Disposable lifesavers: three companies at the forefront of medical technology.

• Author: Beers, Heather
• Position: Tech Knowledge - Utah Medical Products Inc. - Specialized Health Products International Inc. - Merit Medical Systems Inc.

NONE OF US WOULD WISH it on ourselves. The sound of the monitor's electronic drum, beating in rhythm with our own heart. The hushed pad ... pad ... pad of the nurse's orthopedic whites as she steps in to check our progress. All the unknowns that leave too much room for doubt. We may not welcome it, but chances are, each of us will face some kind of health crisis during our lifetime.

Thanks to a few Utah companies, some of this anxiety is cased through innovative medical products. What's unique about these products is that when the excitement's over, they're discarded. Disposable medical products are a significant segment of the healthcare industry, and these three Utah companies are among the major players in a worldwide effort to improve health.

Utah Medical Products, Inc.

There are touch-and-go moments in childbirth, particularly in high-risk deliveries, when tracking the status of the unborn baby is critical. It wasn't until the late '80s, when Utah Medical Products, Inc. introduced us breakthrough Intran[R] fetal monitoring system, that physicians could get a reliable read on the mother's contractions and the fetus' heart rate--essential factors in viable deliveries.

Kevin Cornwell, CEO of Utah Medical Products, explains that during obstetric procedures, such as labor induction or amnioinfusion, the mother's contractions can accelerate to dangerous levels--cutting off oxygen supply through the umbilical cord, causing the placenta to rupture, or creating a number of other complications.

To help physicians closely monitor this intrauterine pressure, Utah Medical Products developed the Intran catheter. Balancing electronic functionality with the safety of the fetus and mother, the semi-rigid catheter is tipped by a soft boot, where a transducer converts mechanical pressure signals into electronic data relayed to the monitors- More than 25 percent of all births nationwide now utilize the Intran system.

Besides perinatology, Utah Medical Products also specializes in products for neonatology, gynecology and other healthcare segments. With more than 45 current patents, the company's commitment to innovation is clear. "Through our relationships with physicians, we identify a procedure physicians feel maybe has a risk to the patient, [or] side effects that are not desirable. We then try to apply our technical skills to find a way to reduce those risks or side effects," says Cornwell.

Based in Salt Lake City with additional facilities in Oregon...