Wednesday, October 8, 2008
LIFEPACK 20e, Now With a Bigger Battery
Physio-Control, a subsidiary of Medtronic out of Redmond, Washington, won FDA approval for the LIFEPACK 20e defibrillator/monitor system.
The 20e is an enhancement of the LIFEPAK 20 defibrillator/monitor, which has become the standard of care in many hospitals worldwide since its introduction in 2002. It offers all the capabilities of the LIFEPAK 20 device, along with a more powerful Lithium-ion battery that doubles ECG monitoring time and the run time of other parameters such as noninvasive pacing and pulse oximetry, a noninvasive way to monitor the oxygenation of a patient’s hemoglobin. Additionally, a new on-screen “fuel gauge” displays the real-time status of available battery capacity so clinicians can monitor remaining use time.The 20e also was developed to be easily transported, helping hospitals meet the Joint Commission for Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) standard for having resuscitation services readily available in all facility areas.
Press release: Physio-Control Receives FDA 510(K) Clearance for LIFEPAK® 20e Defibrillator/Monitor
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Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Catheter with SecurAcath Subcutaneous Mounting System Gets OK
Interrad Medical, a Minneapolis, MN firm, won FDA clearance for the catheter that features company's SecurAcath device, a system that grabs to subcutaneous tissue to anchor and secure the central line catheter.
The SecurAcath System utilizes a small anchor that deploys in the subcutaneous tissue just beneath the skin to hold an indwelling catheter securely in place. There are over 12 million venous access catheters placed each year worldwide. Currently, catheters are secured on the surface of a patient's skin using sutures or adhesive devices.The SecurAcath System offers significant advantages over current securement methods. The SecurAcath system is designed to improve catheter securement by decreasing catheter maintenance time and related costs, reducing catheter-related infections by improving cleaning of catheter exit site and minimizing catheter motion, decreasing skin surface issues, and eliminating needle stick injuries that may occur when suturing catheters.
The Company is currently developing a stand-alone SecurAcath device that can be used with virtually any indwelling catheter. The stand-alone SecurAcath is being designed to work with all PICC, CVC, dialysis and drainage catheters.
Product page: SecurAcath
Press release: Interrad Medical Receives FDA Clearance of World's First Catheter with Subcutaneous Securement System (.pdf)...
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Thursday, October 2, 2008
Want to Get CATANIA Coronary Stent? Go to Europe!
We've covered the CeloNova Bioscience's Polyzene-F Coronary Stent in the past. Considered by some to be the next generation substitute for drug-eluting stents, Polyzene®-F nanothin surface coating (also known as poly[bis(trifluroexthoxy)phosphazene] ) has a lot potential clinical advantages, such as its supposed biocompatibility and an anti-inflammatory potential. We thought that the Newnan, GA based company deserved an update though, as yesterday CeloNova announced a 'live' demonstration of the Catania Stent traversing a chronically (>30 days) and totally occluded artery. The live case symposium will take place October 15, 2008 at the Paris Cardiovascular Interventions (Francophone) Congress. According to the company, the CATANIA™ Coronary Stent System carries a CE Mark and is currently available for sale in Europe. The company rep tells Medgadget that CeloNova's products have not been FDA approved, and that the company has not made a business decision yet to try to bring its stent technology to the US.
From the press release:
The CATANIA™ Stent was selected for this live case because Polyzene®-F makes it highly lubricious and delivers low restenosis rates, excellent anti-thrombosis rates, and other clinical benefits that approach or, in some cases, may exceed those of DES, while addressing some of the significant ongoing concerns with current DES technology such as product cost, risk for thrombosis, and serious challenges associated with costly long-term dual anti-platelet therapy following treatment.“The CATANIA™ Stent has superb pushability, trackability, and flexibility. You can feel that the Polyzene®-F surface is slicker than other stents,” said Thierry Corcos, MD, FACC, FAHA, FESC, FSCAI, Service de Cardiologie, Clinique Turin, Paris, France. “For the live case, we want to really test the CATANIA™ Stent’s capabilities in a challenging anatomy, because of the clinical evidence that Polyzene®-F nanocoating prevents thrombosis, restenosis and reocclusion. Based on my experience, I believe the CATANIA™ Stent is an ideal choice for treating coronary artery disease, including chronic total occlusions.”
