We have learned that at the upcoming Medica 2008 (Nov. 19-22 in Düsseldorf, Germany), MAQUET GmbH & Co. KG is set to unveil the company’s latest circulatory bypass machine called CARDIOHELP, a device “no bigger than a suitcase.” 
Following the presentation, CARDIOHELP will be available in selected European markets starting May 2009. Depending on the timeframes for national registrations other then the CE mark, the device will also be available in other markets as soon as the required regulatory approvals are obtained.
This little device is stuffed with all sorts of mechanical and even digital features. The following is from the upcoming press statement from the company :
CARDIOHELP is not only the world’s most compact and lightweight heart-lung machine, it is also a complete solution for use in cardiac surgery, cardiology, intensive care and emergency medicine.
The individual operating modes and the disposables make CARDIOHELP suitable for all indications with cardiac or pulmonary support, so it can be used not only in the operating room but also in catheter labs and intensive care units. Thus, the principle of extracorporeal circulation for supplying the heart and/or lungs with oxygen is now available in new areas as a means of life support and saving lives.
A vision has become a complete system. The central component of CARDIOHELP is an integrated drive and control unit in the form of a compact, functionally designed box, just 50 cm long, 26 cm wide and 30 cm high, into which the various disposables are docked.
CARDIOHELP is almost instantly ready to use. Furthermore, it is designed with user-friendliness in mind, so a single push-and-turn knob and a touch screen are all that nursing staff are required to operate. MAQUET offers a modular training program for the various applications.
The required operating mode is configured in advance according to the particular area of use. USB and Ethernet ports mean that CARDIOHELP is equipped for data exchange. The unit can either be connected up to a wall power outlet or to the electrical system on aircraft or helicopters. Integral lithium-ion batteries provide 90 minutes of independent operation, which is particularly important for inter- and intrahospital transportation. The universal holder mount allows CARDIOHELP to be securely fixed to all conventional carrier systems.
Connecting the disposables is equally simple. The various oxygenator and pump units are flange-mounted directly to the back of the machine, so they are immediately ready for service without any hose connections or clamps. The CARDIOHELP system offers three operating modes and is combinable with three different disposables to suit the specific requirements of operating room, intensive care unit and transportation.
CARDIOHELP represents a further advance in the integration of components that MAQUET began with the QUADROX-i oxygenator. The new unit, called QUADROX-iR, features not only an integral arterial filter but now, for the first time, a centrifugal pump. In addition, four external pressure sensors, two temperature sensors, two air bubble sensors and a flow sensor can be connected to the back of the unit.
The enhanced version of the highly successful QUADROX system features a minimised priming volume, thanks to integration and compact design. The oxygenator-pump unit guarantees a constant blood flow, low pressure drop and therefore, in conjunction with a very small surface contact, minimal blood trauma.
Apart from cardiac surgery, MAQUET has also developed a product for long-term use in intensive care. This integrates not only the oxygenator and centrifugal pump, but also sensors for three blood pressure parameters and temperature. The readings are shown on the display for ease of monitoring by the nursing staff. Equipped with a high-quality diffusion membrane and a biocompatible, blood-friendly Bioline coating, the product will be approved for periods of use of at least 14 days.
Integration is taken even further in the premium product line. In addition to pressure and temperature sensors, this is the world’s first disposable product to offer a high-tech sensor for measuring the important parameters of venous saturation (SvO2), haematocrit (HCT) and haemoglobin (Hb) plus venous temperature (Tv).