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-New device for collecting umbilical cord blood is safer, faster, more efficient, and more versatile-

Key Plastics, an engineering company based in Bray, Co. Wicklow and the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, the oldest maternity hospital in the world, will today launch their new invention that provides safe, fast, efficient, versatile and enhanced performance benefitting maternity units across the world at the Med In Ireland Conference, the RDS, Dublin.

The Umbifunnel is a unique, functional-designed, cord blood collection device featuring a collection funnel and stand.

Collecting blood from an umbilical cord, post-delivery, is common practice in obstetric and neonatal care. The blood collected is used for screening and diagnostic tests including blood typing, genetic screening, haemoglobinopathy screening and coagulopathy screening, among other functions.

Until now, the two most commonly used methods for collecting this blood have been, to use a needle and syringe or a draining method. These methods pose risks of needle stick injuries to staff and the risk of not obtaining the best sample possible.

(L-R) Deirdre Glenn, Director of Life Sciences, Enterprise Ireland, Eamonn Downes, Managing Director, Key Plastics, Minister Pat Breen TD, Les Corbett, Health and Saefty Manager, Rotunda Hospital, with the Umbifunnel, a cord blood collection device developed by the Rotunda Hospital and Key Plastics, launched at the Med In Ireland Conference in the RDS this morning

Les Corbett, Health and Safety Manager at the Rotunda Hospital, and inventor of the Umbifunnel said:The Umbifunnel is a simple solution. It’s intuitive, no training required and makes an important step in the blood collection process easy. It also eliminates the risk of needle stick injuries during the collection of umbilical cord blood. So, not only is The Umbifunnel fast, efficient, and versatile, it’s also safe.”

Speaking about the device, Prof Fergal Malone, Master of the Rotunda Hospital, said: “At the Rotunda Hospital we are always looking for new ways to improve the experience for patients and staff. The Umbifunnel invention has been progressed through the dual support of our partners Key Plastics and is a direct response to Principle Number 2 of the Rotunda Hospital’s Strategic Plan 2017-2021 objectives. This is the latest example of the Rotunda Hospital providing the platform for innovation and paving the way forward for best national and international healthcare practices.”

The Umbifunnel removes the need for needles and syringes, eliminating the risk of needle stick injuries for many tests that occur daily in maternity units worldwide. This will reduce the risk of clotting, ensuring that these precious blood samples’ integrity is kept intact.

The elegant simplicity of the design of the Umbifunnel means that it is easy to use with minimal training required. Its versatility allows umbilical cord blood to be funnelled into all standard laboratory collection tubes and it allows hands to be free for cord milking.

Speaking of the partnership with Key Plastics, Dr Joanna Griffin, Director of Research and Clinical Innovation at The Rotunda Hospital commented: “We have worked with Key Plastics for the last number of years as we took the Rotunda Umbifunnel from concept to manufacture. We are delighted to continue to work closely together as we bring this exciting medical device to market.”

For further information on the Umbifunnel please contact KeyPlastics directly at [email protected]

Midwife Emily Campion from The Rotunda Hospital with the Umbifunnel, developed by The Rotunda Hospital and Key Plastics, which was launched at the Med In Ireland Conference in the RDS today

About Key Plastics

Key Plastics was founded in 1986 and is a single destination solution provider offering custom manufactured solutions in metal and plastics to industries such as aerospace, medical, telecoms and engineering. Accredited to ISO 13485, AS 9100 & ISO 9001 Key Plastics have combined mould design, mould manufacture and precision engineering services with state of the art injection moulding capabilities to support their worldwide customer base.

By providing full project support from concept to prototyping and validation to mass production their customers receive not only a streamlined procurement process but are guaranteed a competitively priced solution, on-time deliveries at superior quality levels.