VEIN INDUSTRY RESOURCES SPOTLIGHT

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BSN Medical Inc. Places Focus on Style and Appeal with JOBST Brand

By: Dean J Bender, Vice President Research & Development

BSN medical is a global manufacturer and distributor of medical textile products formed in 2001 with products servicing the Wound Care, Orthopedic, Phlebology and Lymphology markets. BSN is best known in the United States for the JOBST brand of medical compression garments. JOBST is the #1 provider globally of medical compression garments with a complete offering for all stages and aspects of venous and lymphatic disease. The JOBST product portfolio contains compression bandaging, anti-embolism stockings, medical gradient stockings, custom knit and sewn garments for severe venous and lymphatic disease, arm sleeves, gloves, and gauntlets not to mention surgical bras and other specialties needed to provide the most complete therapy options for our patients. Jobst currently has manufacturing for medical compression products located in Germany, France, United States and Mexico.

JOBST has a heritage of investment in the advancement of therapies for venous and lymphatic disease that originated in the late 1940’s from the founder, Conrad Jobst. Conrad was a renowned mechanical engineer working in Toledo, Ohio when he was left essentially disabled as a result of the development of venous ulcers. The therapies of the day were most unsuccessful in treating his condition and had it not been for his own realization one day in a swimming pool that countering the internal venous hypertension with external compression he most assuredly would have lost his legs to amputation.

The initial innovation of the JOBST products came in the development of textile processes designed to create garments that could provide external gradient compression to the lower limbs. While we have seen over the years significant improvements in the fibers, fabrics and styles of gradient compression garments the basic underlying premise remains unchanged.

The industry of medical compression garments has seen significant change in the past 10-15 years with a concerted effort by Jobst and the other manufacturers to design and develop medical compression garments that not only meet the medical need of providing external compression but that also improve the therapeutic index of the products. That is innovations that reduce the adverse effects of the products.

Medical compression stockings have the heritage of the “Mrs. Doubtfire” styling and appeal. They have traditionally been perceived as “ugly”, “hot”, and “uncomfortable” and of course quite difficult to don. This has led to poor patient compliance and a reduced therapeutic outcome. However, today it is now possible to be wearing medical compression stockings with no one recognizing the fact.

Advancements have come in recent years in styling specific for gender. For women the garments can be found in quite beautiful sheer fabrics of Ultrasheer or soft supple fabrics found in “Opaque”. The men have not been left out either with products designed specifically to meet their fashion requirements in “for Men”

The latest advancements from the JOBST team have been targeted towards the need for garments to meet not only the fashion segment of our patients need but also the need for compression in a casual environment with our “Women’s Casual” and “Activewear” products recently released. These products further add to the concept that medical compression garments can now allow our patients to blend into their environments with out the stigma of everyone knowing that they are wearing a medical device.

The next generation of products to be rolled out by the JOBST team are designed to improve the “Comfort” of wearing compression stockings. Significant development in textile technology in regards to improving the moisture management of textile fabrics has resulted in the creation of garments that move moisture away from the body, that improve the evaporation rate, that reduce the relative humidity between the body and the fabric resulting in a more comfortable wearing experience. This comfort enhancement can already be seen in the JOBST “Activewear” medical stocking available in 15-20, 20-30 and 30-40 mmHg compression which incorporates “Dri-Release” (tm Optimer) fiber technology.

Such advancement has not only been seen in products targeted for venous disease patients but similarly in our “Elvarex” product line for the therapy of Lymphedema. Recently released in Europe and coming to the United States is the new line of “Elvarex Soft” products designed to provide the excellent edema management in a softer more easily donned fabric design.

At JOBST we recognize that our patients would prefer not to be faced with the challenges of managing venous and lymphatic disease, however it is our objective to see to it that compression therapy continues to provide optimal therapeutic outcomes while making the experience as pleasurable as possible.