Smith & Nephew Acquires Developer of Pressure Injury Prevention Device

Smith & Nephew plc, the global medical technology business, is acquiring Leaf Healthcare Inc, developer of the Leaf Patient Monitoring System for pressure injury prevention and patient mobility monitoring. The transaction follows Smith & Nephew’s successful two-year partnership with Leaf Healthcare as an exclusive distributor and strategic investor.
 
The Leaf Patient Monitoring System is comprised of a small, lightweight, wearable sensor that wirelessly monitors a patient’s position and their mobility whilst in a hospital. The tracking data is used to automate and document the compliance with prescribed turn protocols for patients at risk for pressure injuries.

“Consistent with our initial strategic investment, Smith & Nephew is focused on providing not just products to treat conditions, but also supporting clinicians with technologies designed for prevention as well as treatment, and helping healthcare facilities reduce the cost of care,” said Simon Fraser, president of Advanced Wound Management, Smith & Nephew. “The Leaf Patient Monitoring System is highly complementary to Smith & Nephew’s existing wound portfolio and we are excited by the opportunities of expanding this product within our global portfolio.”
 
An estimated 2.5 million pressure injuries are treated each year in U.S. acute care facilities alone,¹ with an estimated annual burden of $11 billion in the United States.² National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP) guidelines recommend a prevention protocol for high-risk patients that includes prophylactic foam dressings, preventative skin care including pH balanced skin cleanser, and patient repositioning with early mobilization.³ The Leaf Patient Monitoring System together with Smith & Nephew’s ALLEVYN◊ LIFE and ALLEVYN GENTLE BORDER and SECURA◊ Skin Care products provide a comprehensive portfolio to help customers achieve and optimise pressure injury prevention protocols.
 
In January 2018, an independently conducted Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) from Stanford University evaluated optimal patient repositioning and found that the Leaf Patient Monitoring System induced a 43 percent relative increase in turning protocol compliance in high-risk patients. Patients treated with the Leaf sensor were 73 percent less likely to develop a pressure injury.⁴
 
“The benefits of patient turning and improved patient mobility are well recognised, including the potential for shorter hospital stays,” said Barrett Larson, M.D., co-founder and CEO of Leaf Healthcare. “We are proud of the impact our technology has already made through our existing relationship with Smith & Nephew. We are excited by this new opportunity to deploy our award-winning pressure injury prevention technology through Smith & Nephew’s extensive Advanced Wound Management portfolio.”
 
The transaction is expected to close in Q2 2019, subject to the satisfaction of customary conditions, and will be financed from existing cash and debt facilities. The commercial terms have not been disclosed.
 
Smith & Nephew is a portfolio medical technology business with leadership positions in Orthopaedics, Advanced Wound Management and Sports Medicine. Smith & Nephew has more than 16,000 employees and a presence in more than 100 countries. Annual sales in 2018 were $4.9 billion.

References 
¹ Reddy M, Gill SS, Rochon PA. Preventing pressure ulcers: a systematic review. Jama. 2006;296:974–84.
² Russo et el. Hospitalizations Related to Pressure Ulcers, 2006. HCUP Statistical Brief #64. December 2008. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD.
³ National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel, European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel and Pan Pacific Pressure Injury Alliance. Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Ulcers: Quick Reference Guide. Emily Haesler (Ed.). Cambridge Media: Osborne Park, Australia; 2014
⁴ Pickham D, Berte N, Pihulic M, Valdez A, Barbara M, Desai M. Effect of a wearable patient sensor on care delivery for preventing pressure injuries in acutely ill adults: A pragmatic randomized clinical trial (LS-HAPI study). Int J Nurs Stud. 2018; 80, 12-19.