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Bedfont Scientific Ltd., raises just over £2000 for their Charity of the Year, Porchlight

Kent-based medical device manufacturer, Bedfont, was proud to present their Charity of the Year, Porchlight with a cheque for the sum of £2007.47, after a year of fundraising to raise money and awareness for the homeless.

According to Kent County Council, the estimated total of rough sleepers in the area is 214 – not far off the London Borough of Westminster, which recorded the highest nationally at 306 rough sleepers.

Porchlight, based in Ashford, help people from all walks of life with all types of problems and abilities/disabilities by offering shelter, counselling, advice, skills and more, including a focus on mental health. With a particular focus on helping the homeless, the charity aims to help people solve their issues and overcome their obstacles so that they may live to their full potential.

Jason Smith, Managing Director at Bedfont, comments, “Since choosing Porchlight as our Charity of the Year, my eyes have truly been opened to the homeless situation in Kent. A year ago, we met Alan, who had experienced homelessness first-hand, and he went against every stereotype about homelessness that existed; he had a good job, a good family, but an unfortunate series of events left him needing services like those provided by Porchlight. His story resonates with me because it proves that this can happen to anyone. The Bedfont family has campaigned and fundraised all year and we are proud to have accumulated just over £2000 for such a worthy cause.”

Med-tech company, Bedfont Scientific, was presented with the Silver award for Technology and Innovation at the annual Family Business Awards.

On 13th July, the National Family Business Place Awards celebrated their 10th anniversary at Wembley Stadium, where local medical device manufacturer, Bedfont Scientific Ltd., received its first-ever national business award for the Technology and Innovation category.

Family Businesses make up 85% of all UK business, and they contribute to over a quarter of UK GDP1. The Family Business Place not only helps family businesses with strategies and marketing, but also hosts annual awards, which recognise the Gold Standard in Family Business.

Bedfont, who became a 2nd generation family business in 2016, has specialised in the design and manufacture of breath analysis medical devices since 1976. They have a wide range of breath monitors which aid in smoking cessation, emergency CO screening, detecting gastrointestinal disorders and food intolerances, and the diagnosis and management of asthma.

Jason Smith, Managing Director at Bedfont, says, “This is our first national accolade and we are over the moon to have been awarded the Silver award for Technology and Innovation. At Bedfont, we take pride in being an innovative company and try to break the mould of traditional healthcare and it’s honestly amazing to have that recognised on a national scale.”

Professor Dominick Shaw and Professor Rodolfo de Paula Vieira join the Medical Advisory Board for Bedfont’s FeNO monitor

Bedfont Scientific Ltd., a Kent-based medical device manufacturer, has signed two esteemed respiratory professionals onto its Medical Advisory Board for its NObreath FeNO device. Professor and honorary consultant specialising in campus to clinic research, Dominick Shaw, and Professor at Universidade Brasil, Supervisor of MSc and PhD Program at UNIFESP and Director of IBEPIPE, Rodolfo de Paula Vieira, are the first 2 members on the NObreath Medical Advisory Board.

The NObreath Fractional exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) monitor uses breath analysis to measure airway inflammation, which in turn aids in the diagnosis and management of asthma.

Prof. Vieira, who has a PHD in Pathology – specifically the immunopathology of the lungs, 3 post-doctoral accreditations, and more than 100 internationally peer-reviewed scientific articles, explains, “The body naturally produces Nitric Oxide (NO) to combat inflammation, so when your airway is inflamed, NO is produced in the lungs at large rates and exhaled on the breath (FeNO). Airway inflammation is a central process in asthma and other lung diseases as it is often found to be higher in inflammatory conditions such as asthma and therefore measuring FeNO can be used for the detection and management of such conditions.” He also explains, “FeNO can be also used as a biomarker to prevent a very common situation denominated bronchospasm-induced by exercise or asthma-induced by exercise, even in non-asthmatic individuals and in athletes”.

Prof. Shaw, a past BTS/SIGN national asthma guidelines contributor and member of the Asthma UK and NIHR RfpB UK research panels, says, “Measuring nitric oxide in the breath is quick, easy, and non-invasive for both the practitioner and the patient. Regular monitoring of a patient’s levels, can help differentiate between allergic (eosinophilic) and non-allergic subtypes of asthma. This, in turn, assists in identifying the need for inhaled corticosteroids, and titrating the level of medication safely and accurately, for improved asthma management.”

Jason Smith, Managing Director at Bedfont, adds, “We are honoured to be working with key specialists in the asthma field, Professor Vieira and Professor Shaw, and we hope to promote the life-saving benefits of FeNO monitoring together.”

Medical device manufacturer, Bedfont Scientific Ltd., reaches the Family Business Awards finals for the Technology category

Created in order for family-owned businesses to be recognised and celebrated for their extraordinary contribution to the economy, the National Family Business Awards chose local med-tech firm, Bedfont, as a Technology category finalist for the 2019 awards.

