimicrobial socks were supplied to the trapped miners through the capsule on day 36 of their ordeal and protected them until their rescue. Cupron’s humanitarian help received headlines around the world.
Cupron and EOS Surfaces, a solid surface manufacturer, jointly received EPA approval to make a Public Health Claim that their copper-enhanced material can kill greater than 99.9% of Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria within two hours of exposure, including MRSA, one of the most common strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Cupron has microbiologists, virologists and chemical scientists working in U.S. and Israel-based laboratories. With these resources, Cupron constantly invests in expanding the technology’s boundaries and constantly researches new antimicrobial skin enhancement applications for copper.
For full article click here.
Helping the Chilean Miners
October 2010
Cupron’s socks were given to the Chilean miners on day 36 of them being trapped in the mines playing a major role in protecting the miners’ feet and helping enhance their well-being. We are proud to be part of this touching humanitarian story and be able to improve lives where and when it counts the most.
September 2011
The heroic rescue of 33 Chilean miners is featured in a new Smithsonian exhibit opened in August 2011 and will be on display indefinitely. The Cupron Enhanced socks could also be found in the exhibit itself, as well as in the museum’s store
January 2012
In January 2012 Cupron’s help to the Chilean miners got scientific recognition and a study that was done on the miner’s condition was published in the prestigious medical journal ג€“ Archives of Dermatology published by the American Medical Association. The study examined the effect of the socks on the wellbeing of the trapped miners and details how the socks helped them to fight foot fungus. In most cases the different symptoms significantly improved/resolved within 4 to 7 days. This is another support to the effectiveness of our technology, and a scientific recognition to the humanitarian help we provided to the miners in time of need. Please contact us to get a copy of the article.
First hospital in the world to update its textiles to Cupron’s
Reuth Medical Center and Cupron Sign Agreement to Supply Textiles Following Successful Clinical Trial
Cupron Inc., and Reuth Medical Center in Tel Aviv, Israel, announced that the hospital will be updating all of its patient-related hospital textiles to Cupron’s copper-embedded products later this summer. It will be the world’s first hospital to fully deploy copper-embedded textiles.
The decision by Reuth Medical Center, following a six-month trial of copper-embedded linens supplied by Cupron for investigatory purposes, was based on the significant clinical improvement seen across several hospital benchmarks. The evaluation took place in the 35-bed head injury ward of the Reuth Rehabilitation Center in Tel Aviv, where during two separate six-month periods, Cupron’s copper-embedded products were compared against the standard linens and textiles the hospital was using.
“Based on the impressive results of the clinical trial, both in terms of the patient benefit and the potential this technology has to reduce costs, the decision to purchase Cupron’s textiles for use throughout the hospital was clear,” said Dr. Nissim Ohana, Director General of Reuth Medical Center. “Cupron’s copper-based products were a simple solution that didn’t require any additional steps to our normal hospital procedures. It turned out that ordinary products used daily in the hospital could transform to extraordinary ones and provide a safer environment to the patient.”
For centuries, copper has been used as an anti-bacterial agent. Other research studies have shown copper to effectively reduce the incidence of healthcare-associated infections by reducing cross contamination, preventing the colonization of pathogens, and efficaciously killing bacteria on a wide range of touch surfaces.
“Given the need to control healthcare costs, while at the same time improve patient care and safety, the healthcare industry is actively exploring the use of innovative copper-based solutions,” said Paul Rocheleau, Chairman of Cupron. “Because our technology can be embedded into such a diverse range of products including hospital linens, Cupron, and our partners, are able to supply hospitals like Reuth Medical Center with a comprehensive set of products aimed at better protecting their patients and staff.”
Results from the study will be made public later this month at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases in Berlin.
About Reuth Medical Center
Reuth Medical Center is a university affiliated state-of-the-art, 350-bed rehabilitation hospital, the largest of its kind in the Tel Aviv area. Founded in 1961 as a nonprofit, the hospital has not only kept pace with the latest developments in medical treatment and society’s changing needs but now prides itself on leading the field of rehabilitation in, literally, rebuilding lives.
Reuth Medical Center provides medical, rehabilitative and complex medical nursing care to adults, the elderly, children and infants. Known for high professional standards and a warm, supportive atmosphere, Reuth Medical Center offers short-term as well as long-term care. Each year, thousands patients leave the hospital rehabilitated to go home to family and community.
Cupron® and NASA are partnering to test the effectiveness of antimicrobial textiles
Cupron and NASA are partnering to test the effectiveness of antimicrobial textiles in a simulated space environment over a 120-day period as part of NASA’s HI-SEAS program. Cupron will be supplying a head-to-toe range of Cupron-enhanced garments to help determine if antimicrobial textiles can reduce bacterial cross-contamination and limit the amount of space needed to store disposable garments – and their subsequent waste – such as socks and first-layer clothing.
NASA’s HI-SEAS program (Hawai’i Space Exploration Analog and Simulation) is designed to identify many of the risks associated with long-term space exploration and research solutions through a series of missions in a controlled setting here on Earth. The first mission will involve a six-person crew living in the habitat for 120 days under Mars-exploration conditions (e.g. with communication latencies and blackouts, in close quarters, under strict water-use rules, etc.).
One of the HI-SEAS researchers, Dr. Yajaira Sierra Sastre, is conducting a microbiological analysis of the habitat environment, including the evaluation of commercial, off-the-shelf products representing the latest in textile , as part of the HI-SEAS mission. After researching existing available products, Dr. Sastre identified Cupron’s products as the ideal candidates for her study.
For more information click here.
