Interview with: John Armstrong, Managing Director & CEO, Armstrong Medical Ltd

Armstrong Medical Ltd is based at Wattstown Business Park in Coleraine, Northern Ireland. This year, the company celebrates 21 years at the forefront of the anaesthetics supply industry. Having evolved from being a distributor of disposable products, Armstrong Medical now designs, manufactures, markets and exports its own brand of innovative respiratory products to 50 countries globally.

APN: Can you tell us a bit about the history of the company, John?
JA: Founded in 1984 we have developed from being a disposables distributor to our current position where we employ 65 people in the design, manufacture and marketing of our disposable range of respiratory products. Some of the milestones of development over the years being:

• 1992 Assembly of custom built respiratory products
• 1993 Design and patent of respiratory components
• 1997 Development of world’s first patented strong alkali-free CO₂ absorbent AMSORB®
• 2002 Decision taken to become vertically integrated in all aspects of the AMSORB® manufacturing process. On site manufacture of AMSORB® PLUS
• 2004-5 Setting up of injection moulding and manufacture of corrugated and smooth bore tubing in Coleraine

APN: Are there any recent developments that you can tell us about?
JA: We were invited to attend the Anaesthesia Patient Safety Foundation conference in Chicago in April 2005 along with other healthcare professionals. The meeting was convened because of ongoing concerns at the highest level regarding the use of desiccated CO₂ absorbents. The outcome of which was to issue a strong recommendation to use non-destructive CO₂ absorbents such as AMSORB® PLUS. We are seeing the elimination from use in hospitals of all sodium hydroxide based CO₂ absorbents.

APN: What changes do you see occurring in the industry over the next few years?
JA: We believe that concerns regarding the re-use of disposable breathing systems in theatres and possible cross infection due to the transmission of infection on the surface of the anaesthetic circuits and accessories will lead to implementation of stronger single patient use policies.

It is also our belief that the AAGBI infection control guidelines in relation to the re-use of disposable products will be adhered to.

APN: What is the company focus and what do you offer the anaesthetics industry?
JA: First and foremost we are a company that is focused on patient safety. It was this focus which enabled the company to make the innovative leap in the development of AMSORB® PLUS. Our focus is also on providing the solution of complete kitting of anaesthesia products. Custom building ensures that several requisitions and purchase orders are not required to assemble the product in the anaesthesia department. Instead it can be designed to the requirements of the user with less storage, less packaging & waste, correctly assembled, saving time and at a price which will be extremely competitive compared to the purchase of all the individual items.

In the current environment where efficiency and cost savings are being measured it certainly makes sense. The additional safety offered by pre-assembled anaesthesia kits cannot be underestimated.

APN: Who are your customers?
JA: Our customers are anaesthetists involved in anaesthesia and intensive care medicine and any other healthcare professionals in the operating and critical care areas.

APN: What is your most popular product and why do you think that is?
JA: AMSORB® PLUS. We were the first company worldwide to present a solution to the issues of concern regarding the use of dehydrated CO₂ absorbents and the production of Carbon Monoxide, Compound A and Formaldehyde as breakdown products of the anaesthetic agents.

Recent recommendations from the APSF have put these issues into perspective and the problem is being examined again with renewed interest by clinical directors and anaesthetists worldwide.

AMSORB® PLUS is the world’s first strong alkali-free CO₂ absorbent whose colour indicator shows desiccation of the granule.

APN: How are you committed to quality?
JA: It is my personal belief that quality is embedded in the ethos of Armstrong Medical Ltd and to this end we operate to the following quality systems:-

• ISO 13485 and Canadian requirements CMDCAS
• ISO 9001
• Armstrong Medical products are CE marked indicating conformance with Medical Device Directive 93/42/EEC

This clearly indicates our commitment to quality, not just in management, but also in quality of service, customer response times and ultimately, this leads to the delivery of a quality product to the customer and patient.

APN: Do you work with anaesthetists in the development of your products?
JA: Yes, we have always valued highly the partnership that exists between ourselves and those directly involved in clinical management of patients. As a result of this several of our products have been developed as a direct response to requests by anaesthetists identifying a concern with a current product or system. All products are developed with maximum patient safety in mind.

APN: How do you keep up-to-date with the latest trends in the industry?
JA: We have a complete team in direct sales, marketing, regulatory and product design who are in daily communication with the marketplace and our customers.

APN: AMSORB® PLUS was recently your ‘Product of the Month’. Can you tell us a little more about it?
JA: AMSORB® PLUS is our fastest growing product as consultant anaesthetists become more aware of the risks attached to using desiccated soda lime. Ironically our biggest markets are USA, Japan, Italy, Germany and China. The recent recommendations by APSF reinforce the claims that we have made since 1997. It is our strong belief that trends already established in the countries mentioned above will find widespread acceptance in the UK market. Initially the information published on this subject was accepted by those already involved at the leading edge of research in this area. However, the possibility of serious patient implications failed to find widespread clinical acceptance. Recent clinical incidences repeated in the peer journals have once more highlighted the patient safety issues.

The Armstrong Medical team can be contacted on 028 7035 6029.