Anesthesiology Archives

Analogic Releases New BK Medical Ultrasounds

analogic new devices Analogic Releases New BK Medical UltrasoundsAnalogic has announced the worldwide launch of three new ultrasound systems from its subsidiary BK Medical, the Pro Focus UltraView 800, the Flex Focus 800, and the Flex Focus 500.

All three models sport the company’s “Quantum Technology” that provides high resolution visualization of the tissues.

Quantum Technology offers image quality enhancements including improved contrast resolution, as well as new gray scale maps and new image pre-sets, making it easier and quicker to obtain the highest quality images. In addition, the new technology includes a unique Vector Flow Imaging (VFI) mode*, enabling angle independent visualization of blood flow, and an advanced color Doppler mode, enabling superb spatial resolution. Key benefits also include advanced harmonic imaging when imaging all patient types, even the extremely difficult-to-image patient.

Compatible with all of BK Medical’s transducers, the fully featured, premium performance systems are ideally suited for surgery, including robotic-assisted surgery, general imaging and high-end urology imaging. The UltraView 800 system also has contrast imaging capabilities**, and both the UltraView 800 and Flex Focus 800 systems have a HistoScanning*** ready option. The Flex Focus 500 is the mid-range system in the BK Medical family incorporating Quantum Technology. This portable system is powerful and well suited for a busy practice utilizing ultrasound for urology and general imaging needs. All of the new systems also have VFI* as an option.

Press release: Analogic Launches Three New BK Medical Ultrasound Systems With Innovative Quantum Technology

Product pages: Pro Focus UltraView 800; flex Focus 800; flex Focus 500

Continuous Near-Infrared Regional Cerebral Perfusion Monitoring Shows Promise in Stroke Patients

Continuous Near-Infrared Regional Cerebral Perfusion Monitoring Shows Promise in Stroke Patients

Researchers at Mayo Clinic in Florida have shown that cerebral optically-based near infra-red spectroscopic oximetry applied to patients who have suffered a stroke can help monitor regional cerebral perfusion in real time, and thus “may serve as a useful, noninvasive, bedside intensive care unit monitoring tool to assess brain oxygenation in a direct manner.” The study looked at the device called Fore-Sight from Casmed of Branford, CT, that measures blood oxygen, similar to a finger clip pulse oximeter. The Mayo study results have been published in Journal of Neurosurgery this month.

Regional cerebral blood flow monitoring devices such as Fore-Sight are already in wide deployment in cardiac surgery, where they are thought to prevent brain ischemia in patients undergoing major surgeries on bypass (valve replacements, aortic arch surgeries, etc.).

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Cardinal Health Releases Smart-Seal Surgical Mask

Cardinal Health Releases Smart-Seal Surgical Mask

Cardinal Health has made available its Smart-Seal surgical mask that improves both its fit and reduces interior fogging while providing a high level of filtration and resistance to liquids.

From the announcement:

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HealthStream and Laerdal Unveil New Clinical Simulator Management Tools

HealthStream and Laerdal Unveil New Clinical Simulator Management Tools

HealthStream and Laerdal Medical launched a couple new products for managing and studying clinical simulations.

SimView allows for recording of simulation video, audio, data logs, and how the virtual patient responds to therapy. SimManager is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) application that helps manage simulation routines from scheduling, to progress tracking, to delivering reports while tracking room and equipment availability.

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Ivera Medical’s Curos Port Protector Gets Expanded FDA Clearance

Ivera Medical's Curos Port Protector Gets Expanded FDA Clearance

Ivera Medical Corporation out of San Diego, CA received a new FDA 510(k) clearance for its Curos disinfecting port protector, after the company confirmed a shorter disinfection time and an increase in how long the device can be used.

According to the company, independent tests have shown that the cap disinfects IV access ports in three minutes, keeping them clean for seven days when not accessed.

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Philips Unveils Compact Xper Flex Cardio Physiomonitoring

Philips Unveils Compact Xper Flex Cardio Physiomonitoring

Yesterday Philips announced its new Xper Flex Cardio Physiomonitoring system for intraoperative hemodynamic analysis.

The device provides clinicians with Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) measurements, as well as ECG, respiration, and other vitals. It features both 12 and 16-lead ECG analysis, giving more options when working in the EP, cath labs, and during more invasive procedures.

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Masimo’s Prick-Free Pronto-7 for Painless Hemoglobin Spot Checking

Masimo's Prick-Free Pronto-7 for Painless Hemoglobin Spot Checking

Masimo received FDA 510(k) clearance for the  Pronto-7 device that allows for quick and noninvasive bedside checking of total hemoglobin (SpHb), SpO2, pulse rate, and perfusion index.  This is a unique tool that makes finger pricking and direct blood sampling unnecessary when watching patients’ hemoglobin levels, either in OR or in critical care settings.

The Pronto-7 already received the European CE mark back in 2010, but conducted a recall when the sensor was found to work poorly in low temperature.  The issue was addressed and the device was reintroduced in August of last year.

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Company Claims Optical Blood Pressure Monitor Breakthrough

Company Claims Optical Blood Pressure Monitor Breakthrough

Tarilian Laser Technologies, a Hertfordshire, UK firm claims it has developed the “greatest technological advance in blood pressure measurement for 130 years”  Unlike direct pressure measurement that every other BP meter does, the company’s Sapphire device uses an optical sensor to continuously measure blood pressure at the wrist. Keeping the Sapphire stationary will provide beat-to-beat readings and Tarilian says the device can effectively be used to detect white coat hypertension (raised blood pressure due to patient being in a clinical setting).

The company believes this technology can be translated for non-contact measurement of intraocular pressure, fetal heart monitoring, and for blood pressure monitoring using small mobile devices at different spots on the body.

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Proxima Generation 2 Arterial Blood Analyser Gets EU Clearance

Proxima Generation 2 Arterial Blood Analyser Gets EU Clearance

Sphere Medical based in Cambridge, UK received the European CE Mark of approval for its Proxima Generation 2 disposable arterial blood analyser. The device is intended for continuous monitoring of glucose, blood gas & electrolytes in patients in the OR and ICU and a recent clinical study has shown that the Proxima Generation 2 provides an equivalent performance when compared to lab and point-of-care blood gas analysers of arterial blood.

Because measurements are made on a continuous basis and all the blood is immediately returned to the patient, the device lets clinicians keep a steady eye on patients without having to take regular readings and run samples to the lab.

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