Hutchinson Technology Inc. out of Hutchinson, Minnesota has received European regulatory approval for the InSpectra StO2 Spot Check (model 300) device. The company’s tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) technology allows direct measurement of oxygen saturation in microcirculation, where oxygen is exchanged with tissues, hence it could be used for evaluation of regional, maybe even systemic perfusion in critically ill, in septic shock, etc.
From the announcement:
The InSpectra StO2 Spot Check (model 300) consists of a hand-held device, cable, reusable sensor, charging station and rechargeable battery. These features enable clinicians to quickly and cost-effectively identify at-risk patients, who can then be continuously monitored with the InSpectra™ StO2 Tissue Oxygenation Monitor (model 650). Used together, these two products help reduce the time to critical actions and help identify the endpoints of resuscitation.
Evidence in favor of incorporating StO2 into clinical practice continues to grow. "Multiple clinical studies demonstrate that patients with low StO2 are at risk of poor clinical outcomes and that measurement of StO2 helps detect problems other vital signs do not," said Rick Penn, President of Hutchinson Technology’s BioMeasurement Division. "In addition, recent research suggests that using StO2 to guide patient treatment results in improved clinical outcomes as well as economic benefits in the form of shorter length of stays in the ICU and the hospital."
Press release: Hutchinson Technology Announces CE Mark of the InSpectra(TM) StO2 Spot Check …
Product page: InSpectra StO2 Spot Check (model 300) …
Technology page: StO2: Tissue Oxygen Saturation …
Product brochure… (.pdf)