The proprietary nanothin, highly lubricious Polyzene®-F is a synthesized, inorganic, biocompatible polymer that is anti-thrombotic, anti-inflammatory, bacterial-resistant, and essentially cloaks the device’s presence from the body to promote healthy endothelial cell growth without stimulating platelet activation. This unique combination of stent and surface treatment effectively creates a new and different class of stent that does not require long-term dual anti-platelet therapy.
Press Release: CATANIA™ Coronary Stent from CeloNova Biosciences
Product page: Polyzene-F...
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Tuesday, September 30, 2008
IVs That Kill...The Bugs
Baxter released the first antimicrobial luer IV connector, dubbed V-Link, earlier this year, a device known to be effective against MRSA, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter cloacae. The V-Link connector employs an antimicrobial silver coating Baxter calls VitalShield. The VitaShield coated connector has been shown to kill 99.9% of pathogens that can cause IV related bloodstream infections.
Today, Baxter received FDA clearance to expand their labeling, based on confirmation of device's ability to combat three additional pathogens: vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VRE), Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (coagulase negative).
Francois Lebel, MD, vice president of Clinical and Medical Affairs for Baxter's Medication Delivery business said:
"The revised labeling and expanded indications for use further validate the broad spectrum antimicrobial coverage and effectiveness of V-Link with VitalShield in lowering the risk of pathogen contamination."
Timing for this product seems ideal, as beginning in October the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will not reimburse U.S. hospitals for costs required to treat healthcare-associated infections!
Press release: Baxter's Antimicrobial IV Technology Now Shown to Kill Six Common Pathogens, Including MRSA and VRE...
Product page: V-Link Luer-Activated Device with VitalShield Protective Coating...
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A CRIC In The Neck!
Here's an interesting product we haven't seen before. The Complete Rapid Illuminated Cricothyrotomy (CRIC) Kit is the latest life-saving medical product from Canadian company Pyng Medical, the developers of FAST1® Intraosseous Infusion System, that we profiled yesterday. Although FDA approval is pending, the new CRIC Kit is expected to provide significant improvements in speed, efficacy and safety to the life-saving medical procedure of cricothyrotomy.
The CRIC Kit is being developed with support from the US Department of Defense (DOD) for the purpose of equipping US military medics and physicians. Currently, cricothyrotomy requires the use of at least three distinct medical instruments: scalpel, retractor, insertion tube, and in many cases, a light source. This can be difficult enough to manage in a modern ER, not to mention the extreme conditions that exist on the battlefield, where an obstructed airway is the second leading cause of death (after exsanguination).
CRIC Cricothyrotomy Kit product page and instructions...
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Monday, September 29, 2008
The Fastest Way To a Man's Heart is Through FAST1 Intraosseous Infusion System
They say the fastest way to a man's heart is through his stomach, but as Pyng Medical Corporation likes to point out, not if the man is in cardiac arrest! Pyng is a Richmond, B.C. based life-sciences company whose mission is "Saving lives by saving time through innovation in resuscitation." If the military medics and physicians I work with are right (and I think they are), Pyng is certainly living up to their goals and has become a routine lifesaver in Afghanistan and Iraq.
To quote the company's website:
The FAST1® Intraosseous Infusion System is the fastest, most reliable and safe alternative to conventional intravenous and central lines. When every second counts, FAST1® offers lifesaving vascular access for fluid and drug infusion in shock and trauma victims. FAST1® Intraosseous Infusion System is the fastest route to get drugs to the heart -- less than 30 seconds -- and in higher concentrations than other IO options. With everything you need in a self-contained, lightweight package.FAST1® is an innovative leap forward in resuscitation and critical patient care. The only sternal IO option available, FAST1® has been adopted by emergency medical services, hospitals and military medical units worldwide.
Delivers drugs to the heart 2 - 3 times faster than tibial IO
Fastest route to the heart of any vascular access device, including IV
Precise placement, every time
Automatic depth control for safety of delivery above the lungs and heart
Simplicity of use
Sterile, single-use product, completely disposable, with no risk of cross-contamination
Soft, low-profile, flexible, secure tubing
Sleek, lightweight design allows portability in medic's packs
Of note, by accessing the IO route through the manubrium there is no interference with chest compressions during CPR.
