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COVID-19: Delta Variant

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Since 2019, COVID-19 has become a significant part of our lives. As we try to adjust to our new way of life, our knowledge surrounding covid-19 and how we must adapt and innovate as a company significantly grows. Science is amazing! and the fact that we have access to so many resources and tools helping us understand and develop solutions to beat this virus just goes to show how far we have come as a society with technology, however sometimes we can become overwhelmed with the sheer volume of information around the COVID-19 topic, and it can become hard to digest, especially when we hear about new scary variants of COVID-19 rampant throughout our communities. Therefore we aim to settle your fears and concerns surrounding the COVID-19 delta variant, and the steps our company has taken to protect and reduce this new risk to you, so you can continue to use your monitors to provide that much needed support to your patients.

The virus, COVID-19, belongs to the Coronaviridae family, their shape is typically spherical with crown-like spikes on the outer surface1. This family of viruses are generally 125nm in diameter, but can be as small as 65nm1.  Viruses are renowned for mutating quickly3, in fact COVID-19 is described as having a relatively sluggish mutation rate in comparison to other established viruses2, however researchers have catalogued more than 12,000 mutations since the start of the pandemic2.

It is important to note a great majority of these mutations will have no consequence to the viruses’ ability to spread or cause disease2.  Some variants will however be significant, with the variant of concern being the COVID-19 Delta variant, warned by scientists over the world to be considerably more transmissible and contagious than other COVID variants.

The delta variant has a combination of (not limited to) two key mutations;

  1. A mutation at location 452 of the spike protein allows this particular variant of COVID-19 to bind more effectively to the ACE2 receptor protein, a protein found on the surface of the lung, meaning the virus can invade cells more effectively in comparison to other COVID-19 variants4.
  2. Mutation at position 478 on delta variant spikes which enables the virus to evade weak neutralising anti-bodies4.

The combination of the above mutations coupled with original mutations from the original virus makes for the delta variant to become a variant of considerable concern globally. However, Bedfont® Scientific has independently tested our mouthpiece filters to filter viruses as small as 24 nanometres5. In comparison, the model virus used to filter viruses are significantly smaller than the approximate size of viruses from the Coronaviridae family. The virus model used to test Bedfont®’s mouthpiece filters are incredibly penetrable, even more so than a majority of human viruses, therefore makes it a very effective model to use for virus filtration efficiency (VFE) testing.

In conclusion, Bedfont® can deduce that there is no current evidence to suggest the delta variants approximate size has significantly changed or is a significantly different size in other COVID variants of concern, and therefore the testing conducted on our mouthpiece filters is still effective. We maintain that bacterial and viral pathogens (including Delta variant COVID-19) will effectively be removed by both the D-piece™ and OneBreath™ mouthpiece filter at an efficiency rate of >99% (bacteria) and >97% (viruses), and >99% (bacteria) and >98% (viruses) for the Second Generation NObreath® mouthpiece filter.  

References:

  1. Shereen M, Khan S, Kazmi A, Bashir N, Siddique R. COVID-19 infection: Emergence, transmission, and characteristics of human coronaviruses. Journal of Advanced Research. 2020;24:91-98.
  2.  Callaway E. The coronavirus is mutating — does it matter? [Internet]. Nature.com. 2021 [cited 14 July 2021]. Available from: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02544-6
  3. Grubaugh N, Petrone M, Holmes E. We shouldn’t worry when a virus mutates during disease outbreaks. 2021.
  4. Mishra S. The Delta variant is spreading fast, especially where vaccination rates are low [Internet]. Science. 2021 [cited 14 July 2021]. Available from: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/the-delta-variant-is-serious-heres-why-its-on-the-rise
  5. Berkeywaterkb.com. 2020. Is The MS2 – Fr Coliphage Still Known To Be A Good Indicator Of Virus Filtration? Do You Have Tests On Any Other Viruses? – Berkey Knowledge Base. [online] Available at: http://berkeywaterkb.com/is-the-ms2-fr-coliphage-still-known-to-be-a-good-indicator-of-virus-filtration-at-least-one-article-suggests-that-it-might-not-be-do-you-have-tests-on-any-other-viruses/#:~:text=The MS-2 virus is 24-26,both referenced on the chart [Accessed 12 June 2020].
  1.  Grubaugh N, Petrone M, Holmes E. We shouldn’t worry when a virus mutates during disease outbreaks. 2021.
  2. Mishra S. The Delta variant is spreading fast, especially where vaccination rates are low [Internet]. Science. 2021 [cited 14 July 2021]. Available from: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/the-delta-variant-is-serious-heres-why-its-on-the-rise
  3. Berkeywaterkb.com. 2020. Is The MS2 – Fr Coliphage Still Known To Be A Good Indicator Of Virus Filtration? Do You Have Tests On Any Other Viruses? – Berkey Knowledge Base. [online] Available at: http://berkeywaterkb.com/is-the-ms2-fr-coliphage-still-known-to-be-a-good-indicator-of-virus-filtration-at-least-one-article-suggests-that-it-might-not-be-do-you-have-tests-on-any-other-viruses/#:~:text=The MS-2 virus is 24-26,both referenced on the chart [Accessed 12 June 2020].