Cupron® Technology Earns Anti-Fungal Public Health Claim
Company’s fibers demonstrate ability to kill 99.99% of athlete’s foot cause in 12 hours
Cupron, creator of a copper-based antimicrobial technology, announced today that its pioneering technology has received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) approval to make a first-of-its-kind Public Health Claim. This is the third EPA Public Health Claim awarded to Cupron and the first highlighting the unique anti-fungal capability of Cupron’s copper-based technology.
In awarding the Public Health Claim, the EPA found that Cupron’s copper-enhanced textile material can kill Trichophyton mentagrophytes, the active fungus in athlete’s foot, by more than 99.9% after 12 hours of contact with the fiber. The unique Public Health Claim covers the use of Cupron anti-fungal fibers in a variety of settings, including socks, shoe inserts and bathmats. The EPA designation allows for a variety of marketing claims (see examples below) that will be used by Cupron and Cupron Enhanced partner products beginning in the near future.
“Fungal skin infections such as athlete’s foot are a common and irritating affliction, a condition that has been difficult to prevent and treat successfully,” said Alastair Monk, Cupron Director of Clinical and Scientific Affairs. “This Public Health Claim by the EPA validates the uniqueness and effectiveness of Cupron’s copper-based fiber technology in killing nearly 100% of the underlying fungal cause of athlete’s foot. This technology significantly expands the options available for foot care.”
Athlete’s foot is a contagious fungal infection of the foot that can cause itching, stinging and burning and can be spread by contact with an infected person, their socks, shoes and contaminated surfaces. Skin fungal infections afflict an estimated 10% to 20% of the U.S. population (between 29 to 59 million individuals) at least once in any given year, with athlete’s foot being the most common[1]. It also has been estimated that up to 70% of the world’s population will experience a cutaneous fungal infection at some point in their lives[2], and 45% of those with athlete’s foot will have recurrent episodes for more than 10 years[3].
In order to submit these claims to the EPA, the textile had to achieve a 100-percent pass rate
at an independent testing facility under the highest laboratory standards. The samples were tested with simulated wear conditions, environmental conditions and cleaning protocols. They also had to maintain their efficacy after repeated exposure.
Cupron developed this material with a range of performance characteristics that provides the mechanical properties of high performance textiles, the aesthetics for design flexibility and high antimicrobial and skin enhancement performance. Cupron technology is different than other antimicrobial fibers due to its performance as demonstrated by multiple public health claims. Because the Cupron technology is embedded within the fiber itself, the material will not lose its effectiveness over time and wear-and-tear.
Cupron-enhanced socks already are issued to select military organizations around the world because of the anti-fungal qualities they possess that can benefit soldiers in the field for multiple days. In 2010, Cupron supplied the trapped Chilean miners with its anti-fungal socks. Although many of the trapped miners had begun to suffer skin-related issues with their feet, upon receiving the Cupron socks, most of the miners saw these problems resolve within a week of wearing the socks.
“We anticipate announcing in the coming months the specific products that will employ the successfully tested Cupron fiber technology,” said Chris Andrews, Cupron President – Americas. “Our initial focus will be on socks and marketed broadly to those who may suffer from athlete’s foot. Cupron’s assistance to the trapped Chilean miners in 2010 illustrated the clear health benefits of the Cupron technology. Today, we have regulatory validation of this as well. We are excited by our partner relationships that will soon bring these benefits to consumers around the world.”
Specifically, the following statements are included in the EPA registration:
- Cupron AntiFungal fibers will assist in reducing the spread of T. mentagrophytes (athlete’s foot fungus)
- Cupron AntiFungal fibers will [reduce, inhibit, suppress, kill] 99.9% of T. mentagrophytes (athlete’s foot fungus) after 12 hours of contact with the [socks, bathmats, shoe inserts]
- Cupron AntiFungal fibers will inhibit the propagation and harboring of T. mentagrophytes on [socks, bathmats, shoe inserts]
- Cupron AntiFungal fibers will help to inhibit the growth of T. mentagrophytes the causative agent of athlete’s foot on [socks, bathmats, shoe inserts]
- Cupron AntiFungal fibers will help to suppress the growth of T. mentagrophytes the fungus that is the causative agent of athlete’s foot on [socks, bathmats, shoe inserts]
- Cupron AntiFungal fibers will [reduce, inhibit, suppress, kill] 99.9% of the T. mentagrophytes (athlete’s foot fungus) on the [socks, bathmats, shoe inserts]
- Cupron AntiFungal fibers will inhibit the growth of T. mentagrophytes, athlete’s foot fungus, on [socks, bathmats, shoe inserts]
- Cupron AntiFungal fibers reduce(s) the spread of T. mentagrophytes, athlete’s foot fungus, on the surface of the sock
- Cupron AntiFungal fibers prevent(s) the growth of 99.9% of T. mentagrophytes, athlete’s foot fungus, on the sock
- Cupron AntiFungal fibers will [reduce, inhibit, suppress, kill] 99.9% of T. mentagrophytes, athlete’s foot fungus, on the [sock, bathmat, shoe inserts]
- Cupron AntiFungal fibers significantly reduce(s) 99.9% of T. mentagrophytes, the fungus that causes athlete’s foot on the sock
[1] Del Rosso JQ. Comprehensive management of patients with superficial fungal infections: the role of sertaconazole nitrate. Cutis 2008; 81(6 suppl):4-18.
[2] Blass B. Managing tinea pedis: lessons from clinical experience. Podiatry Today 2004; 17 (supp):19-25.
[3] Kosinski M, Joseph WS, Markinson B. Advances in the treatment of tinea pedis. Podiatry Management 2007; 229-238.