Check out this video of medics practicing the technique (on each other):
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Sagent Pharmaceutical's Sequential Syringes
Sagent Pharmaceuticals of Schaumburg, IL, has acquired a multi-chamber sequential syringe delivery system from Infusive Technologies, a Utah company, which allows for multiple drug solution deliveries through one (conventional) syringe. Jeffrey M. Yordon, chairman, founder and chief executive officer of Sagent Pharmaceuticals notes that a single syringe push allows for the delivery of separate IV medications. This not only increases the speed of medication delivery but reduces the number of IV connections required (thus lowering the incidence of nosocomial infections), as well as reducing medication delivery errors.
Infusive's Chief Executive Officer, Bradley C. Robinson said "Syringes based on our unique, patented technologies have the potential to dramatically improve the delivery of IV medications, reduce the risk of medical error and hospital-acquired infection while at the same time lowering costs for healthcare providers. Infusive remains committed to providing quality IV medication delivery systems that enhance effectiveness and improve patient safety." Robinson says "I look forward to joining Jeff and the team at Sagent and to quickly make this exciting new device available to patients and caregivers."
The unique dual-chamber syringe can accommodate lyophilized (dried by freezing in a high vacuum), powder or liquid formulations in the front chamber combined with diluents, saline or heparin flush in the rear chamber.
More information about ChaSyr™ syringes can be found on Infusive website...
Press release: Sagent Pharmaceuticals acquires rights to multi-chamber syringe technology and launches device division...
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Thursday, September 18, 2008
Coming to ICU Near You: Monitoring of In Vivo Drug Concentrations
Cranfield University and Sphere Medical out of Cambridge, England are announcing a collaboration to build a real time drug monitoring system for point-of-care applications.
From Sphere Medical:
The medical profession is increasingly discovering that in critically ill patients more frequent monitoring of the patient condition results ultimately in improved patient care. The ability to monitor trends and quickly pick up changes in the condition of the patient is a powerful aid for the clinician. Moreover, being able to monitor important parameters, such as the blood concentration of certain therapeutic drugs, frequently and in real time, without increasing the workload and cost of therapy, is expected to result in new treatment regimes in intensive care medicine and may ultimately lead to better patient outcomes.In order to address this significant clinical need and market opportunity, Sphere Medical and Cranfield University are collaborating to develop novel disposable sensors for the real-time monitoring of clinically important therapeutic drugs, which currently cannot be measured at the Point-of-Care. The device will enable clinicians to control better the delivery of the drug, detect accumulation or changes in the clearance rate of the drug, and provide early detection of faults in the drug delivery system. Providing clinical information, such as drug concentrations, in real time for intensive care patients has the potential to improve therapy, save lives and significantly reduce the cost of care.
Sphere Medical press release: Sphere Medical and Cranfield University Announce Investment by the Technology Strategy Board for the Development of Point-of-Care Sensors to Improve Drug Delivery (.pdf)
Cranfield press release: Cranfield develops drug sensor to aid intensive care clinicians
Sphere Medical technology page...
Image: Photograph of a prototype of Sphere's Proxima system integrated into an arterial line. The Proxima system will form the platform onto which the new drug sensor will be integrated.
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Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Solex Goes for The Jugular: New Heat Exchange Catheter Gets FDA OK
Alsius Corp. out of Irvine, California, maker of intravascular heating/cooling systems powered by the company's proprietary Intravascular Temperature Management (IVTM™) technology, has received 510(k) FDA clearance to market the first heat exchange catheter designed for jugular insertion. The catheter is indicated for temperature management of cardiac and neurosurgical procedures, and for patients in critical care units. We spoke to a company rep over the phone, who has informed us that the catheter is designed to be placed via the Seldinger technique, and, once placed and connected to an external heating/cooling unit, will expand inside the vein, revealing the serpentine balloon, perfused with normal saline and designed to maximize surface area contact with blood. So, prior to insertion, the catheter is smooth and lean, just like other central line catheters. The company has previously been designing its catheters for femoral placement, as illustrated above. The new catheter is shown below.
Solex offers clinicians maximum heat exchange power from a standard neck insertion, while providing triple lumen central venous access."We are pleased to offer clinicians a new product that helps them deliver temperature management therapy across a wider variety of clinical scenarios," said Bill Worthen, president and chief executive officer of Alsius. "We are the only company offering high-powered temperature management via neck and leg access. This is Alsius' third product introduction this year and demonstrates our commitment to providing our customers innovative products that meet the evolving needs of their patients."
The introduction of Solex represents the newest addition to Alsius' family of catheters for use with the company's Thermogard XP(TM) and CoolGard 3000(R) Intravascular Temperature Management Systems. Solex features a proprietary, serpentine balloon design that maximizes surface area contact on a relatively short, thin catheter.
