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SKU: MEDTAC0456

Type: Needle Decompression

Vendor: Prometheus Medical

Russell PNEUMOFIX

Name: Russell PNEUMOFIX
Brand: Prometheus Medical
SKU: MEDTAC0456
Price: 67.0 AUD
Availability: InStock

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Your Price: $67.00

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$67.00

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Prometheus Medical · Chest Decompression Device

Russell PneumoFix®

A purpose-built 12-gauge × 11 cm sterile chest decompression device, designed by practising clinicians rather than adapted from an IV cannula. A Veress-type spring-loaded blunt inner stylet, a low-pressure one-way valve, centimetre depth markings and an X-ray detectable kink-resistant catheter. Sterile, single use.

12 Ga. × 11 cm (4.33 in.)Veress-type blunt styletOne-way valveSterile · single use

A repurposed IV cannula was never engineered for the pleural space. This one was — and the depth markings mean the receiving facility knows exactly how far it went in.

What's Included

Single configuration. Tap to see what ships in the package.

VIEW ▾What's Included — SKU MEDTAC0456

1× Russell PneumoFix® chest decompression device, 12 gauge × 11 cm (4.33 in.) — Veress-type spring-loaded blunt inner stylet, low-pressure one-way valve, centimetre depth graduations, X-ray detectable kink-resistant catheter
Supplied sterile, single use, in a 28 cm × 8.5 cm package
Manufacturer product codes PDF102 (12 Ga.) and PDF112 (12 Ga., Bound Tree) — the code supplied depends on the packaging run
No scalpel or skin incision is required for insertion, per the manufacturer's description of the Veress-type tip

▾Specifications

Russell PneumoFix® — specifications

Specification	Detail
Manufacturer	Prometheus Medical (distributed via Safeguard Medical)
SKU (MED-TAC)	MEDTAC0456
Manufacturer product codes	PDF102 (12 Ga.) · PDF112 (12 Ga., Bound Tree)
Needle gauge	12 Ga.
Catheter length	11 cm (4.33 in.)
Needle tip design	Veress type — spring-loaded blunt retractable inner stylet, stated by the manufacturer to reduce the risk of lung injury on entry
Valve	Low-pressure one-way valve — vents air and fluid out, resists air re-entry
Depth markings	Centimetre graduations, readable for depth recording and handoff documentation
Radiographic visibility	X-ray detectable catheter
Catheter material	Kink-resistant, selected to hold patency in the intercostal space
Packaged dimensions	28 cm × 8.5 cm
Sterility	Sterile, single use
Manufacturer-stated indications	Tension pneumothorax, simple pneumothorax and pleural effusion — by trained providers, as stated by the manufacturer
CoTCCC status	The PneumoFix® is not named on the CoTCCC recommended-device list. The device the CoTCCC names for needle decompression is the NAR ARS® needle. Separately, the TCCC Guidelines specify a minimum catheter length of 3.25 in. For needle decompression — a dimensional standard for the procedure, not a recommendation attaching to this product.

Needle and catheter decompression of the chest is an invasive procedure. This page describes the device and the manufacturer's published specifications; it is not a procedural guide, an indication set, or a substitute for accredited training and medical direction.

▾Who Carries It

Physicians, physician assistants, nurses and paramedics in emergency departments and prehospital services · Combat medics, SOF medical providers and prolonged field care teams, where a single provider may manage thoracic problems for hours before evacuation · Flight and critical-care transport crews carrying a decompression option sized beyond the 3.25 in. minimum.

Decompression is performed only by providers trained and authorised to do it, under local protocol and medical direction. The manufacturer describes the device as suitable for tension pneumothorax, simple pneumothorax and pleural effusion; which of those a given provider may treat is a scope-of-practice question, not a product question.

Genuine Prometheus Medical

Sourced direct from the manufacturer or an authorized master distributor. Ships from MED-TAC International, Pembroke Pines, FL — clinician-founded, veteran-led, SDVOSB-certified.

Built around MARCH. Every kit we sell maps to the MARCH protocol — Massive hemorrhage, Airway, Respiration, Circulation, Hypothermia. Learn the sequence in our complete MARCH guide.

SPECS & MEASUREMENTS

Specifications coming soon. Contact us for detailed product information.

SHIPPING & RETURNS

Domestic & Military Shipping

Free Standard Shipping: Automatically applied at checkout on all orders $200 and above within the 48 contiguous United States (CONUS).

APO/FPO Military Addresses: Unconditionally free standard shipping on every order, with no minimum purchase required.

Order Processing & Tracking

Standard Gear: In-stock medical devices, consumables, and tactical packs process within 48 hours.

Stocked Kit Bags: Custom-built kits ship within 7-10 days as they are assembled by hand at our South Florida facility.

Automated carrier tracking details are emailed immediately upon shipment dispatch.

30-Day Returns & Medical Safety

Returns: Unused, unopened equipment in original manufacturer packaging is eligible for return within 30 days of delivery.

Bio-Safety Notice: To ensure sterility and patient safety, medical consumables with opened or broken tamper-evident seals cannot be returned.

Return Facility: MED-TAC International Corp., 15757 Pines Blvd, Suite 154, Pembroke Pines, FL 33027.

Export Compliance

North American Rescue (NAR) products and rifle hard armor plates are strictly restricted to US and APO/FPO addresses and cannot be exported internationally.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What gauge and length is the Russell PneumoFix?

The Russell PneumoFix® is a 12-gauge, 11 cm (4.33 inch) sterile chest decompression device. This exceeds the CoTCCC-recommended minimum 3.25-inch length by over an inch — providing greater assurance of pleural access in patients with elevated chest wall thickness. The 12-gauge lumen is larger than the standard 14-gauge, allowing faster venting of pressurized air in tension pneumothorax.

What is the Veress-tipped needle on the PneumoFix and why is it significant?

The Veress needle tip is a spring-loaded safety mechanism: as the sharp outer needle penetrates the parietal pleura and enters the pleural space, the blunt inner stylet automatically springs forward to protect the underlying lung parenchyma from the needle tip. This minimizes the risk of iatrogenic lung injury on pleural entry — a particular concern when the needle is advancing quickly or the patient is moving. The Veress design also enables insertion without a preceding scalpel incision, simplifying the procedure.

Can the Russell PneumoFix be used for conditions other than tension pneumothorax?

Yes. The PneumoFix® is indicated for three pleural conditions: tension pneumothorax (emergency pressure relief), simple pneumothorax (decompression without tension physiology), and pleural effusion (fluid removal from the pleural space). This expanded clinical utility makes it particularly valuable in extended field care (EFC) and prolonged casualty care (PCC) scenarios where providers may encounter a spectrum of thoracic conditions over extended patient management periods prior to evacuation.

Does the Russell PneumoFix have a one-way valve?

Yes. The PneumoFix® incorporates a low-pressure one-way valve that allows air and fluid to exit the pleural space while preventing outside air from re-entering — functioning like a miniaturized Heimlich valve. This is critical for maintaining the decompressed state throughout the catheter dwell period: without a one-way valve, atmospheric air could re-enter the pleural space with each inspiration, progressively reconstituting the tension physiology.

Why is the X-ray detectable catheter on the PneumoFix important for hospital handoff?

The radiopaque (X-ray detectable) catheter allows the receiving facility to visualize the PneumoFix® position on chest radiograph, confirming accurate pleural placement, depth, and any need for repositioning or removal. Combined with the centimeter depth markings that allow the provider to record insertion depth in their prehospital documentation, this feature significantly improves the quality of clinical handoff information — reducing the risk of delays or adverse events caused by uncertainty about catheter position at hospital arrival.