Apply for your NObreath FeNO breath monitor today and optimise patient asthma care

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NHS Organisations can apply for funding from the Pathway Transformation Fund (PTF) to obtain a NObreath® used for asthma diagnosis and management.

The NObreath® FeNO monitor from Bedfont® Scientific Ltd. has been included on the Rapid Uptake Products (RUPs) scheme by the NHS Accelerated Access Collaborative (AAC). One of the potential benefits of being part of the RUP programme is that NHS organisations can apply for a one-off funding from the Pathway Transformation Fund (PTF) to fund adoption through a competitive process.

The RUP programme is a partnership between the AAC, it’s 15 AHSN delivery partners, and a range of  several patient groups, government bodies, and NHS bodies, who work together to help the adoption of new innovations in healthcare. The AAC identifies products with NICE approval, such as the NObreath® FeNO monitor, and supports them by helping these innovative products integrate into everyday practice.

The NObreath® FeNO monitor, from Bedfont®, is a quick, simple and non-invasive breath analysis monitor to aid in asthma diagnosis and management, providing a better procedure for both the GP and the patient. FeNO has often been described as the missing piece of the jigsaw; using it alongside existing asthma criteria aids in identifying patients who do/do not require on-going treatment1, whilst also differentiating between allergic (eosinophilic) and non-allergic asthma2, and if used daily, FeNO measurements can help to predict exacerbations and attacks3.

Jason Smith, Managing Director at Bedfont®, explains, “Using FeNO measurements to evaluate airway inflammation in asthma represents a significant advance in respiratory medicine. We’re very excited to have the NObreath® on the RUP scheme and look forward to making a difference in asthma care. Bedfont® will be hosting a series of free webinars to help integrate NObreath® into NHS services and provide help with PTF applications.”

To sign up for the first webinar, Optimising Asthma Care in Patients using FeNO, follow this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMlce-opzwjGdYc78uXtWPkHIsfbrIAhe8c

The deadline for submitting PTF applications to support the spread and adoption of FeNO testing is 30th April 2021. It is recommended that applications are submitted with the support of your local Academic Health Science Network (AHSN) RUP lead. For more information on how to apply, please contact aac.innovation@nhs.net.

Bedfont signs first Smokerlyzer Medical Advisory Board

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Smoking in Pregnancy Midwife, Faye Ballard, joins Bedfont’s Medical Advisory Board for No Smoking Day 2021

First established in 1984, No Smoking Day is a health awareness day, which is intended to help smokers who want to quit smoking. Medical device manufacturer, Bedfont Scientific Ltd., which manufactures the Smokerlyzer used by Stop Smoking Advisors, is promoting No Smoking Day with the help of their first Smokerlyzer Medical Advisory Board member, Faye Ballard.

Faye is the lead research Midwife for the Smoking in Pregnancy Incentive Research Trial at Poole Hospital (University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust) and is part of the Bournemouth University Research COMPAQS team: CO Monitoring Pregnancy Aid to Quit Smoking. Having qualified with an Advanced Diploma in Midwifery in 2001 from Bournemouth University, Faye has over 23 years’ experience working in the NHS.

