Medgadget » Critical Care

Draeger Infinity Acute Care System Coming to North America

Gene Ostrovsky — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:27:31 +0000

Dräger is bringing its Infinity Acute Care System, an advanced ICU monitoring package, to the U.S. and Canada. The system features a wireless patient monitor that stays attached to the bed, allowing for quick movement of patients between different clinical departments without ever losing live data feeding back to the central console.

The Infinity includes Masimo’s complete rainbow SET noninvasive Pulse CO-Oximetry, interfaces with Dräger’s ventilators, and the “Medical Cockpit” integrates the data with information from the EMR including diagnostic images and patient history.

Five Questions for Dr. Paul Walker of Spectral Diagnostics

Jan Sinnige — Thu, 17 May 2012 18:40:40 +0000

Sepsis is a huge problem, costing billions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of lives a year in the US alone. A Toronto, Canada-based startup Spectral Diagnostics Inc. is developing a promising technology to decrease morbidity and mortality of patients with sepsis. The company’s proprietary technology is integrated into Toraymyxin, a hemoperfusion adsorption column which is highly effective in removing circulating endotoxin from the bloodstream. Furthermore, Spectral Diagnostics has also developed the Endotoxin Activity Assay (EAA) – the only FDA cleared, CE marked rapid diagnostic for endotoxemia. According to a company representative, in 2009 interim results of a Phase II study were published in JAMA demonstrating that “Toraymyxin, when added to conventional therapy, significantly reduced 28-day mortality in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock, compared to patients only receiving conventional therapy. Due to these positive results, that trial was terminated early and a Phase III pivotal multicenter study has been launched in the U.S. and Canada.” To find out more about this technology and its future, we had a chance to conduct an interview with Dr. Paul Walker, President and CEO of Spectral Diagnostics.

Dr. Jan Sinnige, Medgadget: Spectral Diagnostics recently started a phase three randomized controlled trial on Polymyxin B Hemoperfusion. What are the expectations according to the phase two results?

Angel Catheter Combines Central Venous Catheter with IVC Filter for Pulmonary Embolism Prevention (video)

Wouter Stomp — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:40:55 +0000

BiO2 Medical has received CE Mark approval for the Angel Catheter, a nitinol inferior vena cava (IVC) filter permanently attached to a central venous catheter, for the use of preventing pulmonary embolism in critically ill patients. The multi-lumen catheter can be used like a normal central venous system for administering medications, fluids or blood products, blood sampling and monitoring of central venous pressure. At the same time it provides pulmonary embolism prophylaxis by means of the attached IVC filter.

The primary patient population is critical care patients in whom anticoagulation therapy poses a high risk of complications, including major bleeding and death, and in which patients are at highest risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). The filter can be easily removed when the central line is removed, once the danger of VTE has been resolved.

GE Upgrades Its Portable Vscan Ultrasound

Gene Ostrovsky — Fri, 11 May 2012 23:37:13 +0000

GE Healthcare has unveiled the new and improved version of its popular Vscan pocket-sized ultrasound. The Vscan 1.2 sports a longer lasting battery, a new interface, and improved data export capabilities to help with reporting and sharing info about patients.

Full list of new features in the Vscan 1.2 according to the GE announcement:

BIOTRONIK’s Reocor External Pacemaker Now Available in U.S.

Gene Ostrovsky — Fri, 11 May 2012 20:13:09 +0000

BIOTRONIK is bringing to the U.S. the Reocor external pacemarker, that is available in two models for dual- and single-chamber pacing.

The company is touting the system’s design and intuitive controls, as well as a longer lasting battery that will work for 600 hours of permanent pacing on the Reocor S model.

Sensiotec Showcases Virtual Medical Assistant, a New Wireless Non-Contact Monitoring System

Jan Sinnige — Wed, 02 May 2012 19:21:38 +0000

Sensiotec Inc. (Atlanta, GA) is presenting a new non-contact vital signs monitoring system at the 2012 conference of the American Telemedicine Association in San Jose. The Virtual Medical Assistant uses the ultra wideband, a former military high frequency band, to detect movements from the heart, lungs and torso. Using a specific algorithm, the detected absorption rates can be transformed into vital signs data. The server can transmit patient data to any number of nursing stations, personal computers, cell phones, tablets and pagers simultaneously.

A nice feature for developers is the server architecture that provides an API (Application Programming Interface) based on standard web technologies. This makes it possible to easily build new clients or create interfaces with all other types of software applications.

GE’s New Vivid E9 Breakthrough 2012 Ultrasound with 4D TEE Probe

Gene Ostrovsky — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:16:01 +0000

GE Healthcare just received FDA clearance for and is bringing to market its new Vivid E9 Breakthrough 2012 (BT12) cardiovascular ultrasound system.

The new system includes a 4D transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) transducer, allowing for its use during invasive surgical procedures, as well as minimally invasive procedures in the cath lab.

Smiths Medical’s ViaValve Safety I.V. Catheter Coming This Summer to U.S.

Gene Ostrovsky — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:55:11 +0000

Smiths Medical just got approval from the FDA to introduce its ViaValve Safety I.V. Catheter in the US, a device that promises to help prevent blood exposure and needlestick injuries.

Workings of the device according to Smiths:

Babalung Neonatal Monitor Could Save Preemies in Developing Countries

Scott Jung — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 18:05:41 +0000

Five bioengineering students from Rice University have designed a device that could potentially save six million lives. This number is half of the 12 million babies born prematurely in developing countries who experience episodes of apnea. Oftentimes, a gentle nudge or tap on the foot prompts the newborn to breathe again, but in developing countries where clinics are often understaffed to care for all the infants, even this simple act may come when it’s too late.

The device is called Babalung, and it consists of a small electronic microcontroller connected to an adjustable strap with a stretch sensor. Babalung features two lines of defense: the first uses the stretch sensor wrapped around the infant’s chest to monitor breathing. If 20 seconds goes by without the stretch sensor expanding or contracting, the microcontroller turns on a vibrating motor to prompt the infant to take a breath. The second line of defense occurs five seconds later if the infant has not resumed breathing; a flashing bike light raised above the crib will alert the nurse to give immediate medical attention. The infant’s respiratory data can also be sent via Bluetooth to a smartphone or computer for a physician to analyze if necessary.

Spacelabs Introduces qube Patient Monitor and Arkon Anesthesia Delivery System

Wouter Stomp — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 18:03:03 +0000

Spacelabs Healthcare, a subsidiary of OSI Systems, is introducing the qube patient monitor and the Arkon high-performance anesthesia delivery system. Both devices recently received FDA clearance.

The qube is a portable monitor that is very similar to the company’s XPREZZON patient monitor. Essentially it is a small and lightweight version of the XPREZZON, with long battery life and is purposed for emergency, general and post-anesthesia care units. It is mountable in many configurations and can be quickly detached for transport.