This month, CS Medical is excited to be releasing our newest addition to your toolkit for transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) ultrasound probe reprocessing: TDefender Distal Tip Protector. This latest innovation is designed to protect TEE probes during transportation to and from the procedure room.
To use TDefender, simply place it over the distal tip of a TEE probe and squeeze the two sides of the device together. Once you hear the clicking sound indicating the TDefender is locked in place, the probe is ready to be loaded into a transportation device, like the TPorter. TDefender comfortably fits over the PullUp Probe Cover and the Bio-Barrier Sleeve. Single-use TDefenders can be used to transport a clean probe to the procedure room and then to transport the now-soiled probe back for reprocessing. In an effort to ensure clean and soiled probes are never confused and to assist with compliance, TDefender also comes equipped with tabs to indicate whether a probe is clean or dirty. After use, dispose of the TDefender as normal office waste.
To some, employing the use of TDefender may seem like overkill when it comes to protecting TEE probes. The fact of the matter is that TEE probes are incredibly delicate instruments. The probe's acoustic array is housed within the distal tip. The acoustic array is made up of piezoelectric crystals which are as fragile as glass. Just a few bumps against the highly sensitive distal tip could mean diminished image quality and, eventually, very costly repairs or even replacement.
According to Acertara Labs, one of the nation's top probe repair providers, probes which are not adequately cared for are often replaced or repaired as often as every six to nine months. Each of these events can cost an average of $21,000, adding up significantly over the typical ten-year lifespan of a ultrasound system. Using these numbers, the cost of just one single repair or replacement covers the cost of literally thousands of TDefenders. Utilizing these handy little devices can save your facility tens of thousands of dollars over the course of each TEE probe's lifespan.
Devices like TDefender work to keep costs down at your facility. This not only saves your facility from unnecessary expenditures, but it can help keep healthcare costs down for patients. Considering the ever-increasing cost of healthcare, every effort to keep costs low makes a difference.