"Every patient presents a unique set of challenges, and some scenarios call for different insertion site preferences," commented Suzanne Winter, Vice President, Worldwide Sales and Marketing. "The addition of Solex further expands our broad family of heat exchange catheters, and provides our customers with more choices in treating their patients."
Alsius IVTM technology provides cooling and warming therapy via a computer-controlled temperature regulation system that connects to Alsius' proprietary heat exchange catheters. The catheters are inserted into veins in a patient's neck or leg, and circulate cool or warm saline through balloons that surround the catheters. This approach decreases or increases core temperature from the inside of the body out toward the exterior, allowing for significantly more rapid control of a patient's core body temperature, with greater efficiency and precision, compared to conventional external temperature management products such as cooling and warming blankets and ice packs.
Press release: Alsius Corporation Receives 510(K) Market Clearance for Solex(TM) Catheter
Product page: Intravascular Temperature Management
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Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Silver Coating Fights Ventilator Related Pneumonia
Clinicians at the Washington University in St. Louis conducted a study on the benefits of coating endotracheal tubes with silver to prevent the spread of infection, which often leads to pneumonia in already seriously ill patients. We are guessing that it was C.R. Bard's Agento® I.C. silver-coated endotracheal tubes that were used in the study.
Studying 1,509 patients in 54 centers who were intubated for 24 hours or more, the research group found that 7.5 percent of those with uncoated tubes developed VAP. In comparison, 4.8 percent of those with silver-coated tubes developed VAP, a 36 percent reduction.Kollef indicates that about 80 percent of patients are intubated for less than 10 days. Looking at just the first 10 days of intubation, the silver-coated tubes were associated with a 48 percent reduction in VAP, and when VAP occurred in patients with silver-coated tubes, it occurred later on average than in those with uncoated tubes.
Silver kills bacteria and yeast by sticking to the organisms' enzymes, genetic material and other molecular components, preventing basic functions and interfering with reproduction. These organisms very rarely develop resistance to silver, and the metal has no known side effects in humans.
The new endotracheal tubes are coated with a silver-containing polymer, created by C.R. Bard Inc., that releases silver ions to the surface of the tubes. There, silver exerts a broad-spectrum antimicrobial effect, reduces adhesion of bacteria to the tube and blocks the formation of biofilms, communities of microorganisms that build up special protective structures on surfaces.
Press release: Silver is the key to reducing pneumonia associated with breathing tubes...
Abstract in JAMA: Silver-Coated Endotracheal Tubes and Incidence of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia
Product page: Agento® I.C. Endotracheal Tube...
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Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Digital Lightbox Brings Minority Report to The OR (No Precognition Capabilities)
BrainLAB AG, out of Feldkirchen, Germany has recently installed its first Digital Lightbox radiology system in a Munich hospital. Designed to be installed in radiology departments, clinical floors, and operating rooms, the system behaves like a giant iPhone, simultaneously displaying volumetric images from various imaging modalities along with patient information.
Digital Lightbox replaces the conventional light box used to observe analog x-ray images. Connected to the hospital PACS, the new digital platform can be installed both in meeting rooms and in operating rooms, where clinicians can then access, manipulate, and utilize data for surgery planning. By displaying the human body in 3D, Digital Lightbox helps clinicians to more clearly demonstrate to patients what effects a disease can have and which procedures may be necessary.Digital Lightbox enables clinicians to select the most valuable images from large amounts of existing medical data. Ergonomic touchscreen technology with zoom functionality makes working with data easy and effective.
Clinicians can intuitively navigate within pictures and between settings. Image scrolling can be performed with one finger; zooming in and out of images with two. Images from different sources can also be fused easily. A measure functionality enables clinicians to set size and other dimensions.
By integrating the communication platform iPlan® Net from BrainLAB, clinicians can perform treatment planning with Digital Lightbox or any PC connected to the hospital network. This eliminates bottlenecks, as busy planning stations are rendered obsolete. iPlan Net helps to simplify the clinical workflow and save costs, as well as strengthen and simplify interdisciplinary collaboration between neurosurgery, nuclear medicine and radiology departments.
Digital Lightbox can be installed in any hospital environment and is compatible with all established image formats, such as DICOM, jpg, bmp, tif, png, avi, wmv. Planning data can be transferred directly from Digital Lightbox to surgical navigation systems designed for precise and minimally invasive procedures.
