A special upgrade
The WCD2-c was developed as an “add-on” for the hypothermia devices on the market. Great importance was placed on safe operation as well as simple and quick installation and deinstallation.
The oxidizing agents generated with the WCD2-c ensure that bacteria in the heating and cooling water are killed.
The WCD2-c ensures that the water in the tanks as well as in the pipes and hoses is led through the WCD2-c. In the WCD2-c, the water runs through flow cells in which boron-doped diamond electrodes are installed. The boron-doped diamond electrodes are then used to generate oxidants through electrolysis.
The oxidizing agents, which are produced directly from the water, purify and disinfect water by breaking down organic ingredients and killing bacteria.
Bacteria are life-threatening during open heart surgery
Bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Legionella and especially the Mycobacterium chimaera can pose a great danger: If the heating and cooling water in hypothermia devices is contaminated with bacteria and these reach the patient via, for example, aerosol formation it can seriously endanger a patient's life.
In 2015, the German Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery ("Deutsche Gesellschaft für Thorax-, Herz- und Gefäßchirurgie DGTHG") issued an information letter on infections with the Mycobacterium chimaera after heart surgery. This letter clearly points out that infection by pathogens is possible through the use of hypothermia devices and that the patients' illnesses are usually serious.
Did you know?
The WCD2-c cleans and disinfects the process water, thus ensuring drinking water quality over the long term.
3 years of research and development:
The performance of WCD2 technology
The development of the technology concept took around three years - until the final scientific study was carried out under real conditions at the Institute for Hygiene at MED-UNI Graz in 2019. The investigation confirms that the required water quality of the heating and cooling water can be provided over the long term.
Starting at the end of 2019, an eleven-month long test was carried out by the head of the cardiology department at the University Hospital Regensburg. The aim was to test the disinfection performance in practice. The results of the almost year-long study are available in a peer-reviewed article.
The most important results of the study of the
University Hospital Regensburg
At no point during the eleven months of operation could any bacteria be detected in the process water
Increased patient safety due to permanently disinfected heating and cooling water
Greater staff safety and environment protection due to the elimination of hazardous chemicals
Reduced costs due to the elimination of chemicals and costly occupational health and safety measures
A 36-hour extreme test shows that no material damage occurred on oxygenators from two different manufacturers
Heating and cooling water is permanently kept at drinking water quality with regard to the examined bacteria
In an emergency hypothermia units are ready to be used instantly, as disinfection can be stopped at any time
Time savings, as the time during the fully automatic process can be used for other tasks
Best possible protection of patients and staff
Das Produkt WCD2-c ist derzeit in Deutschland nicht erhältlich und die Inhalte dieser Produktseiten richten sich nicht an den deutschen Markt. The product WCD2-c is currently not available in Germany and the contents of these product pages are not aimed to the German market.
