Blood Pressure Sensor Interfaces with Monitors

A new continual noninvasive blood pressure sensor can be integrated into existing monitoring systems. The sensor offers an alternative to an indwelling catheter when continuous blood pressure monitoring is required but blood gas measurements are not needed. A noninvasive wrist sensor replaces the indwelling catheter. The sensor was introduced at the annual meeting of the North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology in Boston (MA, USA).

Called Vasotrac, the NIA V-Line interface works with virtually any multi-parameter monitor without hardware or software modifications. The sensor provides updates about every 15 heartbeats and is being used in anesthesiology, critical care, emergency departments, and cardiology departments. Vasotrac was developed by Medwave, Inc. (St. Paul, MN, USA). When a patient requires an arterial catheter only for monitoring blood pressure on a continual basis, Vasotrec users have reported a reduced need for A-lines.

"With this new interface, Vasotrac is now tied to a customer's existing clinical or administrative network without additional software modifications,” said Roger Thede, vice president, new product development, at Medwave. "NIA V-Line is designed to interface to any monitor with an invasive blood pressure channel furnishing DC (direct current) excitation from four to eight volts.”





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