Video demonstrating the Digital Lightbox:
Press release: World Premiere at University Hospital in Munich: Digital Lightbox...
Product page: Digital Lightbox
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Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Dräger Rolls Out New Portable Wireless Monitor
Dräger Medical is introducing a new mobile telemetry device for adult and pediatric patients. The device, designed for on the floor monitoring, is touted to support hospitals "in their initiatives to mobilize patients as early as possible in order to accelerate the healing process."
In addition to monitoring ECG and SpO2, the device has built-in algorithms to enhance ECG processing and reduce false alarms – such as pacer detection software and ACE® (Arrhythmia Classification Expert), an arrhythmia analysis tool.Infinity M300 can run on a hospital’s existing 802.11 b/g network – saving the expense of requiring a separate wireless network for the telemetry system.
Infinity M300 addresses the three major challenges of telemetry monitoring. The first is viewing patient information at the patient’s side. Unlike traditional telemetry devices which have no screen, Infinity M300 has a color display that shows the patient’s ECG for all monitored leads, heart rate, SpO2, and electrode status – enabling the clinical staff to access monitored data and react promptly without having to go to the central monitoring station. The display also shows patient demographics to help confirm the patient’s identification before giving medication, taking blood samples, or performing treatments.
The second telemetry challenge is hearing and responding to alarms. InfinityM300 has built-in alarming and alarm controls, which provide alarm alerts both at the patient’s side and the Infinity CentralStation, Dräger’s central monitoring workstation. The built-in display helps the clinician assess alarms and respond accordingly.
The third challenge of telemetry monitoring is the cost and effort associated with disposable batteries. Infinity M300 has a built-in battery, which can be recharged via a bedside charger while the patient is wearing the device, or at a multi-device charger at the central monitoring station.
Press release: Dräger announces first implementation of new wireless Infinity® M300 patient-worn monitor (.pdf)...
Product page: Infinity® M300
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Monday, August 11, 2008
Nasal Cannula Goes High Tech: Precision Flow Gas Delivery Device Gets FDA OK
Vapotherm, out of Stevensville, MD, just received approval from the FDA to market its Precision Flow™ gas delivery device, "the first high flow humidification system to integrate gas blending, flow control and humidification technology into one device for the optimal conditioning of nasal cannula inspired gases."
Features from the product brochure:
PRECISION FLOW™ is a high flow heat and humidification device for the non-invasive delivery of inspired gas flows from 1 to 40 liters per minute. The technology delivers a perfect synchronization of flow, temperature, humidity and oxygen percentage without discomfort via nasal cannula.PRECISION FLOW™ moves beyond conventional humidification, giving the clinician the ability to manage the key factors in gas conditioning to achieve desired outcomes.
PRECISION FLOW™ helps clinicians reach their goal to deliver the maximum respiratory assistance safely and comfortably. More invasive techniques can result in iatrogenic effects and increased costs.
• Precise measurement of temperature and flow
• Built-in oxygen blender and oxygen sensor
• Disposable patient circuit
• Battery backup
• Rapid set up and circuit priming
• Single button control for flow, oxygen percentage and temperature values
• Color–coded, uncluttered display for alarms and indicators
• Engineered for reliability and streamlined maintenance
Press release: VAPOTHERM® PRECISION FLOW™ RECEIVES FDA 510(k) CLEARANCE
Product page: Precision Flow
Precision Flow brochure (PDF)...
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Thursday, August 7, 2008
Hamilton Introduces a Happier Looking C2 Ventilator
Hamilton Medical has teamed up with RKS, an industrial design consultancy, to create the company's new portable ventilator, the C2. Developed with loved ones in mind, the device, which will be made available later this year, wants to look like something other than a death postponement machine, a factor in today's ventilators that sours an already terrible mood.
From the announcement:
The design language of the C2 is a reaction against competitive ventilators which appear to have been designed strictly to provide data, with no consideration of the patient, the operator, or the environment. In contrast, the design language of the C2 is inviting and reassuring. It leans forward, engagingly, offering a confident and smart display. The C2 evokes a friendly personality, while still giving everyone in the room confidence that it’s a ventilator upon which you can trust your life. The C2 features HAMILTON’s unique “Ventilation Cockpit” with an intelligent touch-screen interface that gives operators a quick, at-a-glance, dashboard display of key information. The Ventilation Cockpit provides exactly the information operators need and helps them focus on what’s important. The approachable and intuitive screen of the C2 tilts to accommodate different operator positions. The clear organization of information on the display reduces pressure on operators and helps to minimize errors.
