Anesthesiology Archives

Masimo E1 Pulse Oximetry Ear Sensor Receives FDA and CE Approval

by Wouter Stomp on Jun 6, 2011 •

4387df3j Masimo E1 Pulse Oximetry Ear Sensor Receives FDA and CE ApprovalMasimo has received both US FDA and European CE clearance for its E1 single-patient-use pulse oximetry ear sensor. The ear is often used as an alternative site to measure oxygenation in situations where measurement at the fingertip is impractical, such as when there is excessive patient movement or when perfusion is too low to obtain reliable results.

While traditional fingerclip sensors are often applied to the earlobe, the E1 is attached more securely in the cavum conchae. It promises to give faster detection of oxygen saturation changes during low perfusion, and to avoid cross-contamination risks associated with reusable sensors.

Masimo has started a limited market release of the device.

Press release: Masimo Initiates Limited Market Release of E1, Single-Patient-Use Ear Sensor for Pulse Oximetry Monitoring…

Product page: E1 Ear Sensor…

Anesthesiology / Critical Care

MADgic Airway from LMA Aids in Fiberoptic Intubations

by Paul Pisklak on Jun 2, 2011
MADgic Airway from LMA Aids in Fiberoptic Intubations

Fiberoptic intubations can be a messy business, best done with meticulous preparation of the airway.  Topical analgesia/anesthesia of the mouth (and/or nose), palate, pharynx, tongue and vocal cords is essential to a successful awake fiberoptic intubation,  but precisely delivering the local anesthetic while maintaining oxygenation can be tricky.  The MADgic atomizer and MADGic airway from LMA incorporate all these tasks into one apparatus.

The mouth,  tongue, palate, and throat are first sprayed with topical anesthetic, then the MADgic airway is inserted. This device has a built-in atomizer that should be now directed at the glottic opening, allowing you to spray the vocal cords directly with more anesthetic.  All the while, an oxygen port delivers fresh gas to the patient while you are thoroughly preparing the mucosa.  At this point, the MADgic airway is serving as a bite-block, oxygenation-assist device, and finally as a guide for the fiberoptic bronchoscope and endotracheal tube as you intubate.  This represents a possible alternative to “spray-as-you-go” techniques, transtracheal blocks, or vaporized lidocaine and is a nice addition to the LMA’s massive airway arsenal.

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Anesthesiology / Critical Care / Emergency Medicine / Medicine / Ob/Gyn / Orthopedic Surgery / Pediatrics / Plastic Surgery / Surgery

New Tegaderm Diamond Pattern Film Dressing

by Gene Ostrovsky on Jun 1, 2011
New Tegaderm Diamond Pattern Film Dressing

3M is building on everyone’s favorite Tegaderm line of bandages with the Tegaderm Diamond Pattern Film Dressing, a transparent new film that breathes and manages moisture well enough that the company believes may allow for fewer necessary dressing changes.  The company is rolling out the product in the US and a number of other selected countries.

According to Matt Fryxell, 3M new products marketer, “The Tegaderm™ Diamond Dressing is an ideal solution for many patients, including those who may become unexpectedly diaphoretic. Additionally, the highly breathable dressing is engineered with pressure-sensitive adhesive to conform to the skin’s irregular surface for a long, comfortable wear, even when environmental conditions have historically posed challenges for optimal dressing performance.”

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Anesthesiology / Critical Care / Neurology / Pediatrics

Non-Invasively Measuring Brain Temperature

by Wouter Stomp on May 31, 2011
Non-Invasively Measuring Brain Temperature

Researchers at the Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters in Norfolk, Virginia, have developed a device that can non-invasively measure brain temperature. The device is about the size of a box of matches and rests on a patient’s head, passively detecting microwave emissions produced by the brain tissue beneath the skull. The device is able to measure the temperature of brain tissue 1.5 centimeters beneath the skull. It mainly would have application in monitoring cooling therapy, and would be used to prevent brain damage during cardiac arrest, total circulatory arrest, or for monitoring intracerebral temperatures in hypoxic newborns.The device is currently being evaluated on infants with Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy, and findings from a pilot study were presented at the annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies.
Having contacted the researchers, we received more details about the system:

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Anesthesiology / Emergency Medicine / ENT

The Oxylator – Emergency Ventilation With No Wires

by Paul Pisklak on May 27, 2011
The Oxylator - Emergency Ventilation With No Wires

The Oxylator from Primedic is a combination between a bag-valve mask and a portable ventilator.  Designed to be operated by either lay rescuers or EMS personnel, it is powered only by an oxygen cylinder, with no electricity required.  This device basically acts as a pressure-controlled ventilator, leaving EMS personnel with free hands to take care of other life-savings tasks.

