Medical Design and Outsourcing

  • Home
  • Medical Device Business
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Financial
    • Regulatory
  • Applications
    • Cardiovascular
    • Devices
    • Imaging
    • Implantables
    • Medical Equipment
    • Orthopedic
    • Surgical
  • Technologies
    • Supplies and Components Index
    • Contract Manufacturing
    • Components
    • Electronics
    • Extrusions
    • Materials
    • Motion Control
    • Prototyping
    • Pumps
    • Tubing
  • MedTech Resources
    • Medtech Events in 2025
    • The 2024 Medtech Big 100
    • Medical Device Handbook
    • MedTech 100 Index
    • Subscribe to Print Magazine
    • DeviceTalks
    • Digital Editions
    • eBooks
    • Educational Assets
    • Manufacturer Search
    • Podcasts
    • Print Subscription
    • Webinars / Digital Events
    • Whitepapers
    • Voices
    • Views
    • Video
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
    • 2021 Winners
  • Women in Medtech
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

Richmar launches anti-microbial electrodes

March 28, 2019 By Nancy Crotti

Richmar’s MicroBlock electrodes are designed to prevent infection by killing harmful bacteria. (Image from Richmar)

Richmar (Chattanooga, Tenn.) has introduced an anti-microbial electrode intended to prevent infection in users of electrotherapy devices.

The MicroBlock electrode was designed to inhibit and kill the growth of common disease-causing bacteria as well as superbugs such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in people who use a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) device in a hospital, rehabilitation or other healthcare setting.

MicroBlock electrodes are effective against common bacteria on and around the “zone of inhibition” — the area directly surrounding and including the electrode, according to the company. Test results reported for MicroBlock include:

    • Zones of inhibition around MicroBlock’s electrode surface up to 5.65 mm were observed.
    • No growth of E. cloacae (CRE), S. aureus (MRSA), E. coli (i.e., ESBL), E. faecalis (VRE), P. aeruginosa or A. baumannii was demonstrated.
    • The antimicrobial electrodes demonstrated nearly 100% effectiveness at reducing all six microorganisms.

“Scientific testing of MicroBlock, in research and development for 16 months, has proven its efficacy in dispatching infection-causing bacteria,” Richmar senior VP Ryan Moore said in a prepared statement. “MicroBlock has been tested to maintain antimicrobial performance over the 10-application lifespan of the electrode.”

FDA-listed benzethonium chloride, the antimicrobial agent in MicroBlock, is among the suggested alternatives to chlorhexidine gluconate, an antiseptic agent that is known to have rare but severe allergic reactions, Moore added.

“Evidence shows that bacteria can be transferred on an electrode from one treatment to the next, potentially reintroducing bacteria to a patient when their immune system is compromised,” he said. “In fact, the CDC estimates that 1 in 31 hospital patients will have at least one such healthcare-associated infection. MicroBlock reduces this threat by eradicating microbes on the surface of the electrode between treatments.”

 

Related Articles Read More >

Clippard releases isolation valves with hit and hold circuitry
Binder expands compact connector portfolio for medtech
The Partner Companies buys electroformed metal manufacturer Precision Eforming
Intuitive’s Miller: User need, not tech, should drive telesurgery adoption
“mdo
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest medical device business news, application and technology trends.

DeviceTalks Weekly

See More >

MDO Digital Edition

Digital Edition

Subscribe to Medical Design & Outsourcing. Bookmark, share and interact with the leading medical design engineering magazine today.

MEDTECH 100 INDEX

Medtech 100 logo
Market Summary > Current Price
The MedTech 100 is a financial index calculated using the BIG100 companies covered in Medical Design and Outsourcing.
DeviceTalks

DeviceTalks is a conversation among medical technology leaders. It's events, podcasts, webinars and one-on-one exchanges of ideas & insights.

DeviceTalks

New MedTech Resource

Medical Tubing

MassDevice

Mass Device

The Medical Device Business Journal. MassDevice is the leading medical device news business journal telling the stories of the devices that save lives.

Visit Website
MDO ad
Medical Design and Outsourcing
  • MassDevice
  • DeviceTalks
  • MedTech100 Index
  • Medical Tubing + Extrusion
  • Medical Design Sourcing
  • Drug Delivery Business News
  • Drug Discovery & Development
  • Pharmaceutical Processing World
  • R&D World
  • About Us/Contact
  • Advertise With Us
  • Subscribe to Print Magazine
  • Subscribe to our E-Newsletter
  • Listen to our Weekly Podcasts
  • Join our DeviceTalks Tuesdays Discussion

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media LLC. Site Map | Privacy Policy | RSS

Search Medical Design & Outsourcing

  • Home
  • Medical Device Business
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Financial
    • Regulatory
  • Applications
    • Cardiovascular
    • Devices
    • Imaging
    • Implantables
    • Medical Equipment
    • Orthopedic
    • Surgical
  • Technologies
    • Supplies and Components Index
    • Contract Manufacturing
    • Components
    • Electronics
    • Extrusions
    • Materials
    • Motion Control
    • Prototyping
    • Pumps
    • Tubing
  • MedTech Resources
    • Medtech Events in 2025
    • The 2024 Medtech Big 100
    • Medical Device Handbook
    • MedTech 100 Index
    • Subscribe to Print Magazine
    • DeviceTalks
    • Digital Editions
    • eBooks
    • Educational Assets
    • Manufacturer Search
    • Podcasts
    • Print Subscription
    • Webinars / Digital Events
    • Whitepapers
    • Voices
    • Views
    • Video
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
    • 2021 Winners
  • Women in Medtech
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe