Sky Medical Technology announces availability of its geko™ device on government of India e-marketplace portal (GeM)

With this move, government hospitals across India can now access the geko™ device to prevent life threatening blood clots, address complications related to swelling following orthopaedic surgery and the healing of chronic wounds (leg ulcers).

DARESBURY, England, April 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sky Medical Technology Ltd (Sky), a UK-based medical device manufacturer and parent company of Firstkind Ltd, today announced the availability of its flagship product, the geko™ device, on the Government of India e-Marketplace (GeM) procurement portal, under the Product ID 8778588-83575686384, Gem Catalogue ID 5116877-12688567087

Launched in August 2016, the GeM portal is an online market platform to facilitate procurement of goods and services by various Ministries and agencies of the Government. It aims to enhance transparency, efficiency, and speed in the public procurement of goods and services.

The wearable, clinically proven geko™ device - now listed on GeM - is a small, battery powered, disposable, neuromuscular electro-stimulation therapy, that is applied non-invasively to the skin over the common peroneal nerve at the side of the knee. Small electrical pulses gently stimulate the nerve, once every second, activating the calf and foot muscle pumps resulting in increased blood flow in the deep veins¹ of the calf, at rate equal to 60% of continuous walking² without a patient having to move. The increase in blood flow prevents venous thromboembolism³ (VTE – blood clots), reduces post-operative and trauma-based swelling^4,5 and promotes wound healing (leg ulcers)⁶.

Across India, the incidence of VTE is comparable to that in Western countries. The risk is especially high in hospitalized patients, in a majority of whom VTE is clinically silent and one of the commonest causes of unplanned readmission and preventable death⁷. Oedema, the medical term for swelling, is also a silent burden with few tools to address the complication, which can delay surgical fixation, impede wound closure, decrease muscle strength and stall rehabilitation.^8,9 Arguably the greatest burden, however, and considered a silent epidemic, is chronic wounds. It is difficult to correctly assess the magnitude of suffering generated by leg ulcers in a country of over 1.2 billion people. One study, however, estimated the prevalence to be 4.5 per 1000 in the population¹⁰.

"We are thrilled that government hospitals across India can now enjoy streamlined geko™ device procurement through GeM, to address these significant medical challenges" says Bernard Ross, Sky Founder and CEO. "GeM listing marks the beginning of a very-exciting journey for Sky. The online platform is a vibrant e-marketplace, providing transparency, efficiency and speed. It is heartening to know that thousands of patients who visit government hospitals can now gain from the prescribed use of the geko™ device for better clinical outcomes and enhanced recovery.

About Sky Medical Technology Ltd

Sky Medical Technology, the parent of Firstkind Ltd, is a UK-based medical devices company. Through its innovative mechanism of neuromuscular electrostimulation, Sky has developed a non-invasive, ground-breaking technology platform, OnPulse™, embedded in its industry-leading brand, the geko™ device. Sky's products are tailored to different medical application areas, selling through strategic partnerships or distributors in each clinical application area. Clinical areas of focus include prevention of life-threatening blood clots, complications related to swelling before and after general and orthopaedic surgery and vascular conditions related to wound healing (leg ulcers). The goal in each pathway is to partner with healthcare professionals for better patient outcomes and patient care whilst saving health system resources. www.skymedtech.com

www.gekodevices.com

Media contact

Sue Davenport
[email protected]
Sky Medical Technology Ltd
Hawk House
Peregrine Business Park
Gomm Road
High Wycombe
Bucks
HP13 7DL

References:

1. A Nicolaides, M Griffin. Measurement of blood flow in the deep veins of the lower limb using the geko™ neuromuscular electro-stimulation device. Journal of International Angiology August 2016-04.
2. Tucker A, et al. Augmentation of venous, arterial and microvascular blood supply in the leg by isometric neuromuscular stimulation via the peroneal nerve. The International journal of angiology: official publication of the International College of Angiology, Inc. 2010 Spring;19(1): e31-7.
3. Natarajan I, et al. The use of the geko™ device (a neuromuscular electrostimulation device) and the resulting activation of the foot and calf muscle pumps for the prevention of venous. thromboembolism in patients with acute stroke. University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust. Poster. Published on the geko™ device.   
4. Mahmood et al, Neuromuscular Electrostimulation Device Reduces Preoperative Edema and Accelerates Readiness for Theater in Patients Requiring Open Reduction Internal Fixation for Acute Ankle Fracture the foot and ankle journal, published online, March 2020.
5. Wainwright TW et al. A Feasibility Randomised Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Effectiveness of a Novel Neuromuscular Electro-stimulation Device in Preventing the Formation of Oedema Following Total Hip Replacement Surgery. Heliyon 18 Jul 2018- Volume 4, Issue 7.
6. Jones N I & Harding K G. Neuromuscular electrostimulation on lower limb wounds. British Journal of Nursing. Vol 27, No. 20. Published Online: 12 Nov 2018.
7. Agarwal S. et al. Venous thromboembolism: A problem in the Indian/Asian population? Indian Journal of Urology: IJU: Journal of the Urological Society of India, 01 Jan 2009, 25(1):11-16 DOI: 10.4103/0970-1591.45531 PMID: 19468423 PMCID: PMC2684304.
8. Kluga K, et al. Improving Orthopedic-Related Postoperative Edema Management in a Rehabilitative Nursing Setting. Rehabil Nurs. May/Jun 2019;44(3):151-160. doi: 10.1097/rnj.0000000000000104.
9. VA US Department of Veterans Affairs website: https://www.va.gov/health/aboutvha.asp.
10. Vijay Langer. Leg ulcers: An Indian perspective. lndian Dermatology Online Journal. 2014 Oct-Dec; 5(4): 535–536. doi: 10.4103/2229-5178.142559. PMCID: PMC4228669. PMID: 25396157.

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