The Oxylator is affixed either to a facemask or a more invasive airway device such as an LMA or endotracheal tube, and with the touch of a button, it begins delivering a preset pressure in the range of 20-45 cm H2O.  In addition, there is an audio-visual alarm that alerts to increased pressures that can occur if more head-tilt/chin-lift is needed in the case of mask ventilation or if the tube slips into the right mainstem.

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Anesthesiology / Medicine / Pediatrics

MedeGrip for Pain Free Fingers Gets FDA Registered

by Gene Ostrovsky on May 19, 2011
MedeGrip for Pain Free Fingers Gets FDA Registered

Last month we reported on a very simple but effective tool that helps nurses safely and comfortably work with small and rigid objects like Luer-Loks and glass ampules. Since then the MedeGrip has been registered as a Class 1 – FDA device for use with other medical devices, and Access Scientific has integrated it as part of the POWERWAND Maximum Barrier Kit.

From the announcement:

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Anesthesiology / Ob/Gyn / Radiology / Surgery

Ultrasound in a MacBook Laptop: Terason t3200 Ultrasound System – Breast Series Unveiled

by Gene Ostrovsky on May 2, 2011
Ultrasound in a MacBook Laptop: Terason t3200 Ultrasound System - Breast Series Unveiled

Terason of Burlington, Massachusetts has released the Terason t3200 Ultrasound System – Breast Series. The system is built around an Apple MacBook Pro, providing easy sharing of images and access to an EMR. Plus it can be used as a standard laptop for other tasks.
From the product page:

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Anesthesiology / Critical Care / Emergency Medicine / Medicine / Surgery

Second Option Defibrillator Electrode Pads to Help Save More Lives

by Gene Ostrovsky on Apr 27, 2011
Second Option Defibrillator Electrode Pads to Help Save More Lives

Rice University bioengineering students have developed a modified set of external defibrillator pads that can provide an additional option for cardioverting the heart. Three electrodes are embedded between two pads and a switch selects which path for the current to take. By following simple user instructions, bystanders can easily provide a second option that’s not available in current defibrillators. The system, which was created to transparently improve the efforts of untrained public responders, can be adapted to existing defibs.

The potential for their project was clear from the beginning. “We did some calculations that suggested we could save at least 13,000 lives per year,” Otto said. “Cardiac defibrillation is very time-sensitive. Thirty seconds can be the difference between life and death in a lot of situations. The time it takes to flip the switch is negligible compared with the time it takes to remove the pads, shave and prep a new area on the body, reapply the pads and administer another shock. And a layman might not even know to try a second position.”

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Anesthesiology / Cardiac Surgery / Cardiology / Radiology

VisualSonics’ VevoStrain Speckle-Tracking Technology Effective in Visualizing Ventricular Dynamics in Animal Model

by Gene Ostrovsky on Apr 25, 2011
VisualSonics' VevoStrain Speckle-Tracking Technology Effective in Visualizing Ventricular Dynamics in Animal Model

An interesting ultrasound technology is being tested that aims to quantitatively evaluate ventricular function and regional wall motion abnormalities, to better document and follow up cardiac dynamics. Researchers from Harvard’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital are using new ultrasound software from VisualSonics of Toronto, Canada to visualize the precise movement of mice hearts. VisualSonics’ VevoStrain is a proprietary version of speckle-tracking echocardiography which the researchers have found is effective in assessing global left ventricular function. The first animation shows a normal mouse heart and the second is suffering from the left ventricular failure after an infarct.
   

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