While most medical tools have seen incredible advances over the past century, the syringe has remained relatively unchanged despite room for improvement. Without the use of live imaging or sensing systems, which require additional time and resources, nurses and physicians must rely on blind insertion techniques using superficial anatomical landmarks, fluid return, and tactile feedback […]
Tag: Anesthesiology
Next Generation SedLine Cleared in EU to Monitor Children’s Brains Under Anesthesia
Masimo just won European clearance to introduce its Next Generation SedLine brain monitoring system for use on pediatric patients over one years old. The technology, already cleared in U.S. and Europe for adult patients, helps to assess brain function while the patient is under anesthesia. This can assist with maintaining the proper depths of anesthesia […]
SafeOp Automated Neuromonitor Cleared to Find Nerves, Assess Their Health
Alphatec, out of Carsbad, California, won FDA clearance for the SafeOp automated neuromonitoring system for use in real-time intraoperative nerve location and assessment. The system relies on somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) and and electromyography (EMG) as the two complementary modalities, one for evaluating the functionality of nerves and the other their location and conductivity. Physicians can use […]
MightySat Rx Cleared by FDA to Measure Breathing Rate from Fingertip
Masimo won FDA clearance for its MightySat Rx fingertip pulse oximeter to be used to spot check the respiration rate. A similar clearance was issued by the European Union regulatory authorities in 2017. These days the breathing rate is still counted manually more often than not. Though there are devices in existence, even contact-free ones, that […]
Electronic Headband for Drug-Free Motion Sickness Therapy
Motion sickness can be a debilitating condition for many people, preventing them from traveling and engaging in various activities such as sailing. There are a few drugs available to control motion sickness, but they have side effects such as drowsiness and for many people are simply a choice of choosing one discomfort over another. A […]
Argos Cardiac Output Monitor Now Available in U.S.
Retia Medical, out of Valhalla, New York, won FDA clearance and is making available in the U.S. its Argos Cardiac Output Monitor. For use in the OR and ICU, the product uses the company’s MBA algorithm to track both fluid and pressor resuscitation with high precision. This gives clinicians the ability to monitor oxygen delivery and […]
Philips V60 Plus Non-Invasive Ventilator with High Flow Therapy Unveiled
Philips has unveiled and received European CE Mark approval for a new non-invasive ventilator, the V60 Plus, that features high flow therapy. Typically high flow therapy is not available in a non-invasive ventilator, requiring frequent switching in the ICU, slowing delivery of therapy, causing hardship for patients, and eating into clinicians’ time. The Philips V60 […]
3M’s New Durapore Advanced Surgical Tape for Keeping Tubes in Place
3M is releasing a new surgical adhesive tape that was developed to address special needs for a variety of clinical applications. The 3M Durapore Advanced tape is particularly beneficial when securing critical tubes that have to stay in place without a danger of being moved (chest tubes, JP drains, etc). The new product line adheres […]
Flexible LED Sensor Monitors Blood-Oxygenation Levels Through Skin
Researchers at University of California Berkeley have developed a flexible sensor that can be placed on the skin to measure levels of blood oxygenation over a large area. The device could help in tracking wound healing, or in monitoring oxygenation levels in transplanted skin or organs. “When you hear the word oximeter, the name for […]
Machine-Learning Can Help Anesthesiologists Foresee Complications
During surgeries, anesthesiologists must monitor the vital signs of patients and administer the proper doses of anesthesia at the right times. While managing these responsibilities in a high-pressure situation, it can be difficult to anticipate surgical complications. One issue that can arise is hypoxemia, a condition in which the blood oxygen levels of the patient […]
Veinplicity Makes Veins Fatter for Easier Access (Interview)
Venous access is famously difficult in many patients, and devices have been developed in the past to make veins easier to see. Seeing narrow veins doesn’t make it much easier to get inside of them, but the Veinplicity device from Physeon, a Swiss company that’s part of Germany’s Novintum Medical Technology, actually makes veins more engorged […]
Masimo’s High Accuracy RD SET Pulse Oximeters Cleared by FDA
Masimo won FDA clearance for its RD SET sensors that feature the company’s “Measure-through Motion” and “Low Perfusion SET” pulse oximetry. The new disposable oximeters are supposedly twice as accurate than Masimo’s previous offerings for patients over 3 kg, having an accuracy spec of 1.5% at 1 standard deviation, compared to 3% before. The devices […]
Near-Infrared Tech for Minimally Invasive Brain Monitoring: Interview with Philippe Dro, CEO of Luciole Medical
Luciole Medical, a medtech company based in Switzerland, has developed near-infrared sensors that can assess levels of tissue oxygenation as well as cerebral blood flow by measuring oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin. The sensors include a skin patch, which measures brain blood flow and oxygen saturation in patients undergoing surgery, and a minimally invasive probe that […]
Aptar Pharma Releases New Portable Ready-to-Go Upper Respiratory Inhaler
Aptar Pharma, a company based outside of Chicago, is releasing a new portable and easy to use inhaler for upper respiratory conditions. The PureHale device comes ready to use, and the tank can take saline or other solutions designed to clean, soothe, and moisturize the upper respiratory tract. The inhaler creates an even and mist […]
Thromboresistant Hydrogel Materials for Venous Catheters: Interview with CEO of Access Vascular
Access Vascular, based in Massachusetts, has developed a peripherally inserted central venous catheter (PICC) composed of a thromboresistant hydrogel material. The catheter could reduce the incidence of catheter-related thrombi and resulting adverse events. When a catheter encounters blood, blood cells and proteins begin to accumulate on its surface. The surface material of the catheter, along […]
Philips Unveils Augmented Infant Resuscitator for Safe Rescue of Asphyxiated Newborns
A collaboration between Philips, and researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital, Mbarara University of Science and Technology in Uganda, and MIT, has developed a device that helps to safely resuscitate asphyxiated newborns. The Philips Augmented Infant Resuscitator (AIR) attaches to nearly all manual bag-valve-mask resuscitators to measure and help regulate the aiflow delivered to the baby. Currently, all too […]
Modernizing Hospital Drug Management: Interview with Kit Check’s CEO, Kevin MacDonald
Inventory management grows increasingly difficult as a business or institution grows larger. Often, it is viewed as a purely economic problem – better management of inventory (location, expiry dates, etc…) results in better savings for a business. However, hospitals have a particular obligation towards excellent management of their inventories to ensure the safety and efficacy […]
Patient Transfer Scale Simplifies Management of Immobile Patients
Marsden, a UK firm specializing in manufacturing all kinds of weighing scales, is releasing a Patient Transfer Scale that serves two purposes in a single device. As immobile patients need to be transferred to a scale to weigh them anyways, a British nurse realized that a lot of effort can be spared if the transfer […]
Flexible Stick-On Ultrasound Patch Measures Central Blood Pressure
Scientists at the University of California San Diego created a flexible ultrasonic patch that can measure the blood pressure in major vessels such as the jugular vein and carotid artery. The technology has already shown, in a proof-of-concept study, that it may be made as accurate as invasive means to measure the central blood pressure. […]
Masimo’s Tiny Breathing Sensor Cleared for Tiny Patients in U.S.
Masimo won FDA clearance for its RAS-45 acoustic respiration sensor, used with the rainbow Acoustic Monitoring (RAM), to be used on infants and neonates. Previously, only patients over 22 pounds (10 kilograms) were eligible for RAM sensors, but the new clearance provides an easy way to monitor the rate of breathing in the tiniest patients. This […]