Established in 1976, Bedfont specialises in the design and manufacture of innovative breath analysis medical devices. Its breath analysers include carbon monoxide (CO) monitors such as the Smokerlyzer®, used for smoking cessation, and the ToxCO®, used by emergency services, to screen for CO poisoning. The NObreath® FeNO monitor provides accurate analysis of airway inflammation for the control of asthma, and the Gastrolyzer® range aids in the detection of gastrointestinal disorders and food intolerances. Quick and non-invasive, breath analysis is the new blood test.

Amalia Brightley-Gillott, Managing Director of Family Business Place, who hosts the awards, says,“We’re over the moon to welcome Bedfont Scientific Ltd. as Finalists at this year’s awards. They’re an exceptional example of how family businesses are leading the way, continuing to innovate and thriving in today’s competitive, economically uncertain world.”

Jason Smith, Managing Director, comments, “Becoming a 2nd generation family business has reinforced our family values and enabled us to create a strong sense of identity and culture for the business as the Bedfont Family. Strong family values can prove instrumental in stabilising the structure and dynamics within the business resulting in high employee sense of belonging and satisfaction thus increasing productivity, loyalty and profitability. Breath analysis for medical applications is a very niche technology and we are thrilled to be recognised for our contribution to healthcare, by being chosen as a finalist in the Family Business Awards for the Technology category.”

The winners will be announced at Wembley Stadium on 13th July in what’s set to be a spectacular 10th anniversary celebration of the awards. 

Bedfont named International Business for the 2nd year in a row at the South East Federation of Small Businesses Awards

On Friday 12th April, Bedfont Scientific ltd was recognised as International Business of the Year for its 2nd year in a row at the South East Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Awards 2019.

The FSB hosts annual Celebrating Small Business Awards to recognise the best small businesses across the UK. The UK is split into 12 regions and each region holds its own ceremony, with all regional winners going through to compete in the Nationals taking place on 23rd May at Evolution Battersea.

Despite being a small family business with only 43 employees, Bedfont’s medical devices can be found worldwide, with export sales accounting for 80% of turnover.

Jason Smith, Managing Director at Bedfont, says, “We are so proud and thrilled to have been named International Business of the Year 2019. There are a lot of great companies out there and we didn’t expect to be recognised for 2 years in a row. This award wouldn’t be possible without the hard work and dedication of the Bedfont family and its distributors, its thanks to them we can continue to innovate healthcare worldwide.”

This accolade is Bedfont’s 3rd regional exporting recognition and its 7th exporting award so far.

Bedfont® has announced the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for its carbon monoxide (CO) breath analysis monitor which determines levels of CO poisoning

The ToxCO is a breath analysis monitor that measures exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) to give healthcare personnel an idea of CO levels in the blood, allowing them to triage cases of CO poisoning.

Unlike traditional methods, breath analysis with the ToxCO is non-invasive with instant results, saving time in critical situations. Breath samples can be taken via a low-cost mouthpiece allowing for point-of-care CO checking for mass casualties, aiding the decision of whether or not a patient needs to be treated at hospital. For patients who are unconscious or injured, a face mask option offers a modified sampling technique to indicate for CO poisoning. The monitor also automatically samples ambient air from switch-on, acting as an alarm when CO levels in the environment reach harmful levels.

Jason Smith, Managing Director at Bedfont comments, “Not only can our breath analysis monitor help to evaluate patients quickly and effectively for CO poisoning, but it can also reduce emergency department visits and hospitalizations. We are thrilled with the FDA approval of the ToxCO; we believe it will be game-changer for healthcare personnel in America.”

Bedfont already has an exclusive USA distributor for the ToxCO monitor, CoVita. Its President, Jason Aversano, expressed his excitement about the 510(K), stating “the ToxCO will be a useful tool for healthcare professionals such as paramedics in Firefighter Rehab. We believe it will fundamentally change how people are assessed for CO poisoning in the United States.”

Bedfont® Scientific Ltd. scoops Exporter of the Year for the 3rd time in a row at the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce awards.

On Thursday 21st March, the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce held their annual business awards and 2nd generation family business, Bedfont®, was named Exporter of the Year for the 3rd year in a row.

The awards, now in its 13th year, celebrates the excellent abundance of businesses in the county of Kent.

Bedfont®, based in Harrietsham, specialises in the design and manufacture of breath analysis medical devices.  Its range of carbon monoxide (CO) monitors include the Smokerlyzer®, used for smoking cessation, and the ToxCO®, used by emergency services, to screen for CO poisoning. The NObreath® FeNO monitor provides accurate analysis of airway inflammation to aid in the diagnosis and management of asthma, and the Gastrolyzer® range aids in the detection of gastrointestinal disorders and food intolerances.

Despite being a small family business with only 43 employees, Bedfont®’s medical analysers can be found worldwide, with export sales accounting for 80% of turnover, thanks to continuous innovation from the Bedfont® family and its network of carefully selected distributors, Bedfont®’s extended family.

