Public HealthCovidien Launches Alarm Management System For The Nellcor(TM) OxiMax(TM) N-600x(TM) Pulse Oximeter
Covidien (NYSE: COV, BSX: COV), a leading global supplier of healthcare
products, today announced the global launch of its Alarm Management System
for the Nellcor(TM) OxiMax(TM) N-600x(TM) pulse oximeter. The OxiMax N-600x
pulse oximeter is a full-featured, flagship oximeter that delivers accurate,
reliable readings even during low perfusion and signal interference.
Oxygen saturation is a critical measure in patients experiencing
respiratory depression. The Alarm Management System alerts hospital staff to
periods of desaturation and potentially worrisome patterns and provides
healthcare providers the ability to make timely, more-informed decisions
about the care of patients.
"Cyclical impairment of airflow is a common denominator in a wide variety
of patient conditions that can lead to mortality and severe morbidity, but it
often goes unrecognized," said Frank Overdyk, MSEE, M.D., Professor of
Anesthesiology at the Medical University of South Carolina. "Covidien"s Alarm
Management System quickly detects potentially harmful patterns and adds
another level of patient safety by helping clinicians manage ventilation
issues before they become adverse respiratory events."
The Alarm Management System enhances the information provided by
traditional pulse oximeters and supports efficient, comprehensive care of
patients who are at risk for upper airway abnormalities such as sleep apnea,
a history of snoring and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Such patients
include those who have a high body mass index, are in a reduced state of
consciousness due to pain medication and exhaustion, and have undergone major
surgery or the elderly. According to the Centers for Disease Control,
individuals 65 years of age and older account for the largest population of
patients entering U.S. hospitals.
"The Alarm Management System will help hospitals remain efficient in
today"s increasingly demanding health care environment while providing the
highest quality of care possible," said Chris Lowery, General Manager and
Vice President, Patient Monitoring, Covidien. "At the core of Covidien"s
innovation is our goal to continue providing solutions designed to improve
patient safety, medical efficacy and healthcare efficiency."
About Alarm Management System
The Alarm Management System software upgrade for the OxiMax N-600-x pulse
oximeter brings together the technologies in the OxiMax SPD(TM) alert and
SatSeconds(TM) alarm management with two new views that compile and display
the information without adding to the current set of monitors and sensors.
The OxiMax SPD alert utilizes an algorithm incorporating a patient"s rate,
severity, frequency and duration of desaturation to detect patterns
indicative of repetitive reductions in airflow in adults. SatSeconds alarm
management is a clinician controlled feature that reduces alarm fatigue
without sacrificing patient safety by differentiating between serious
hypoxemia and minor transient events. The new general care format view allows
evaluation of a patient"s condition at a glance, and the new trend view
offers historical information with highlighted alerts.
Many pulse oximeters only display a patient"s current heart rate and
saturation of peripheral oxygen (SpO2), a singular snapshot without relevant
context. If a patient"s saturation level does not cross the SpO2 threshold,
repeated desaturations may go unnoticed. The Alarm Management System"s
easy-to-digest display and historical data provides a more complete picture
of a patient"s status, enables more informed decision making and facilitates
proactive interventions.
Covidien AG