With inbuilt batteries and weighing under 21 pounds the C2 can accompany a patient anywhere within the hospital, independently of central gas and power supplies. Patients don’t have to be disconnected for transport, increasing patient safety and comfort, while at the same time reducing operator workload. The C2 can be used on a countertop, rolling stand, or carried with the built-in handle that nestles into the top of the unit when not in use. The rolling stand was designed so that, when holding the C2, it looks like one integrated design rather than a piece of equipment perched on a stand. Set for launch in the 3rd Quarter of 2008, the resulting HAMILTON C2 is a confident and friendly ventilator that empowers operators to take patient care to new levels of safety, reliability, and comfort.When you’re on a ventilator, you need more just than oxygen… you need to look up and see the face of hope looking back at you. The C2 is designed to spread calm and reassurance through the ICU as it breathes life into patients.
Press release: HAMILTON C2: WHAT COLOR IS HOPE? (.pdf)
Product page: Hamilton C2
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Tuesday, August 5, 2008
CX50 Portable Ultrasound from Philips Goes On Sale
Philips has announced the company's new portable ultrasound system, the CX50, which is the first mobile system that can be used with the company's proprietary PureWave transducers. These transducers are powered by a technology based on a new class of piezoelectric crystals, that exhibit "a quantum improvement in electromechanical coupling and strain levels. Compared to PZT ceramics, PureWave crystals are purer, more uniform, have lower losses, and are able to transfer energy with greater precision and efficiency." You can read more about PureWave here.
From the CX50 product page:
Previously available only on our premium iE33 system, PureWave on the CX50 system allows you to get the clear images you need for confident diagnoses on a wide variety of patients, including the difficult-to-image.The CX50 system was designed for your critical study requirements. In addition to PureWave, its premium imaging and Doppler performance are possible because of its digital broadband beamformer and XRES technology. Easily perform advanced echo analysis with integrated QLAB and stress echo capability.
The CX50 is designed to make portable exams easy and efficient. One-button iSCAN automatically optimizes 2D and Doppler data for new levels of clarity for your portable studies. On-board QLAB provides advanced analysis capabilities during and after exams.Portable exams are a challenge, and getting clear diagnostic data is complicated by many factors. Now you can have the image quality you need for the diagnostic confidence wherever you need it – take the CX50 to your patients.
The CX50 system can be used on a specially designed cart, hand carried to your patients, or packed in its special travel case for easy transport to remote destinations.
Press release: Philips new handheld ultrasound system offers premium image quality in a portable system
Product page: CX50 CompactXtreme Ultrasound System
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Thursday, July 31, 2008
ImaCor's Disposable Transesophageal Echocardiography Probe and System Get FDA OK
Have you ever heard of a disposable TEE? The piezoelectric elements in ultrasounds are known not to be cheap. Hence we were quite surprised to learn about this newly approved product from ImaCor of Uniondale, New York, a single use (up to 72 hours) miniaturized transesophageal echocardiography probe and imaging system.
From the press release:
ImaCor announces that it has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to market the ClariTEE™ probe and the ZuraTM imaging system. The ClariTEE probe is a miniaturized transesophageal echocardiography probe which facilitates episodic monitoring of cardiac function. The ClariTEE is a single use device that can remain indwelling for up to 72 hours, allowing intensivists and anesthesiologists to periodically assess cardiac preload and left ventricular systolic function over a prolonged period of time.“ImaCor believes that the ClariTEE probe will be a major contribution to the care of the critically ill, especially in ICU and perioperative situations” said Scott L. Roth, MD, Chief Executive Officer and a founder of ImaCor. “Current methods of monitoring hemodynamics in this patient population are either invasive, inconclusive, or both. The ClariTEE probe is minimally invasive and allows physicians to directly visualize cardiac size and function, and to assess changes as pharmacologic interventions are made,” adds Roth.
"This is a technology that intensive care physicians have been waiting for,” says Dr. Alexander Levitov, Critical Care section chief at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital in Virginia. Levitov adds, “The ClariTEE probe has the potential to become the standard of care in managing hemodynamically unstable patients in the ICU.”
We contacted ImaCor to inquire about the pricing of the device, but no one at the firm was available to comment.
