ANSELL clinches the Medical Product Innovation Award - Malaysia at Healthcare Asia Medtech Awards 2023

Their innovative skin-friendly PI-KARE Technology is a game-changer in the healthcare industry, offering healthcare workers a safer and more comfortable option when performing surgical procedures.

Due to the prevalence of latex allergies, risk minimisation strategies and more efficient OR management, hospitals around the world have shifted or planning to transition to using synthetic gloves like polyisoprene (PI). 

However, both natural and synthetic gloves still use chemical accelerators that can cause allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). These led to a significant number of skin-related reactions amongst healthcare workers, with chemical accelerators being the primary culprit with rates of sensitivity varying between 10-17%. 

In addition to that, ergonomics are critical in glove design as gloves are used for long periods of time with research showing that between 28-35% of surgeons who performed open, robotic and laparoscopic surgeries reported hand pain.

Ansell's PI-KARE Technology has been engineered to address the increasing prevalence of latex allergies and chemical sensitivities amongst healthcare workers as the technology eliminates from its formulation all chemical accelerators that cause Type IV allergies and sensitivities, making it the world's first range of skin-friendly, non-sensitizing PI gloves that are both US FDA-510(k) and dual CE Medical Device and PPE certified. The glove formulation uses only biologically safer chemical accelerators that are known to either be completely consumed during manufacturing or remain within the glove film displaying better skin tolerance. This is demonstrated by passing multiple tests including a 200-subject Human Repeat Insult Patch Test.

In order to improve healthcare workers (HCWs) work performance, this technology offers a stronger whilst softer surgical glove that is also ergonomically designed to improve HCWs' musculoskeletal health during repetitive tasks. This is demonstrated by Ansell's GAMMEX Non-Latex PI surgical gloves achieving ERGOFORM^TM Ergonomic Design Technology Certification by United States Ergonomics, making it the only ergonomically certified PI surgical glove in the market. These PI gloves surpassed the comfort and strength of standard Natural Rubber Latex (NRL) gloves being softer, ‘stretchier’ and more robust, supporting the musculoskeletal health of HCWs during repetitive tasks and thus improving their work performance.

GAMMEX Non-Latex PI surgical gloves feature other innovative technology such as the DERMASHIELD^TM Donning Aid Technology, which enables fast and easy damp or dry hand donning, and the A.R.T^TM Technology, which minimises possible defects that may result in pinholes. The gloves are also packed with an Ansell SMART Pack^TM dispenser, a more compact design which saves storage space, and minimises the risk of contamination with smaller handling surfaces. This packaging design has also won the World of Safety and Health Asia Awards 2022.

As a result of these efforts, Ansell, a global leader in protection solutions, has won the Medical Product Innovation Award - Malaysia at the Healthcare Asia Medtech Awards 2023. With a legacy of 130 years, Ansell is the No. 1 surgical glove of choice of O.R. staff around the world*.

The brand has consistently been a trailblazer in the industry, dedicating itself to cutting-edge research and development. Ansell's high-quality products are trusted by professionals in a wide range of industries, including healthcare, pharmaceuticals, automotive, chemicals, food, and construction.

*Based on the largest volume of surgical gloves sold globally. Data on file