The 2018 Excellence in Surgical Products Awards will be presented in the November/December issue of Surgical Products. Leading up to the publication of that issue, nominees will be featured on the Surgical Products website.
Category: Safety
Product description and innovation synopsis:
Stryker’s Cactus Smart Sink System and PharmaLock OR are controlled substance waste management systems that securely capture unused pharmaceutical waste and render it unusable and non-retrievable, ensuring discarded medications do not end up in the wrong hands or negatively impact the environment.
What sets this product apart from others available in the industry?
Stryker’s Cactus Smart Sink System is a one-step process for rendering pharmaceutical waste unusable and non-retrievable, meaning there is no agitation or shaking needed to take place to activate the denaturing process. The Smart Sink also includes scales beneath the waste cartridges that notify hospital staff when a cartridge is full, as well as a lock and key security system that alerts staff that the Smart Sink is being accessed.
How does this product benefit the surgical team and aid in better outcomes?
The Cactus Smart Sink is conveniently placed near automated dispensing systems in the hospital so that wasting occurs in the open, thus minimizing the risk of diversion. Additionally, this results in a more efficient witness and waste process in which practitioners can efficiently remove inventory from an automated dispensing system, waste any excess drugs, and administer the remaining portion to a patient. The PharmaLock OR can be attached to an anesthesia cart in the OR so that drugs can be wasted immediately.