Press release: ImaCor receives 510(k) clearance of its ClariTEE probe and Zura Imaging System (.pdf)...
Product page: ClariTEE Probe and Zura Imaging System...
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Friday, July 25, 2008
IBM Applies Computing Muscle to Help Premature Babies
IBM is teaming up with the University of Ontario Institute of Technology to develop monitoring software that would closely observe and predict the health status of premature babies during their most critical time.
From a press release:
Monitoring "preemies" as a patient group is especially important as certain life-threatening conditions such as infection can be detected up to 24 hours in advance by observing changes in physiological data streams.The type of information that will come out of the research project is not available today. Currently, physicians monitoring preemies rely on a paper-based process that involves manually looking at the readings from various monitors and getting feedback from the nurses providing care.
"This research has the potential to reatly impact neonatal care through reduced mortality and morbidity rates and overall health-care costs," said Dr. McGregor [Dr. Carolyn McGregor, a University of Ontario Institute of Technology associate professor and Canada Research Chair in Health Informatics --ed.]. "By merging our research and technology, we are able to collect more detailed patient data in a systematic manner, do online health analysis and decision support, and get advanced early warning of emerging patterns that could predict a medical event."
When fully developed, IBM's software will be capable of processing the 512 readings per second generated by some of these medical devices, and UOIT researchers will further test and develop its ability to analyze these vast quantities of data in real time.
Initially researchers will use NICU medical devices in UOIT's state-of-the-art Health Informatics Laboratory to test IBM's software using simulated patient mirroring data. Then the software will be tested using de-identified actual patient data. The de-identified data is recorded in a way that enables researchers to alter some variables, play it back and run simulations for further study.
Press release: First-of-a-Kind Technology to Help Doctors Care for Premature Babies....
Image by keaggy.com
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Tuesday, July 22, 2008
HAMILTON-G5 Ventilator Is a Finalist in 2008 IDEA Awards
Hamilton Medical's G5 Ventilator has just been recognized by the Industrial Designers Society of America with the 2008 IDEA award. The society has in particular stressed the device as "the first ICU patient ventilator to provide a new ventilation cockpit that is designed to improve safety through intuitive operation and monitoring. Closed-loop ventilation automatically applies lung-protective strategies, reduces the risk of operator error and promotes early weaning off the machine."
More about this product from company's page:
The new HAMILTON-G5 ICU ventilator was designed to be simpler for the user and safer for the patient. Rather than bringing you even more curves and loops, its Ventilation Cockpit™ integrates complex data into intuitive graphics that answer two essential questions:* What is my patient's lung condition, and what kind of ventilation do they need?
* When should I take my patient off the ventilator?* Ventilates virtually all intubated patients - whether active or passive and regardless of their lung disease – based on a ventilation strategy tailored to their individual condition (Arnal JM et al. Int Care Med 2004;30:84)
* Is more responsive than conventional modes in adapting to the patient's breathing activity (Petter AH et al. Anesth Analg 2003;97:1743-50)
* Requires fewer user interactions and gives fewer alarms (Petter AH et al. Anesth Analg 2003;97:1743-50)
* Facilitates shorter ventilation times (Sulzer CF et al. Anesthesiology 2001;95:1339-45, Cassina T et al. J Cartiothorac Vasc Anesth 2003;17:571-75)
* Provides ventilation at least as safely and effectively as international ventilation experts using conventional modes (Iotti GA et al. Int Care Med 2005;31:192)
Online simulator of the ventilator you can play with...
Product page: HAMILTON MEDICAL: g5...
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Monday, July 14, 2008
Epocrates Rx Now on iPhone
Epocrates has announced that its free drug and formulary application, Epocrates Rx, is finally available for the iPhone through the iTunes store.
Some of the features from the product page:
Adult and pediatric dosing for FDA-approved and off-label indications Black box warnings, contraindications, and cautions Serious and common adverse reactions, and drug interactions organized by clinical category Pill pictures within the drug monograph showing you and your patients exactly what each drug looks like Safety and monitoring information, such as pregnancy risk categories, lactation safety ratings, monitoring parameters and therapeutic drug levels Manufacturer information, approximate retail pricing, and FDA/DEA status Pharmacology information, including metabolism, excretion (i.e., half-life), drug class, and mechanism of action Notes section for your personal notes
Press release: Epocrates Drug and Formulary Application on Apple App Store
Product page: Epocrates Rx for iPhone