Infusion pumps have been known to be a vector for a variety of medical mistakes, primarily adverse drug events. This has become such an issue that a few years ago the FDA began its Infusion Pump Improvement Initiative. One of the results of this program was the establishment of new requirements, aimed at reducing errors, for […]
Tag: Critical Care
Algorithm Uses Individual Medical History to Predict Patient’s Chance of Survival in ICU
Researchers in Denmark have developed a new algorithm that predicts an individual patient’s risk of mortality in the ICU. Their work, recently published in the journal Digital Health, demonstrates that the algorithm outperforms current non-computational methods of estimating mortality. Algorithms of this nature can help direct resources where (Read more...)
Crisper MRI Now Possible Thanks to Helical Resonator Metamaterials
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a complicated imaging modality and improving it requires a deep understanding of the physics involved. Scientists at Boston University have been working on improving MRI’s signal-to-noise ratio using special metamaterials that are made of arrays of helical resonators. Each of these resonators is just a piec (Read more...)
LifeFlow Next Gen for Sepsis and Shock Makes Infusions Easier and Safer
410 Medical, a Durham, North Carolina firm, is releasing a new version of its LifeFlow rapid infuser for treating patients during sepsis or shock. The LifeFlow Next Gen can safely deliver 500 ml of crystalloid fluid in less than two minutes, nearly four times faster than when using a pressure bag. Device is operated with […]
(Read more...)Masimo Radius PPG Wireless Oximeter FDA Cleared
Masimo won FDA clearance for its Radius PPG wireless pulse oximetry sensor. The device features Masimo’s SET Measure-through Motion and Low Perfusion technology that stays accurate as the patient moves around and about. The tetherless product allows patients to freely move about the clinic, going to the bathroom without having to disconnect f (Read more...)
Impella CP with SmartAssist: A Newly FDA Approved Heart Pump with Optical Positioning Sensor
Abiomed, the maker of popular left ventricular assist devices, is releasing its newly FDA approved Impella CP with SmartAssist device. The pump features an optical sensor that physicians can use to position and reposition the device without relying on a cath lab, X-ray, or ultrasound imaging. The sensor can be used either during initial implantatio (Read more...)
RhythmAnalytics Detects Cardiac Arrhythmias Using AI, Now FDA Cleared
Biofourmis, a company with offices in Singapore and Boston, won FDA clearance for its RhythmAnalytics cloud-based software that uses artificial intelligence techniques to automate the interpretation of cardiac arrhythmias from ECG tracings. The system can detect more than fifteen different types of arrhytmias including using beat-by-beat morphology (Read more...)
AliveCor Introduces World’s First 6-Lead Consumer ECG, the KardiaMobile 6L
AliveCor, founded by Dr. David Albert, is the company that introduced reliable and useful ECG monitoring to consumers. Their products, which operate as basic single-lead ECG devices, have been cleared by the FDA to be able to detect cardiac arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation, tachycardia, and bradycardia. They have been quite limited still, (Read more...)
BioSig Technologies Announces First Clinical Cases with PURE EP System: Interview with Ken Londoner, CEO
BioSig Technologies has developed the PURE EP electrophysiology information system, a product that aims to provide better tools for doctors who are treating potentially deadly arrhythmias. The computerized system is used to process electrophysiological signals and provides capabilities to acquire, store, amplify, measure, and display such signals. (Read more...)
IRRAS Rolling Out New Irrigating Cerebrospinal Fluid Catheter System for Hydrocephalus
Swedish medical device company IRRAS is attempting to change the way neurosurgeons and neurointensivists handle the problem of acute hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus is the abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain, and is often caused by hemorrhage, tumor, infection, or traumatic brain injury. Traditionally, surgeons use an exter (Read more...)
VitalMinds from Philips to Control Delirium in ICU
Patients in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) often suffer through delirium, including experiencing disorientation and witnessing hallucinations. Going through delirium seems to negatively affect future outcomes, in addition to being a hindrance to receiving proper medical care while hospitalized. For these reasons acute delirium should be dealt with, bu (Read more...)
VivaQuant RX-1 Wearable All-in-One Mobile Cardiac Telemetry Unit and Event Monitor FDA Cleared
VivaQuant, a company based in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, won FDA clearance for its RX-1 cardiac patient monitor. The device is unique in that it is able to operate as a Mobile Cardiac Telemetry unit or Event Monitor, all while transmitting its readings for remote analysis. The system gives cardiologists the ability to free up […]
Automated Machine for Pumping Bag Valve Masks
Bag valve masks help paramedics, anesthesiologists, and others to oxygenate the lungs, but being manual devices the operator oftentimes has to do additional tasks, such as provide jaw thrust or use both hands to ensure good seal around the face mask. Engineering students at Rice University made an attachment for ventilator pump bags so that [&helli (Read more...)
Rice Students Develop Non-Invasive Intracranial Pressure Sensor to Monitor Infants
Infants that experience injury or that have hydrocephalus may have swelling or fluid build-up, which can result in a high intracranial pressure (ICP). Because there are serious, life-long consequences that may result, monitoring the ICP may help doctors monitor infants, diagnose hydrocephalus, and help decide when to take interventional measures. T (Read more...)
Beckman Coulter Gets FDA Clearance for Early Sepsis Indicator
Sepsis continues to be a deadly malady that clinicians haven’t figured out how to tackle consistently. A major limitation of treatment is how early clinicians can identify that a patient is showing signs of sepsis. Beckman Coulter just received FDA clearance for its Early Sepsis Indicator, a cellular biomarker for the company’s DxH 900 (Read more...)
LIFEPAK CR2 Defibrillator Reads ECG During Chest Compressions, FDA Approved
Stryker won FDA approval to introduce its LIFEPAK CR2 defibrillator with LIFELINKcentral program manager. It was developed by Physio Control, now a subsidiary of Stryker. The interesting capability of this automatic external defibrillator (AED) is that it is able to analyze the stricken patient’s electrocardiogram (ECG) while someone is perfo (Read more...)
Butterfly iQ Multi-Purpose Pocket-Sized Ultrasound Now Available in Europe
Butterfly Network, a company based in Connecticut, finally won the CE mark and is releasing in Europe its Butterfly iQ portable ultrasound system. The product consists of a transducer that plugs right into an iPhone or iPad via the Lightning port, and uses a matching app to display live images, change settings, and review previously […]
FDA Approves First New Therapy to Treat Heart Attacks in Years
Heart attacks are typically treated by placing stents at the sites of narrowing coronary arteries. This has become a standard of care and advances in cath lab technologies allows interventional cardiologists to accurately place stents in a matter of minutes. Now another option, called SuperSaturated Oxygen (SSO2), is being made available thank (Read more...)
Masimo’s Rad-67 Pulse CO-Oximeter with Hemoglobin Spot-Check Cleared by FDA
Masimo just obtained FDA clearance for its Rad-67 Pulse CO-Oximeter with Spot-check Next Generation SpHb monitoring technology and the rainbow DCI-mini Reusable Sensor. The device can be used for quick noninvasive hemoglobin measurement and features the Masimos’s own Measure-through Motion and Low Perfusion SET pulse (Read more...)
Eko DUO Stethoscope with ECG Built-In Now Available for Purchase
Eko, a company that makes advanced and innovative stethoscopes that we really like, is now releasing its Eko DUO combination stethoscope/ECG device. The Eko DUO works along with a paired smartphone or tablet, allowing a physician to simultaneously record heart sounds and ECG (single lead) tracings at the point of care. The DUO makes it […]