Here’s an interesting simple technology that might come handy to anesthesiologists and others who tend to do lots of central lines. Making sure that you are not in a carotid (or subclavian or femoral arteries, etc) is not always as simple as many think. Sure, you can do a blood color comparison. You can also connect a vertical column, and see how far the blood will rise. But why to do these maneuvers, if you can have something at the end of a finder needle that does not add steps to your procedure? Meet Mirador Biomedical of Seattle, Washington that has just received FDA’s 510(k) clearance for its Compass Vascular Access pressure measurement device, as well as a similarly designed Compass Lumbar Puncture pressure monitor.
From the Compass Vascular Access product page:
Focus on the Procedural Site
View your hands, the patient and the pressure without additional cabling, operators or connections
Integrate Seamlessly with Needles and Syringes
Easily incorporated into the Seldinger technique for inserting catheters
Eliminate “Blind” Guidewire Insertion
The port allows insertion of the guidewire while monitoring the pressure
From Compass Lumbar Puncture product page:
Indication of CSF Entrance:
Entrance into the target space is indicated by a pressure increase.
Seamless Integration with LP Needles:
The CompassTM LP connects to standard Lumbar puncture needles.
Immediate and Continuous Measurement of Opening Pressure:
View the pressure continuously without additional cabling, operators or connections.
Press release: Mirador Biomedical, developing the innovative Compass™ family of disposable medical devices, announced FDA 510(k) clearance of its two leading products… (.pdf)
Product page: Compass pressure measurement devices…
