Innovative pressure scanner wins Product of the Year at regional awards ceremony

Recognised for its pioneering results, the SEM Scanner from BBI Europe has been awarded Product of the Year at the 18th annual Bionow Awards in Cheshire.

Leaders and innovators in North England’s life sciences industry were acknowledged by their peers at the Bionow awards ceremony for their application of cutting edge technologies.

The SEM Scanner is a hand-held, portable, skin tissue assessment device that measures sub-epidermal moisture (also known as localised oedema), which is an invisible precursor to the development of incipient pressure damage. It is the only CE Marked and FDA authorised device for pressure ulcer risk assessment.

Figures from BBI estimate that one out of every 22 people in England currently have an open wound on their skin caused by a pressure ulcer.

On the 16th of November, the 2019 Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Ulcers/Injuries: Clinical Practice Guideline introduced a new evidence-based recommendation to “consider using a sub-epidermal moisture/edema measurement device as an adjunct to routine clinical assessment.” 

On winning the Product of the Year Award, Kate Hancock, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at BBI, said: “I am delighted that the SEM Scanner has been awarded the Product of the Year – however it is important to thank the involvement of all the researchers and healthcare practitioners that have contributed to the success of the SEM Scanner to date.”

At the beginning of 2019, the SEM Scanner was proven to result in an 86 percent reduction in hospital acquired pressure ulcers. When the pioneering device was used as an adjunct to current standard of care, it was found to detect tissue damage on the sacrum and heels five days on average before it becomes visible on the skin surface.

Geoff Davison, CEO of Bionow, added: “The work undertaken by all our winners and nominees in the past year has been truly inspiring, and leaves me in doubt our sector is well placed to drive forward disruptive and pioneering products, treatments and developments that will vastly improve lives around the world.”

Bionow supports business growth and innovation within the biomedical and life science sectors across Northern England. Its membership services add value and cost-efficiency to scientific, clinical and business operations within early stage and growth-oriented firms.