Community: Industry News Features

AARC Exhibit Hall Roundup

December 22, 1999.  The AARC convention in Las Vegas was the place to be last week to witness the array of new products and technologies in the mechanical ventilation industry.  In case you missed it, here is a peek at what some of the exhibitors had to offer (clicking on the thumbnail images will retrieve larger pictures):

Allied Healthcare Products

Vacutron: All Suction Regulator models are available in the new "Mini-Style.""The family is now complete!" notes a product representative.
Timeter: The new RespiCal Calibration Analyzer is a "worthy successor" to the "workhorse" RT200, which has seen day-in-day-out use by health care professionals for more than a decade. According to Timeter, "the RespiCal offers so many new applications, it represents more of a revolution than an evolution." (Photo: Don Ruengert and Dennis Cook, Product Managers)

Bio-Med Devices

Bio-Med has introduced the CrossVent2, a "second-generation" neonatal/pediatric transport ventilator. Compact, with an 11 hour battery, the CrossVent2 still has full modes for acute care use. (Photo: Dean Bennett Jr., Marketing Manager)

Bunnell Incorporated

The Life Pulse high frequency jet ventilator has experienced its second consecutive year of 25% sales growth. Analysis of customer data seems to indicate an increased use of this high frequency modality in clinical care. Bunnell, Inc. believes that HFJV is becoming the treatment of choice for infants for whom other forms of ventilation have failed. (Photo: J. Bert Bunnell, Chairman and Chief Technical Officer)

Dräger Critical Care Systems

Dräger has announced that:  (1) Trade-up programs for their adult/pediatric or neonatal ventilators have been extended to July 31, 2000;  (2) Automatic Tube Compensation (ATC) has been added to the Dräger product line to help enhance spontaneous breathing in any mode of mechanical ventilation; (3) Airway Pressure Release Ventilation (APRV), now used on Dräger products, has been shown to improve hemodynamic performance in patients with acute lung injury/ARDS, relative to pressure-controlled ventilation. APRV decreases the need for neuromuscular block and sedation. (Photo: Julie Killeen, Regional Sales Representative; Duane Meyers, Regional Sales Representative; Marc Siobal, Customer)

Fisher & Paykel

The new MR850 humidifier is said to "always deliver optimal humidification regardless of the mode." Company representatives call the MR850 a "Plug and (NO) Play" device, meaning: "you won't need to play with temperature settings, alarms or condensate to maintain patient secretion quality, promote gas exchange and decrease the risk of infection." (Photo: Wayne Lukin, Sales Representative)

Hamilton Medical

Hamilton Medical's Aladdin II active nasal CPAP device for low birth weight and premature infants has been awarded Patent Number 5,975,077. Hamilton has assumed full control of design and production of the CPAP system.  The redesigned Aladdin II injects gas in fluid communication between the nostrils of the baby and the aerodynamically designed passageways of the device to optimize the fluid flow characteristics for both the ambient air and the injected gas during inhalation and exhalation of the patient.  Hamilton also has upgraded the graphics on its Galileo ventilator. It now displays minute ventilation vs. respiratory rate, and plots the patient's idealized ventilation patterns. The new graphics greatly enhance the Galileo's ASV mode. (Photo: Beth Keifer, Marketing Manager.  Email: b_keifer@hammed1.com)

Impact Instrumentation

The Uni-Vent Eagle is an easily portable infant-adult ventilator weighing only 12.5 lbs! Say company representatives: "No wheels required!" (Photo: Greg Grubaugh, National Sales Representative) (Uni-Vent, Univent)

IngMar Medical

The Active Servo Lung 5000 Adult/Neonatal Breathing Simulator, a powerful new software package, is based completely on LabVIEW, National Instrument's acclaimed instrumentation software. Spontaneous breathing can be simulated with any breath profile, including coughs and active exhalation -- even actual patient recordings. The ASL 5000's modeling parameters are software configured, allowing users to specify precisely the response of any active or passive lung model. (Photo: Dr. Stefan Frembgen)

Mallinckrodt, Inc.

Mallinckrodt's Model 840, their latest Infant-to-Adult Ventilator, has a state-of-the-art Tube Compensation option. This tube compensation automatically adjusts pressure support to help overcome the pressure drop related to resistance in the artificial airway (ET tube), thereby decreasing the patient's work of breathing. The Neonatal option for the 840 is projected for release in the Spring, and work is being completed for use with very premature infants. (Photo: Kevin Plihal, Product Manager)

Newport Medical Instruments

The E100M Neonatal-Pediatric-Adult Ventilator has received domestic FDA approval! Features include volume or pressure ventilation, back-up ventilation, DuoFlow, time-limited demand flow, built-in 8-hour battery back-up, and a built-in air/oxygen mixer. The E100M is for intra-hospital transport, and for sub-acute/long term care facilities.   (Photo: Vafa Talieh, Manager, Sales & Marketing Support)

Novametrix and Respironics

Novametrix: COSMO+, a ventilator management and weaning product, uses graphic representation to determine weanability; "It's more than just numbers," says Novametrix. The product's single-patient-use adapter, for measuring flow and CO2, is tough enough to tolerate secretions and other factors in the environment (Photo: Randy Terry, Product Manager, with COSMO+ featured on the Respironics' Esprit Ventilator)
Respironics: The Esprit Ventilator for Critical Care, with Respiratory Profile Monitor, is versatile and easy to use, with feedback to the clinician regarding exhaled volume.

Sechrist Industries

Sechrist's Millennium, a neonatal, infant, and pediatric ventilator, features "Smart Sync," a unique patent-pending pressure sensing device. (Photo: June Marchigiani, Manager, Business Development)

Siemens Medical Systems

A brand new Clinical Management Program, for the Servo 300a ventilator, is intended for staff education and the creation of protocols. Siemens states that use of the program will decrease patient stay by 10%. (Photo: Richard Schnirring, Sales Consultant)

 Thermo Respiratory Group

Thermo Respiratory Group has begun promotion of its new Seris 2000 "Global Vent." The first ventilator released specifically under the Thermo Respiratory Group brand name, the Seris 2000 is geared for ease of use in a wide range of situations. It features a large, ergonomically-designed screen; an analog meter with dials instead of touch pads; and a built-in blender, analyzer, nebulizer and graphic display. These elements add up to  "Cost Effective Accountability," the manufactuer emphasizes. The model is not currently available for use in the United States. (Photo: Samuel Fleischer, Product Marketing Manager)

VersaMed

VersaMed has introduced ivent, a new ventilator for patients > 10 kg. Powered by a self-contained turbine flow generator, ivent is rugged, transportable, and has a configurable, operational interface display, all making it adaptable for ICU, OR, ER or home use. (Photo: G. Eric Gjerde, President)