During the period affected by COVID-19, the IBIOM team worked to develop a portable isolation room that can be installed on transport stretchers. This chamber allows patients with or showing symptoms of COVID to be isolated during transport to the various care units. Our team is still working to develop a model that will fit on ambulance stretchers.  In addition, we have adapted one of our stretchers so that it can be used for patients with the virus in intensive care that is safe and comfortable enough for a patient to remain in it for several hours / days.

Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies has remained committed to working with Canadian hospitals and healthcare practitioners to identify and address the most important needs within our healthcare system.  

During the pandemic, the benefits of CareSense, a digital care navigation platform, have been realized by select hospitals across Canada. CareSense, provided by MedTrak Inc. (a third-party vendor) in partnership with Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies, is a cloud-based platform designed to virtually help care teams engage, educate, communicate and guide patients through their episode of care. CareSense allows for two-way communication to monitor patient health and capture patient satisfaction data through specialized features including secure messaging, photos and surveys.

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To connect healthcare professionals to virtual educational programs, a 24-hour chat forum and real-time news on COVID-19, the Johnson & Johnson Institute COVID-19 Community Hub, was established. The company partnered with Canadian and international medical societies to host multiple educational events with a focus on COVID-19. Since March 2020, more than 2,700 Canadian healthcare practitioners have engaged virtually with world-class faculty for tailored medical education events.

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Cochlear is the global leader in implantable hearing solutions, having provided more than 550,000 implantable devices, helping people of all ages to lead full and active lives.

Due to Covid-19 pandemic, Ontario issued restricted in-person health care services, including audiology services for post cochlear implant activations. Recently, with a remote programming system offered by Cochlear Canada Inc., audiologists at a Hospital in Toronto were able to activate the external sound processor of a young child, remotely via the internet. The child, who has been deaf since birth, had received a cochlear implant in an operation prior to the pandemic, but had no opportunity to visit the clinic for post-implant device activation. With access to remote programming technology, the child is now able to hear through her activated cochlear implant: https://youtu.be/n0Z-9fwfsRs

This is an example of how medtech companies can offer innovative technologies to the healthcare system and reduce the burden of access to technological advances specially during this time of crisis. These innovations open a variety of opportunities for cost-saving measures and can revolutionize patient-clinician interactions. To learn more about Cochlear’s Remote Care Services, click here.

The FreeStyle Libre system is an innovative flash glucose monitoring system that uses a small sensor worn on the back of the upper arm to automatically measure, store and upload glucose readings every minute, day and night (1) without the hassle of finger pricks (2).

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when in-person appointments are limited and most healthcare providers are conducting appointments remotely, the FreeStyle LibreLink app (3) also enables people with diabetes to share their glucose readings with their healthcare provider virtually. This allows people and their healthcare provider to make informed decisions about their diabetes management remotely.

The FreeStyle Libre system is also authorized for use in the hospital setting during the COVID-19 pandemic. This means frontline healthcare workers can remotely monitor patients’ glucose status and history, while minimizing exposure and preserving the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) (4).

To learn more about how the FreeStyle Libre system is helping Canadians manage their diabetes during the pandemic, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zByagci8f2c

For more information on the use of the FreeStyle Libre system in hospitals, please visit: https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/abbott-receives-health- canada-authorization-under-interim-order-to-use-freestyle-r-libre-system-for- hospitalized-patients-during-covid-19-pandemic-844714377.html

The FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system is indicated for measuring interstitial fluid glucose levels in adults aged 18 years and older with diabetes mellitus. Always read and follow the label/insert.

1 For a complete glycemic picture, scan once every 8 hours.

2 A finger prick test using a blood glucose meter is required during time of rapidly changing glucose levels when interstitial fluid glucose levels may not accurately reflect blood glucose levels or if hypoglycemia or impending hypoglycemia is reported by the system or when symptoms do not match the system readings.

3 The FreeStyle LibreLink app is only compatible with certain mobile devices and operating systems. Please check the website for more information about device compatibility before using the app.

4 Authorized medical devices for uses related to COVID-19 https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/covid19-industry/medical-devices/authorized/expanded-use.html

Myant is a technology, healthcare, and textile company based out of Toronto that is uniquely addressing some of the most pressing telehealth and connected care challenges arising from the COVID-19 situation via clothing that connects the human body to the cloud, to AI, to care providers, and to loved ones.

By enabling patients to be remotely triaged on a continuous basis (via machine learning applied to biometrics captured by Skiin garments) or on demand (by remote healthcare professionals who can quickly assess an existing baseline of biometrics captured by Skiin), Myant hopes to help the healthcare system keep up with the demand for COVID-19 screening.

Myant has already agreed in principle to partner with Bayshore Healthcare to leverage their team of professional care providers on this initiative. A similar agreement has been reached to work with Telehealth Ontario.

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Umano Medical, at L’Islet, Quebec company that manufactures specialized furniture for the health sector, received a large order for sophisticated multifunction electronic hospital beds, intended for several establishments in Quebec and elsewhere around the world.

Within a month, the company had to increase its production rate by more than 50% compared to its usual production. 

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Babylon by TELUS Health is a service already available in British Columbia via a free downloadable app.

The app can serve as a new tool for Albertans to access health-care information and support in response to COVID-19—from anywhere in the province.

Albertans can use the service to check symptoms, book appointments, see a doctor, and get prescriptions and referrals for diagnostic imaging and specialists—all covered by Alberta Health Care.

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Canadian-based Thornhill Medical is producing 500 mobile compact ventilator systems to the Canadian government as part of Canada’s response to fight COVID-19.

This is in addition to an agreement signed with the Government of Ontario and Thornhill Medical to produce and supply several of its compact, portable ICU units for use across the province.

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DiaSorin, an Italian multinational biotechnology company, has developed the LIAISON test that was also approved by Health Canada.

Health Canada said it will be used in Canadian laboratories to detect COVID-19 antibodies and help contribute to a better understanding of whether people who have been infected are immune to the virus.

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CAE announced on June 17 that its CAE Air1™ ventilator has been certified by Health Canada.

This made-in-Canada ventilator is destined for hospitals across the country where it will be used in the fight against COVID-19. Certification comes two months after CAE signed a contract with the Government of Canada to manufacture and supply 10,000 ventilators.

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