A novel miniature, patient dedicated in-line blood gas analyzer improves critical care by providing near real-time measurements at laboratory analyzer accuracy.

Sphere Medical (Cambridge, UK), innovator in critical care monitoring and diagnostics equipment, has launched its cutting-edge analyzer, Proxima, at the Association of Anesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland Annual Congress (AAGBI) 2014 (September 17-19, 2014, Harrogate, UK). The Proxima miniaturized blood gas analyzer uniquely delivers rapid, frequent results at patient bedside to enable fast response, proactive critical care—closer control of therapeutic response leading to improved patient outcome, as well as to reduced overall cost of care.

CE-marked and designed for critical care environments, the Proxima System incorporates a dedicated bedside monitor and the Proxima Sensor integrated into a patient’s arterial line. This enables blood to be measured directly at point-of-care without need to leave the patient or manipulate samples and cartridges, which can add to the workload of frontline care staff. Measured to laboratory analyzer accuracy, results are rapidly displayed on the bedside monitor and can be electronically transferred for permanent record.

Simple to use, Proxima enables closed blood sampling and is operated via the touch screen interface of its bedside monitor. When a blood gas analysis is required, blood is withdrawn from the patient directly into the Proxima Sensor without need to open the line, take a sample, and walk away for analysis. Once analysis is completed, all blood is returned to the patient, thereby ensuring blood conservation and reducing the possibility of hospital acquired anemia and subsequent transfusions. A Proxima Sensor is a disposable transducer which can be used for monitoring blood gases and electrolytes over a 72 hour period as many times as required. The system also carries out all quality control checks that would be undertaken on a traditional blood gas analyzer to ensure validity of test results. It also includes a facility to be challenged with liquid controls.

Dr. Tom Clutton-Brock, University Hospital Birmingham, said, “Rapid return of data and swift response to changing blood gases is as essential in patient care as the continual measurement of blood pressure. Fast feedback and response could have a real impact on efficiently stabilizing patients or weaning them from mechanical ventilation.” “Frequent measurement of arterial blood samples is a key component in the effective management of patients in the critical care environment, particularly those that are unstable,” said Dr. Wolfgang Rencken, CEO of Sphere Medical, “we have developed and launched Proxima to keep the caregiver by the patient, conserve blood, and rapidly return blood gas results to aid early decision making and closer control of therapy for critically ill patients—all of which will ultimately improve patient outcomes.”

Also at AAGBI 2014, Sphere Medical sponsored an industry seminar where Dr. Clutton-Brock presented on “True Point-of-Care Testing,” discussing challenges of maintaining control of patient physiology in the ITU, focusing on the frequency of arterial blood sample testing ideally required, and associated limitations such as staff time involved, costs, and blood conservation. He also considered how matters might change if these limitations were removed.

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