Advanced Miniature In-Line Blood Gas Analyzer Launched in Europe

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 01 Apr 2015

A CE-marked patient-dedicated system, presented at ISICEM 2015, delivers point-of-care testing (POCT) by enabling critical care staff to obtain rapid and frequent laboratory-accurate arterial blood gas measurements without leaving the patient’s bedside, facilitating effective and timely clinical decisions.

Sphere Medical (Cambridge, UK) presented its Proxima System at the 35th International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine (ISICEM 2015; Brussels, Belgium, March 17-20, 2015) for launch in mainland Europe. Proxima revolutionizes conventional POCT as it is attached directly to the patient through their arterial line. The miniature Proxima Sensor, containing a range of biological sensors, sits in series in the arterial line with the blood pressure transducer. For the first time, blood gas results can be delivered, like blood pressure results, within the patient’s bed space.

Image: The miniature Proxima Sensor is integrated into a patient’s arterial line to be used for directly monitoring blood gases and electrolytes over a 72 hour period as many times as required (Photo courtesy of Sphere Medical).

Image: The new Proxima in-line patient-dedicated point-of-care blood gas analyzer incorporates Proxima Sensor (in foreground) and dedicated bedside monitor (Photo courtesy of Sphere Medical).

Proxima is simple to use, enables closed blood sampling, and is operated via the touch-screen interface of its dedicated bedside monitor. Blood is withdrawn from the patient directly into the Proxima Sensor and a panel of analytes is measured. All blood is returned to the patient – promoting blood conservation and reducing the possibility of hospital acquired anemia and subsequent transfusions. The disposable sensor can be used for monitoring blood gases and electrolytes over a 72 hour period as many times as required.

Proxima has been fully evaluated and validated in a clinical setting. A recent observational method comparison study at Queen Elizabeth Hospital (Birmingham, UK) showed excellent agreement between Proxima and hospital standard benchtop blood gas analyzers, measuring various parameters of intensive care unit (ICU) patients with a range of clinical conditions, including trauma, head injury, post-surgical recovery, and sepsis.

Dr. Tom Clutton-Brock, senior lecturer, Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, 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.” At ISICEM 2015 Dr. Clutton-Brock presented on “Bedside Blood Analysis,” discussing how frequent measurement of arterial blood samples is a key component in the effective management of critical care patients, particularly those who are unstable. At a poster session, Dr. Clutton-Brock and Dr. Jess Fox (Sphere Medical) discussed the excellent evaluation results of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital study.

Related Links:
Sphere Medical
35th International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine (ISICEM 2015)