Faye Ballard comments, “I am excited to be joining Bedfont Scientific Ltd.’s Scientific Advisory Panel and exploring what we can learn from each other. I look forward to working together with other leading experts in this field and enhancing patient care. Now is an important time to quit smoking – it can make you healthier, wealthier and happier. In pregnancy quitting smoking reduces miscarriages, still births and low birth weight. Even if you have smoked for many years, it’s never too late to quit and it brings physical and mental health benefits across all ages.”

Jason Smith, Managing Director at Bedfont, adds, “No Smoking Day couldn’t be a better time to introduce Faye. We are delighted to be working with a key specialist in smoking cessation, and we hope to promote the benefits of quitting smoking together.”

Bedfont expands its reach in the Middle East by obtaining registration for its Gastro+™ Gastrolyzer®

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Bedfont’s breath analysis medical device for helping to detect GI disorders can now be sold in the UAE

Leaders in breath analysis medical devices, Bedfont Scientific Ltd., announced that it has successfully registered its Gastro+™ Gastrolyzer® for sale in the United Arab Emirates.

A big part of UAE culture, food is often used to celebrate and bring people together, however according to the Food Allergy Research & Education, “as many as 15 million people suffer food intolerances”1, and as many as 11%  are lactose intolerant according to a report published by the US Census Bureau International Data Base2.

A portable hydrogen monitor, the Gastro+™ works by measuring the amount of hydrogen in a patient’s breath caused by the breakdown of food in the gut. This aids HCP’s in investigating if a patient has any sugar-related food intolerances, such as lactose intolerance, and it can also be used to help detect other gastrointestinal disorders such as SIBO and IBS.  Unlike more conventional methods which can take up to two weeks to diagnose, the simple breath test does not require a blood sample and provides instant results.

Jason Smith, Managing Director at Bedfont, comments, “Our Regulatory Affairs department has been working hard on this registration for 9 months, and we’re over the moon to be able to say we can now sell the Gastro+™ into the UAE. It’s going to help a lot of people improve their quality of life, and we looking forward to working more closely with our distributor there, Al Zahrawi Medical Supplies LLC. ”

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References:

  1. The most common food intolerances, how they are diagnosed and treated [Internet]. The National. 2016 [cited 18 August 2020]. Available from: https://www.thenational.ae/lifestyle/wellbeing/the-most-common-food-intolerances-how-they-are-diagnosed-and-treated-1.179963
  2. Chaturvedi A. Why can’t some of the UAE residents drink milk any more? [Internet]. Khaleej Times. 2017 [cited 18 August 2020]. Available from: https://www.khaleejtimes.com/lifestyle/food/why-cant-some-of-the-uae-residents-drink-milk-any-more

Breath Analysis to Screen for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning with the ToxCO®.

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Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is the most common cause of fatal accidental poisoning in the world. However, as it is colorless, odorless and tasteless, it can be difficult to detect. The standard procedure is to analyze the CO concentration in a blood sample, but this process is invasive and time consuming. The ToxCO® from Bedfont Scientific analyzes the concentration of CO in the breath to determine the CO concentration in the blood and enables rapid, non-invasive measurement at the scene. In addition, it has proven to be as accurate as the standard procedure and so has the potential for mass screening of CO poisoning either by use of the emergency services at the scene or by clinical professionals in hospitals to speed up diagnosis.

The Dangers of CO Poisoning

Many homes still use coal, oil and gas fires as a heating source, but these appliances can pose a risk to life if they are not properly maintained or do not have sufficient ventilation. Burning these fuels produces carbon dioxide and water, however, if there is not a good enough supply of oxygen in the combustion process, carbon monoxide can also be formed. CO is poisonous as it binds strongly to hemoglobin in the blood, blocking oxygen from attaching and stopping this essential gas from being transported around the body, which in severe cases can lead to death. One study found that at least 6% of gas appliances emit dangerous levels of CO and exposure is not limited to household items, idling vehicles and house fires also emit high levels of this poisonous gas. Unfortunately, CO is difficult to detect as it is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas and so has been nicknamed “the silent killer”.

