First installations of Draeger's new wireless patient-worn monitors
14 July 2008
Dräger has announced the first implementations of its new Infinity M300 patient-worn monitor. The new telemetry system has been installed at major hospitals in the United States and Germany.
The Infinity M300 provides the performance of a full-size patient monitor, packaged in a compact patient-worn telemetry device for adult and paediatric patients. This new design allows patients to be mobile as early as possible to accelerate the healing process.
In addition to monitoring ECG and SpO2, the device has built-in algorithms to enhance ECG processing and reduce false alarms — such as pacer detection software and ACE (arrhythmia classification expert), an arrhythmia analysis tool.
The monitor can run on a hospital’s existing 802.11 b/g wireless network, saving the expense of requiring a separate wireless network for the telemetry system.
Infinity M300 addresses the three major challenges of telemetry monitoring. The first is viewing patient information at the patient’s side. Unlike traditional telemetry devices which have no screen, it has a colour display that shows the patient’s ECG for all monitored leads, heart rate, SpO2, and electrode status — enabling the clinical staff to access monitored data and react promptly without having to go to the central monitoring station. The display also shows patient demographics to help confirm the patient’s identification before giving medication, taking blood samples, or performing treatments.
The second telemetry challenge is hearing and responding to alarms. Infinity M300 has built-in alarming and alarm controls, which provide alarm alerts both at the patient’s side and the Infinity CentralStation, Dräger’s central monitoring workstation. The built-in display helps the clinician assess alarms and respond accordingly.
The third challenge of telemetry monitoring is the cost and effort associated with disposable batteries. Infinity M300 has a built-in battery, which can be recharged via a bedside charger while the patient is wearing the device, or at a multi-device charger at the central monitoring station.
“Infinity M300 represents a major innovation in telemetry monitoring. We’re very excited about the system’s potential to help address the challenges of today’s busy ambulatory environments,” said Dina LaTulippe, Director of Product Management, Central Monitoring Solutions at Monitoring, Systems & IT in Andover, Massachusetts, USA. “Because Infinity M300 has a built-in display and alarms, it enables the clinical staff to be alerted to patient conditions without having to use additional devices.”
