By Drew Johnson
EMS1 Editor
Out in the field, medics may not have access to the motorized airway suction they’re used to (or think they need). With Res-Q-Vac, that’s no problem.
The manually powered airway suction pump, made by RMS Medical Products, offers the same – or possibly better – suction power of motorized devices. The difference is that the Res-Q-Vac is hand operated – no batteries required.
The device consists of a plastic pump that creates suction with the squeeze of the handle. The pivot point is at the bottom of the handle, allowing you to squeeze with your strongest fingers.
Attached to this is a disposable canister to which medics can attach a catheter (that comes in a range of sizes).
Brad Sealfon of RMS says the Res-Q-Vac is the only manual suction device with full-stop protection, meaning that when the canister is full, you are totally unable to squeeze the device’s handle.
“It’s a very efficient pump, so it feels like it’s locked up when it’s full,” Sealfon said. “Like your steering wheel has locked.”
This is important because, as most medics know, suction devices aerosolize whatever liquid they happen to be suctioning, creating a potentially unsafe work environment.
A .22 micron filter is built into the pump, which protects users from any potentially unsafe air that could be squeezed through the device.
It’s extremely easy to clean as well, Sealfon said. Users simply remove the canister and wipe down the pump with an antibacterial wipe after each use. The product has an indefinite shelf life, meaning systems can by a large supply for storage in case of a mass-casualty incident.
Sealfon added that RMS is soon to release a no-drip tip catheter that will prevent fluid from leaking back out of the device, offering further contamination protection for users. With the new tips, “our unit has been the safest and most reliable, and now it’s going to be the cleanest,” Sealfon said.
The Res-Q-Vac is easy to use for those with small or weakened hands, Sealfon said, adding that the product is used by many elderly or home-care patients.
“It’s a very simple, easy-to-use product,” he said. “You just clip the canister on, squeeze until you’re finished using it, and then unclip and discard.”
For more information about the Res-Q-Vac, please visit RMS Medical Products’ official website.