Low-level exposure to CO (>70 parts per million (ppm)) causes shortness of breath, mild nausea and headaches and is easy to mistake for the flu. Moderate levels lead to severe headaches, nausea, mental confusion and syncope. While, high levels (>200 ppm) can result in seizures and death. Due it’s difficult detection and similarity with flu symptoms at low levels, it is often the circumstances that give the clue towards diagnosis e.g. the symptoms abate when the patient is outside. CO is the most common cause of fatal accidental poisonings around the world, with 50 people killed each year in the UK, but these numbers are thought to be an underestimate as CO levels are not assessed in the 3,500 unexplained deaths that occur every year in the UK. Therefore, speed and accuracy of CO poisoning is vital.

Analysis of CO Levels

Currently, the standard method for diagnosing CO poisoning is to take blood from the patient and analyze the sample in a laboratory using a co-oximeter. A co-oximeter measures the absorption of light passing through the blood at several different wavelengths in order to determine the percentage of carboxyhemoglobin (%COHb). However, this method is invasive as it requires a blood sample to be drawn from the patient, it takes a relatively long time to get the results and cannot be performed at the scene by emergency services.

Since 2010, the funding to the NHS in England has seen a decrease compared to historical norms, and with the cost of inpatient care ranging from £128 to £9,892 per person (depending on the type of patient admitted), there is a strong drive to find initiatives that reduce costs or improve the efficiency of health care services. A recent study published by the National Audit Office on the NHS ambulance services stated that the implementation of new models of care avoided costs of admitting patients to hospitals by around £63 million in 2015–2016. Therefore, the use of rapid, non-invasive instruments to measure CO poisoning at the scene by first responders could reduce cost, time, and pressure on the inpatient health care. Pulse CO-Oximeters® work in a similar way to standard co-oximeters as they also analyze the absorption of the blood with different wavelengths of light, but by using the pulse in a patients’ finger. Masimo produce two Pulse CO-Oximeters®: The Rad-57® and Radical-7®. Another device, the ToxCO®, manufactured by Bedfont® Scientific Ltd, is also able to non-invasively analyze CO levels by measuring the concentration of CO in expelled breath as this correlates closely to the %COHb. Both types of device eliminate the need to draw blood and produce results in seconds, enabling rapid assessment of CO poisoning by the first responders of the emergency services, potentially reducing the number of admissions to hospitals.

It is essential that these non-invasive instruments deliver accurate data that can be trusted by the emergency services and clinicians. In 2014, Tseona compared the accuracy of these non-invasive devices to the standard CO blood analysis using a Siemens RapidPoint 500 machine. Each patient that took part in the study had a blood sample drawn, followed immediately assessment with the Rad-57®, Radical-7® and ToxCO® to ensure the %COHb data for each technique was taken at the same time point and could be compared. The results found that the %COHb ToxCO® data was comparable to the RapidPoint 500 invasive CO blood analysis, whereas the Rad-57® and Radical-7® gave significantly different results. These data indicate the ToxCO® is more statistically accurate for determining CO levels in potential poisoning cases compared to the Rad-57® and Radical-7®.

The Non-Invasive ToxCO®

The ToxCO® is designed to determine CO levels in all possible environments as it comes with three sampling modes; a mouthpiece for conscious patients, a face mask for unconscious patients and ambient monitoring to allow potentially fatal levels of CO in the air to be detected. In addition, the device monitor has SteriTouch® technology and single-use Steribreath™ mouthpieces are used to improve infection control.

The ToxCO® has been designed to be quick and easy to use, with visual prompts to ensure accurate results are obtained. The results are given as a green/amber/red signal, along with audible beeps for easy interpretation. In 2016, Smereka assessed the ability of 47 firefighters to identify potential CO poisoning and their use of the ToxCO® to examine patients. After training, the firefighter knowledge of CO poisoning increased, and all firefighters were proficient with implementing the ToxCO® if CO poisoning was suspected. In addition, the device is small, portable and does not need to be plugged in during analysis.

