Program Celebrates cystic fibrosis survivors
A new program called Heroes of Hope™ Living With CF honors individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) who inspire their community by demonstrating courage, determination, and a positive attitude while managing their health every day.

“Today there is a whole new generation of people with CF, and Heroes of Hope Living With CF is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the lives of those coping well with the disease,” explains program cochair Ana Stenzel, who has CF and is a double-lung transplant recipient.

Heroes of Hope is sponsored by Genentec Inc, the Anaheim, Calif-based company that markets the CF symptom management drug Pulmozyme® (dornase alfa). The program’s advisory panel is a collaboration between cystic fibrosis patients, parents, pulmonologists, and pulmonary nurse practitioners.

Award recipients must demonstrate a positive attitude in living life fully and pursuing their dreams; manage their health maintenance regimen on a daily basis; have strength and determination in confronting the challenges of living with cystic fibrosis; be role models by providing a service to their community; and show a sense of achievement, skills, or special talents.

Those who receive the award are spotlighted on the Heroes of Hope Web site located at www.pulmozyme.com. Each winner also receives a certificate of recognition, a T-shirt, and a commemorative gift. Nomination forms can be obtained from CF centers nationwide or downloaded online at www.pulmozyme.com


Nellcor oximax sales top 30,000
After only 18 months on the market, the Nellcor® OxiMax® pulse oximetry system made its way into the Pleasanton, Calif-based company’s history books. Since the product’s release in March 2002, 900 US hospital customers have adopted the system and more than 30,000 units have been sold, making the OxiMax’s market introduction the most successful in the company’s 20 years.

Nellcor representatives also say OxiMax technology has contributed to strong sales of Nellcor original equipment manufacturer (OEM) pulse oximetry modules. More than 104,000 OEM modules were shipped to medical device manufacturers this past fiscal year.

OxiMax technology enables Nellcor’s N-595 pulse oximeter to read through patient motion combined with low perfusion by using what the company calls “highly evolved advanced digital signal processing algorithms.”

OxiMax technology and sensor compatibility are available in a variety of formats. In addition to the stand-alone N-595 pulse oximeter, Nellcor offers the OxiMax NPB-75 handheld capnograph/pulse oximeter, and the OxiMax-compatible N-45 handheld pulse oximeter.