Vasc-Alert, a startup based in the Purdue Research Park in West Lafayette, Indiana, has developed and received a Canadian patent for technology that uses intra-access pressure data obtained during hemodialysis to help identify the development of stenosis in the shunt.
Via a proprietary algorithm, regular readings are automatically uploaded to the Vasc-Alert system and preemptive alerts are issued to the clinic to schedule a meeting with the patient to address the situation.
More from the product page:
Flags Stenosis Issues Earlier than Flow-Based Technologies
Because Vasc-Alert uses pressure instead of flow to determine accesses that have a problem, it can detect the growth of stenosis earlier than technologies that rely on the measurement of flow. Flow typically does not begin to degrade until the access is in the 70% to 80% closed range, whereas Vasc-Alert flags patients as being at risk in the 50% to 60% occlusion range. Given that the common belief is that early detection and intervention helps to extend the life of the access, it is better to identify patients earlier than later.
No Staff InvolvementThe most important reason to use Vasc-Alert is that it does not require any staff involvement with administering the test itself. The treatment run data needed for the algorithm is either copied to a computer automatically or already recorded on treatment run sheets. This frees up staff time to focus more on patient care issues such as managing the intervention process when a patient has been identified as having a problem with their access.
Test with each TreatmentVasc-Alert looks at the run time data coming from each treatment, not just monthly or quarterly. This provides better coverage and helps detect trends in the access before they become a problem.
Product page: Vasc-Alert …
Purdue Research Park press release: Canadian patent issued on technology to help dialysis providers, patients…
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