Rapid Assessment of CO Poisoning

As most cases of CO poisoning occur in the home and high levels can be fatal, it is essential that levels of this toxic gas can be assessed by first responders from the emergency services. The use of the ToxCO® enables an accurate, rapid and non-invasive method of determining a patient’s CO levels at the scene, allowing treatment to be administered quickly and appropriately, and potentially reducing the number of admissions to hospitals. Due to the comparable accuracy of the ToxCO® to the standard invasive CO blood analysis, it could also be beneficial in clinical settings to increase the speed of analysis and reduce the burden on hospital laboratories. Furthermore, ToxCO® is able to perform environmental sampling and could be placed in residential housing to warn individuals if CO levels reach dangerous levels. A 2009 study by the UK Department of Communities and Local Governments found if CO detectors were installed in a dwellings containing a combustion device, in a similar approach to smoke detectors, the cost to roll out this initiative would be outweighed by the reduction in  incidents. Therefore, the implementation of a non-invasive, rapid, and accurate CO measurement in any or all of these settings can reduce the time, cost, and pressure placed on NHS emergency and inpatient services.

References and Further Reading

  1. Bebout D.E et al. (2009). Performance Observations of the Rainbow “Pulse CO-Oximeter”. Neonatal Intensive Care. https://www.nicmag.ca/pdf/NIC-22-1-JF09-web.pdf
  2. West Yorkshire Health Protection Unit (2010). Silent Killer.
  3. Smereka J. et al. (2016). The Ability of Firefighters to Recognize Carbon Monoxide Poisoning. American Journal of Emergency Medicine. Doi: https://www.ajemjournal.com/article/S0735-6757(16)30238-8/fulltext
  4. United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. (2020). Carbon Monoxide Questions and Answers. https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Carbon-Monoxide-Information-Center/Carbon-Monoxide-Questions-and-Answers
  5. Tseona S.S. (2014). Carbon Monoxide Monitoring. Millersville University Respiratory Therapy.
  6. ToxCO®. (2020). Bedfont® Scientific Ltd. https://www.bedfont.com/toxco
  7. NICE Guidelines for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning https://cks.nice.org.uk/carbon-monoxide-poisoning#!scenario
  8. CO-gassafety.co.uk. (2020). Statistics of Deaths and Injuries. https://www.co-gassafety.co.uk/information/co-gas-safetys-statistics-of-deaths-and-injuries/
  9. Dreyer K. (2019). A Descriptive Analysis of Health Care Use by High-Cost, High-Need Patients in England. https://www.health.org.uk/sites/default/files/upload/publications/2019/Health-care-use-by-high-cost-high-need-patients-WP07.pdf
  10. Nao.org.uk. (2017). NHS Ambulance Services. National Audit Office. https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/NHS-Ambulance-Services.pdf
  11. Communities.gov.uk. (2009). Study on the Provision of Carbon Monoxide Detectors Under the Building Regulations. Department for Communities and Local Government. webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120919132719/http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/1324663

iCOquit®: The innovation aiding remote Stop Smoking Services during COVID-19

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The new Bluetooth® CO monitor from Bedfont® Scientific Ltd. has helped Stop Smoking Clinics to continue giving essential advice to its patients through remote CO monitoring

Medical device manufacturer, Bedfont®, has launched its new iCOquit® – a portable, personal Bluetooth® Carbon Monoxide (CO) monitor to help people quit smoking, which is helping Stop Smoking Services to support their patients remotely during the Coronavirus pandemic.

According to the NHS, “Smoking is one of the biggest causes of death and illness in the UK”, responsible for around 78,000 deaths each year, in addition to even more suffering from “debilitating smoking-related illnesses”1. Carbon monoxide monitoring is a very effective tool in smoking cessation; it can validate a person’s smoking status and acts as a great motivational tool for the patient, showing them visible proof of harm caused by tobacco smoking, plus, studies show that smokers who use CO monitoring during their quit attempt are more likely to be successful2.

Despite face-to-face smoking cessation consultations being postponed due to the pandemic, now thanks to the iCOquit®, patients can quickly and easily monitor their CO levels at home to receive instant results on their smartphone or tablet, and share them directly with their Stop Smoking Advisor. This means they can receive instant CO validation of smoking status, and Advisors can better maintain provision of stop smoking medication in addition to providing remote behavioural support.

