Sponsored – Medtronic
For distributor reps working with ICU teams, nurses, respiratory therapists and home care suppliers, suctioning solutions are no longer just a commodity conversation – they’re tied directly to patient and clinician safety, workflow efficiency, and cost control. The Medtronic DAR™ closed suction system is positioned to address all three, without requiring clinicians to change their established processes.
A key differentiator of the DAR™ closed suction system product portfolio is its flexibility in meeting varying patient needs – providing clinicians with the options they need for individualized care. Clinicians can choose between two versions for their adult patients, both available in endotracheal and tracheostomy tube lengths. For patients with heavy secretions, Medtronic offers a detachable catheter option validated for up to 96 hours of use – allowing only the catheter to be replaced instead of the entire system without disconnecting the ventilator circuit. A fixed 48-hour catheter with unique safety features is a great option for the majority of patients. The extended use time on both versions, compared to standard 24-hour systems, means fewer product changes, less circuit disruption, and potential savings in both time and supply costs.
Key features and benefits:
- Dual-density catheter design: Combines a soft, rounded distal tip to help reduce trauma to the tracheal mucosa with a more rigid proximal section to minimize kinking during use.
- Four lateral eyes: Promote uniform airflow and suctioning, helping reduce the risk of mucosal invagination compared to single side-hole catheters.
- 360-degree double swiveling elbow (DSE): Minimizes torque on the airway during patient movement, supporting comfort and stability.
- 120-degree elbow angle: Designed to reduce airflow resistance compared to traditional 90-degree configurations.
- Enhanced rinsing chamber design: Enables effective catheter cleaning while maintaining airway isolation and stable ventilation pressures.
From a clinical and economic standpoint, infection prevention is a major part of the value story. Closed suction systems are associated with a lower risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) compared to open systems. By extending use time to 48 hours – and up to 96 hours for the detachable version – the DAR™ closed suction system helps reduce the frequency of interventions that can introduce risk.
For reps, this creates a strong connection to hospital priorities around quality metrics and reimbursement frameworks such as HEDIS and MACRA. Additionally, the product is often aligned with existing GPO contracts, making it easier for facilities to adopt without adding complexity to procurement.