Jason Smith, Managing Director at Bedfont®, comments, “Exporting for any company is no easy feat. For Bedfont®, our greatest challenge can be our size, but with dedicated employees and distributors we have managed to achieve this. We are utterly humbled to have won this award for the 3rd year in a row – it really acknowledges the efforts of the Bedfont® family, our employees and distributors, and I am honoured to share this prestigious award with them.”

Kent medical device manufacturer receives a manufacturing accolade in the GHP Biotechnology Awards

Bedfont, who has specialised in the design and manufacture of breath and gas analysis monitors since 1976, has been named Best Breath & Gas Monitoring Instruments Manufacturer 2019 in the Global Health & Pharma (GHP) Biotechnology Awards.

The awards, now in their 3rd year, aim to highlight those responsible for the “life-changing innovations and developments” in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries.

Jason Smith, Managing Director at Bedfont, comments, “We take great pride in being an innovative company whose products are used to save lives. We’ve been manufacturing breath analysis medical devices for over 40 years, but it is still quite a niche concept in some areas of the world. This award is a testament to our high-quality products and we hope that it will help us to reach new medical markets, enabling us to keep innovating and improving health, one breath at a time.”

Kent medical device manufacturer, Bedfont Scientific Ltd., signs a multiyear ODM deal to supply MGC Diagnostics Corporation with its new NObreath®

MGC Diagnostics Corporation (MGCD), through its Medical Graphics and Medisoft subsidiaries, is a global medical technology company dedicated to the delivery of diagnostic solutions for detecting, classifying, and managing cardiorespiratory disease. MGCD has signed an Original Design Manufacturer (ODM) agreement with Bedfont for the new NObreath® Fractional exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) monitor.

FeNO is a biomarker for airway inflammation, helping in the control and diagnosis of asthma and also the differentiation between asthma and other respiratory diseases. Measuring FeNO through breath analysis, making the process quick, simple and non-invasive for both the GP and the patient. Interpreting FeNO levels 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 attacks.3

The ODM agreement for NObreath® means Bedfont designs and manufactures the monitor and MGCD distributes MGCD branded product. The MGCD product, called FeNObreath, is differentiated from the NObreath® by direct integration with MGCD diagnostics devices.

Matt Margolies, President and Chief Operating Office at MGC Diagnostics commented, “Bedfont’s NObreath® is an ideal device to expand our existing range of high-quality diagnostic solutions. We will sell the FeNObreath both as a stand-alone device and as an integrated module to our diagnostic products. Medical Graphics and Medisoft’s selling teams are excited to add this innovative product to our product portfolios.”

Jason Smith, Managing Director at Bedfont, adds, “The NObreath® mission is to help improve asthma diagnosis and management for adults and children worldwide through FeNO monitoring. This new strategic partnership will enable Bedfont to access new markets worldwide and further highlight FeNO testing and its benefits globally.”

REFERENCES

1.      Andrew D. Smith, Jan O. Cowan, Sue Filsell, Chris MacLachlan, Gabrielle Monti-Sheehan, Pamela Jackson and D. Robin Taylor. Diagnosing Asthma: Comparisons between Exhaled Nitric Oxide Measurements and Conventional Tests. Am J Respir Crit Care Med Vol 169. pp 473-478, 2004.

2.      Coumou HBel E. Improving the diagnosis of eosinophilic asthma [Internet]. Taylor and Francis online. 2017 [cited 06 February 2019]. Available from: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17476348.2017.1236688

3. Harkins M. Exhaled Nitric Oxide Predicts Asthma Exacerbation [Internet]. Taylor & Francis. 2017 [cited 06 February 2019]. Available from: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1081/JAS-120033990

Bedfont, based in Maidstone, wins South East Exporter of the Year at the South East Health Technology Alliance Awards

Bedfont Scientific Ltd., who has specialised in the design and manufacture of breath analysis medical devices for over 40 years, was named Exporter of the Year at the South East Health Technology Alliance Awards on 11th February 2019.

This is the 2nd regional award that Bedfont has achieved after winning their 1st regional award, also for exporting, last year. This win means Bedfont will be going through to the National Medilink Awards taking place at the NEC Birmingham in May.

Jason Smith, Managing Director at Bedfont, explains, “In 10 years we’ve managed to establish a network of distributors, whom we regard as an extension of the Bedfont Family. Our first distributor was established in 1988 and we still work with them today. Through this network, we have managed to increase our exports significantly, and they now account for 80% of our turnover.”

Dr David Parry, CEO, SEHTA, said, “Once again our awards have demonstrated the excellence of small health technology companies in the South East. This year was once again very competitive; it’s a primary aim of SEHTA to help such companies’ access public and private sector markets with their innovative products and services”.

Rob Berry, Head of Innovation, Kent Surrey Sussex Academic Health Science Network (KSS AHSN), said, “KSS AHSN has a key role to help companies navigate the healthcare maze, so we’re delighted to continue to support the SEHTA Healthcare Business Awards. The awards help to recognise and reward great innovative work taking place across the region and we congratulate all the winners and finalists on their success”.