Welch Allyn adds noninvasive, point-of-care solution to hemoglobin measurement platform

July 18, 2011

Front-line medical products and solutions manufacturer Welch Allyn, in partnership with Masimo Corporation, has added Masimo's noninvasive total hemoglobin (SpHb) to its Connex Vital Signs Monitor (CVSM) to enable rapid and continuous hemoglobin measurements at the point-of-care without drawing blood.

Front-line medical products and solutions manufacturer Welch Allyn (Skaneateles Falls, NY), in partnership with Masimo Corporation (Irvine, CA), has added Masimo's noninvasive total hemoglobin (SpHb) to its Connex Vital Signs Monitor (CVSM) to enable rapid and continuous hemoglobin measurements at the point-of-care without drawing blood. Masimo's SpHb parameter uses advanced signal processing of multiple wavelengths of light obtained from noninvasive, easy-to-apply finger sensors.

The CVSM allows clinicians to monitor hemoglobin levels minute by minute, providing an early warning sign of possible bleeding and enabling timely intervention to improve patient safety and avoid potentially unnecessary cost and risks associated with blood transfusions, says Kelley Murphy, global category director at Welch Allyn.

Masimo's SpHb parameter can be purchased in all CVSM devices equipped with the Masimo rainbow SET platform either at time of initial monitor purchase or at a later date via a software upgrade completed over the Internet using Welch Allyn's innovative PartnerConnect Remote Services solution. This same remote software upgradeability will be available for other rainbow SET parameters as Welch Allyn makes them available in the future.

In addition to SpHb, the CVSM captures other automatic measurements such as heart rate, blood pressure, temperature and pulse oximetry (SpO₂); manual parameters such as respiration, height, weight and pain level; and modifiers such as body position, O₂ therapy details and others.

When used as part of the Welch Allyn Connex Electronic Vitals Documentation (EVD) System, the device can wirelessly transfer patient data to an electronic medical record (EMR). Medical charting and documentation errors are reduced, thereby improving clinical decision-making and patient outcomes.

Welch Allyn Connex Vitals Management (VM) Software is the backbone of the system, which automates the vitals documentation process to eliminate manual steps and the errors that go with them. With Connex VM software integrated into an EMR system, users can document accurate patient data, including total hemoglobin, right from the bedside-giving clinicians instant access to patient data anytime, anywhere and allowing them to identify abnormal vital signs more quickly.

The CVSM gives the clinician the ability to control alarms, patient data and monitoring in a customized manner for each patient, and they can document this data right on the device via a full-color, touch-screen interface, eliminating the need to locate a PC and transcribe it later. The monitor also enables two-way wireless communication from the bedside. It associates ID numbers to names to help clinicians properly identify patients and allows them to customize which ID fields are required and how they're displayed, including simultaneous display of multiple forms of ID. The wireless technology is built right into the system, allowing the monitor to act as a true mobile device, and it works with current wireless networks to deliver up-to-date patient demographics.

-----

Posted by Lee Mather

Follow OptoIQ on your iPhone; download the free app here.

Subscribe now to BioOptics World magazine; it's free!