Mobile Oxygen System
Puritan Bennett, part of Tyco Healthcare, Pleasanton, Calif, offers the HELiOS® Personal Oxygen System, a portable unit that weighs only 3.6 pounds filled, enabling patients to wear it, rather than carry it. No cumbersome tubes, heavy canisters, or batteries are required. The HELiOS system’s pneumatic oxygen-conserving device gives it a conservation ratio over continuous flow oxygen of approximately 4:1. This provides up to 10 hours of use at a setting of 2. The unit can be refilled in about 40 seconds from the HELiOS home reservoir, which typically lasts 4 to 6 weeks between refills. (800) 635-5267; www.helios.com; www.puritanbennett.com.
Air Purifier
The Airsonett Airshower by Airsonett, Jasper, Ga, reaches an individual’s breathing zone with a minimum of remixing and contamination of the surrounding air. Airshower cools air to one or two degrees below room temperature and delivers it directly to the breathing zone while flushing away contaminants (at least 99.95% of airborne particles greater than 0.3 micron). Purified air from the Airsonett Airshower is delivered through a patented AirSon air supply nozzle, positioned about 20 inches above the individual’s head. The Airshower also consists of a silent fan motor, an electronic module with control panel, and a fine filter with a pre-ionizing chamber that provides HEPA-type filtration. (706) 579-2226; www.airsonett.com.
Valves
Irvine, Calif-based Passy-Muir Inc manufactures the patented Passy-Muir tracheostomy and ventilator speaking valves—closed position “no leak” communication/swallowing valves—including the new metal tracheostomy tube speaking valve and oxygen adapter. The speaking valves are interchangeable for use on/off the ventilator and research validated to improve swallowing, reduce aspiration, facilitate secretion management, and reduce weaning and decannulation time. Free online CEU courses and educational materials are available on the company’s Web site. www.passy-muir.com.
Lightweight Conserver System
Responsive Respiratory Inc, Fenton, Mo, introduces the Respond O2 Ultra-light Conserver System, a high-pressure conserver/cylinder system that is lighter than portable liquid at 3.8 pounds and provides durability. The unit, which uses carbon-composite cylinders coupled with the company’s new 13.8-ounce pneumatic conserver, provides patients with the convenience and safety of cylinders in a portable package. (866) 333-4030; www.respondo2.com.
Ventilator With Trending Option
Respironics Inc, Murrysville, Pa, introduces the Trending Package option for the Esprit® ventilator. The Trending Package allows clinicians to gather and recall patient-ventilator event data. Up to 32 settings, patient data parameters, and respiratory mechanics results can be stored, instantly recalled, and changed as needed. Up to 72 hours’ worth of data can be trended. Multiple trended parameters can be displayed on one screen, and up to three parameters can be viewed at once. Displayed parameters and the time scale can be changed with the touch of a button. A flexible time scale is incorporated to present data from a range of 2 to 72 hours. (800) 345-6443; www.respironics.com.
Infant Pulse Oximeter
The OxyTip®+ Infant Foam Sandal by Madison, Wis-based Datex-Ohmeda, part of GE Medical Systems, tracks SpO2 readings during infant clinical motion. Even during kicking episodes, the Infant Foam Sandal stays correctly positioned on the infant’s foot, according to the Datex-Ohmeda motion characterization study, which was published in Anesthesia & Analgesia. Used with the OxyTip+ Sensitive Skin sensor, the sandal enables more consistent SpO2 readings when in conjunction with the company’s TruTrak®+ technology. Designed for use on patients as small as 3.3 pounds, the sensor features a nonadhesive, flat surface, and the sandal, made of soft foam and secured with a Velcro® fastener, will not irritate infants’ fragile skin. (800) 345-2700; www.datex-ohmeda.com.