Jason Smith, Managing Director at Bedfont Scientific Ltd, explains, “The Smokerlyzer range of CO monitors has been helping people quit smoking in clinics for over 40 years. With the evolving healthcare markets and improvements in personal healthcare technology, we wanted to put all those years of experience into creating a device for people to use anytime, anywhere, so they could really invest in their quit smoking attempts in-between their Stop Smoking consultations. We are now working alongside several Key Opinion Leaders to put together educational resources to help people adapt to remote CO monitoring, and with the iCOquit®, it couldn’t be easier.”

To see how the iCOquit®️ is helping with remote CO monitoring, watch our video here: https://youtu.be/f3bSLspUVP8

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References

  1. What are the health risks of smoking? [Internet]. nhs.uk. 2021 [cited 1 February 2021]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/lifestyle/what-are-the-health-risks-of-smoking/#:~:text=Smoking%20is%20one%20of%20the,than%2050%20serious%20health%20conditions.
  2. Shahab L, West R, McNeill A. A randomized, controlled trial of adding expired carbon monoxide feedback to brief stop smoking advice: Evaluation of cognitive and behavioral effects. Health Psychology. 2011;30(1):49-57.

Looking for tips to resume CO breath testing?

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Public Health England (PHE) have announced that Stop Smoking Services (SSS) can resume breath CO testing in the UK. It might be helpful to know that Bedfont® and Intermedical have been working alongside global governing health bodies including PHE to help safely re-establish breath testing in clinical practice. As a result we have made many helpful resources available to safeguard both patients and healthcare professionals when performing breath tests during COVID-19.

Following meticulous analysis regarding the risk of COVID-19 transmission when performing breath tests, PHE have concluded that the risk of COVID-19 virus transmission via use of CO monitors is minimal (3).  A number of factors have been considered to reach this conclusion, including the following:

  • CO monitoring is not classed as an Aerosol Generating Procedure (AGP) (3). This means the testing procedure is unlikely to result in the release of airborne particles (aerosols) from the respiratory tract (1) which can potentially contain infectious viruses such as COVID-19.
  • Use of infection control filters with CO monitors which has been tested by an accredited test house to prove they safely and effectively remove a high proportion of bacteria and viruses. The typical size of coronavirus particles range from 120- 160 nanometres in diameter (2), in comparison, CO monitor filters are tested with a significantly smaller virus model and have been proved to remove virus particles as small as 24 nanometres.

We recommend following the below steps to minimise risk to your patients whilst CO breath testing takes place in your clinics:

1.)   It is strongly recommended hygiene practices such as good hand washing technique is maintained.

2.)   A symptom screening questionnaire should be filled out by the patient before they undergo any breath testing procedure.

3.)   When carrying out the CO breath test, ensure a 2m distance (where possible) is maintained between you and the patient, using verbal instructions on how to use the monitor.

4.)   Do not stand directly in front of the patient and the device whilst a breath test is being performed.

5.)   Ensure the room where CO testing is taking place is well ventilated.

6.)   It is recommended the monitors and filters are thoroughly wiped down between each patient (before and after breath testing) with alcohol-free anti-bacterial and anti-viral wipes. (Products containing alcohol can affect the CO sensors so please check the manufacturer’s website on guidance for alternative cleaning methods).

7.)   Use additional Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when seeing a patient for CO monitoring. Requirements for minimum amount of PPE that must be worn varies across the UK, therefore we strongly recommend you consult your local guidelines.

8.)   Once the patient has completed their breath test, ask them to dispose of any single use consumables (mouthpieces) in the clinical waste bins and ask them to wash/Sanitise their hands after this has been completed.

If, however, you are not ready to resume CO monitoring face-to-face, Bedfont offer a single patient use CO monitor and app, iCOquit® Smokerlyzer, ® ideal for monitoring patients remotely.

The COVID-19 pandemic is continuously evolving everyday as we continuously adapt and evolve everyday life and CO monitoring is no exception. However, as we gain more of an understanding of the virus we become more proficient in how we can keep each other safe whilst resuming key services for the public.

Stay Safe Everyone

For more information, follow our coronavirus page.

