Medtronic Launches New Biofragmentable Nasal Packing Stent

By Jof Enriquez,
Follow me on Twitter @jofenriq

Medtronic Inc. recently launched the NovaShield injectable and biofragmentable nasal packing stent. The gel-based nasal packing is designed to decrease post-operative bleeding and prevent adhesions in nasal structures in patients who undergo functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS).

Unlike conventional solid nasal packing made from sponge or gauze, Medtronic’s NovaShield gel can be injected and removed with minimal discomfort for FESS patients. It also works as a stent to effectively separate tissue and limit the formation of adhesions, which are scars that form post-surgery and may require additional procedures. NovaShield was cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on October 6, 2014, according to a Medtronic statement.

"NovaShield is Medtronic's first chitosan-based nasal packing," Lisa Sapp, product manager for Medtronic’s ear, nose, and throat (ENT) biomaterials division, said in the statement. "With the benefits of chitosan and its unique design, NovaShield is helpful for both surgeons and patients."

Chitosan is a polymer derived from chitin, a hemostatic substance found in the outer shell of shellfish. According to the statement, studies have shown that chitosan-based nasal packing significantly lessens common complications of sinus surgery, such as bleeding and adhesions. Moreover, chitosan-based nasal packing demonstrated a "95% success rate in the rapid control of nose-bleeding unresponsive to standard nasal packing, even in patients taking anti-platelet/anti-coagulant medications."

"Nasal packing is an important factor in postoperative care and the ultimate outcome of sinus surgery," Vince Racano, VP and general manager of the ENT business at Medtronic, said in the statement. "We're excited to bring sinus surgeons this convenient new tool for FESS."

There are more than 525,000 FESS procedures performed in the U.S. on an annual basis, according to the Medtronic statement.

Medtronic is currently expanding its ENT business by divesting older products and focusing on novel therapies. The medical device company recently sold its manual ENT instrumentation lines to Integra LifeSciences for $60 million in cash, according to a previous Med Device Online article.

The ENT business also recently launched new products such as the M5 Microdebrider and NuVent sinus balloon, helping its parent unit, Surgical Technologies, achieve an increase of in sales of 10 percent year-on-year to $410 million, according to Forbes.