Lifesaving medical first, the Masimo Rad-57™ detects carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in seconds
IRVINE, Calif. - Two independent clinical studies, recently presented at the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) Congress, found that the Masimo Rainbow SET® Rad-57 Pulse CO-Oximeter™ was effective in detecting carbon monoxide levels in the bloodstream. The Rad-57 sensor, applied to a patient’s finger, determines blood carbon monoxide levels in seconds, using multiple wavelengths of light. The Rad-57 is the first noninvasive device FDA-cleared for detecting carbon monoxide levels in the bloodstream. In addition, the Rad-57 also measures oxygen saturation, pulse rate and perfusion index.
In the first study, researchers from the Mayo Clinic attached the Rad-57 sensor to patients’ fingers, recorded the CO readings, drew arterial blood samples that were analyzed within fifteen minutes in a blood analyzer, and compared the results Mayo researchers concluded that the Rad-57 analyzed blood carbon monoxide levels accurately and stated that it would be helpful in situations where non-invasive monitoring of CO levels would be beneficial.
A study by researchers at Rhode Island Hospital & Brown Medical School, Department of Emergency Medicine reported on the use of the Masimo Rad-57 CO-Oximeter in treating the victim of a house fire. The initial measurement indicated that approximately 40% of the patient’s blood supply had been poisoned with carbon monoxide, a highly dangerous level. Using the Rad-57 monitor, clinicians continuously monitored CO levels in the bloodstream noninvasively while the patient received oxygen therapy, allowing them to know that the treatment was working and when it could be stopped. After nearly 3 hours of treatment, the patient’s CO level was less than 5%. Researchers concluded that the Masimo Rad-57 demonstrated the ability to continuously and noninvasively monitor carbon monoxide levels in the blood.
“We are very pleased to see the performance of the Rad-57 independently validated by these leading institutions,” said Joe E. Kiani, Masimo CEO and Chairman. “For the first time, hospitals, first responders and industrial health care professionals will be able to quickly and noninvasively determine whether patients or firefighters are experiencing carbon monoxide poisoning. We are proud to, once again, introduce technology that will save lives and prevent disability.”
Unmasking the Great Imitator-CO
Carbon monoxide, a silent, odorless killer, is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in the US, responsible for an estimated 5,000 fatalities and 10,000 poisoning injuries annually. Since carbon monoxide is produced by combustion, it can be a threat both at home, usually from faulty furnaces or water heaters and in the workplace, where exhaust fumes from motor vehicles and manufacturing equipment can accumulate. Because carbon monoxide is produced in huge quantities in building and forest fires, firefighters face especially high risk of repeated exposure to carbon monoxide.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can be very difficult to diagnose, since its symptoms resemble those of the flu and other common ailments. Sometimes symptoms are so subtle that patients ignore them, which can have life-threatening consequences. Quick diagnosis and treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning is critically important in saving lives and preventing long-term neurological damage. Quick diagnosis of a poisoned patient may also allow paramedics, firefighters and clinicians in the Emergency Department to identify other persons at risk in a toxic home or work environment, and intervene before it is too late.
Unfortunately, conventional pulse oximeters cannot distinguish carbon monoxide from oxygen, and report erroneous high oxygen levels, even when patients are severely poisoned with carbon monoxide.
Before the introduction of the Rad-57, the gold standard for measuring carbon monoxide concentration in the bloodstream was a CO-Oximetry test, which required a painful blood draw and potentially significant delay in diagnosis. Many US hospitals do not have CO-Oximeters on site.
With the introduction of the Rad-57 pulse CO-Oximeter, hospital clinicians and first responders in the field now have a portable, durable unit that can be used anywhere to diagnosis carbon monoxide poisoning painlessly, in seconds.
About Masimo
Masimo, the inventor of Pulse CO-Oximetry™ and Read-Through Motion and Low Perfusion Pulse Oximetry, was founded in 1989. Masimo’s monitoring systems owe both their superior accuracy and reliability to the company’s unique SET (Signal Extraction Technology), a solution the company invented and introduced worldwide in 1998 to address problems that have traditionally beset traditional pulse oximetry systems. Masimo SET allows accurate monitoring despite patient motion, bright lights, signals from other electrical equipment, and low blood flow. These events and conditions, common in adult, pediatric and neonatal patient care, can cause inaccurate readings or loss of readings with less advanced monitoring technology. Over 100 clinical studies support the conclusion that Masimo SET is the most effective pulse oximeter in the world.
Masimo’s Rainbow™ technology ushers in a new era of non-invasive monitoring, where patients at risk for respiratory and cardiac complications and those suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning and other life-threatening conditions can be quickly diagnosed and treated.
More information about Masimo and its products can be found at www.masimo.com.