References:

1. 6. COVID-19 infection prevention and control guidance: aerosol generating procedures [Internet]. GOV.UK. 2020 [cited 18 November 2020]. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-infection-prevention-and-control/covid-19-infection-prevention-and-control-guidance-aerosol-generating-procedures

2. COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic | FPM [Internet]. FPM. 2020 [cited 18 November 2020]. Available from: https://www.fpm.org.uk/blog/covid-19-sars-cov-2-pandemic/

3. NCSCT – National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training [Internet]. Ncsct.co.uk. 2020 [cited 18 November 2020]. Available from: https://www.ncsct.co.uk/

Bedfont virtually opens first overseas office in Austria

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Bedfont hosts a virtual launch party to officiate the opening of Bedfont GmbH

On 3rd September, Bedfont hosted a virtual launch party to open their first overseas office, Bedfont GmbH, based in Salzburg, Austria. Earlier this year Bedfont announced the acquisition of its former distributor, Dr Lahner Medizintechnik, which now serves as the new GmbH headquarters.

Determined to not let COVID-19 halter their growth, Bedfont opted to virtually open their overseas office via a video call. The whole company was present, including the Bedfont Family based in Austria, and their German distributor, newly established by the GmbH office. The launch consisted of a few speeches from Bedfont’s Chairman, Trevor Smith, the Managing Director, Jason Smith, and former owner of Dr Lahner Medizintechnik, Dr Dorothea Lahner, who will be involved in business development and customer relationships for Bedfont GmbH. Complete with celebratory gifts, a sign unveiling, and a mini ribbon cutting ceremony, the launch was well received.

Dorothea comments, “These are very exciting times and they’ve only just begun for Bedfont GmbH. I’m glad we had the launch virtually as it was quite fun to film the sign unveiling for the Bedfont Family to watch. I look forward to helping Bedfont GmbH grow.”

Jason comments, “This is a huge milestone for Bedfont; although we are a small family business, exporting is one of our strengths. Opening an overseas office has always been a goal of ours and I’m absolutely over the moon we’ve managed to achieve this. Despite Brexit, we hope our new GmbH headquarters will strengthen our market positions across Europe. Whilst it would have been lovely to open the offices in person, the virtual launch was very innovative and successful.”

A short clip of the Bedfont GmbH sign unveiling during the Launch can be found on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJKI4G0RxTQ

Breathacise® – exercise for your lungs

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Medical device manufacturer launches new incentive spirometer, Breathacise®

Market leaders in medical breath analysis, Bedfont® Scientific Ltd. announces a new venture in pulmonary health with the launch of their incentive spirometer, Breathacise®.

Through deep breathing exercises, the Breathacise® can be used to measure lung inspiratory reserve volume (IRV), train, and improve lung capacity for a healthy lifestyle, endurance training and exercise, or to help with recovery after surgery. Easy to use, with a unique visual incentive in the form of a basketball game, the Breathacise® can be used by all ages for a number of beneficial purposes.

Research shows that exercising your lungs with an incentive spirometer retrains them to take slow deep breaths, increasing your lung capacity. This, in turn, helps improve your ability to breathe as it keeps your alveoli inflated. Keeping your alveoli inflated and working properly helps your lungs exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide more effectively.

Jason Smith, Managing Director at Bedfont, comments, “It’s an uncertain time for small businesses right now we’ve got to be adaptable, which is why the launch of our Breathacise® incentive spirometer is very exciting. Not only is Breathacise® a new respiratory venture for us, but it is also a product that can help with pulmonary recovery – something that is much needed at this time.”

The Breathacise® incentive spirometer can be purchased from Amazon.co.uk here.

Our New Bedfont Corporate Video

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If you needed a little Monday pick-me-up, have you seen our latest corporate video? Even if you already have, a re-watch of our typical British humour might be just what you need!

This video is a little different from our previous ones; we wanted to add an element of humour to portray the family side of our business, whilst also getting in the key information about who we are and what we do.

Unfortunately due to the world going into lockdown, we didn’t have much of a chance to ‘officially’ launch this video, but we wanted to share our work nonetheless: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=P-h7KpMn5Ds

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