Rhode Island Hospital study identifies 11 cases of unsuspected CO poisoning
through universal CO screening with the Masimo Rad-57 Pulse CO-Oximeter(TM)
IRVINE, Calif., March 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Masimo, the inventor of
Pulse CO-Oximetry and Measure-Through-Motion & Low Perfusion Pulse Oximetry,
reported that a new clinical study, recently published in the Journal of
Emergency Medicine, found the Masimo Rainbow SET Rad-57 Pulse CO-Oximeter to
be "a safe, easily applied tool at triage that can identify cases of
unsuspected elevated levels of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning" that would
otherwise have gone undetected.
Researchers at the Rhode Island Hospital, where the study was conducted,
also concluded that universal SpCO(R) screening may prevent morbidity through
early identification and treatment intervention, stating that: "We can point
to several cases during our study period in which patient outcomes were
different based upon availability of SpCO, recorded at triage."
The study titled "Noninvasive Pulse CO-Oximetry Screening in the Emergency
Department Identifies Occult Carbon Monoxide Toxicity" was conducted over a
nine-month period on more than 10,850 patients presenting to the Emergency
Department at the Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island, by a
research team of emergency medicine physicians from the Warren Alpert Medical
School at Brown University and the Emergency Department of Rhode Island
Hospital, headed by Dr. Selim Suner.
In this study, Dr. Suner, Dr. Jay, Dr. Partridge, Dr. Sucov, Dr. Valente,
Dr. Chee and Dr. Hughes tested the ability to screen for CO toxicity in a busy
tertiary center ED using the Masimo Rainbow SET Rad-57 Pulse CO-Oximeter and
found 28 cases of CO toxicity (SpCO of > 9% for nonsmokers and >13% for
smokers), of which 11 were unexpected, and were identified only with the aid
of universal SpCO screening using the Masimo Rad-57. In all CO toxicity cases
identified, venous or arterial COHb confirmations of elevated SpCO
measurements were verified by lab analysis of blood samples taken with data
results showing a "good correlation" between SpCO from the Masimo Rad-57 and
COHb from the lab analysis.
The research team noted that identification of CO toxicity in the ED is
often challenging because many patients may not know or suspect that they were
exposed to CO and are unable to provide clinicians with sufficient history to
prompt testing for carboxyhemoglobin (COHb). In addition, the symptoms of CO
poisoning can be similar to the flu. However, missing the opportunity to
diagnose CO poisoning at the ED because screening large populations of
patients by invasive blood testing for CO toxicity is not practical and not
routinely performed in the ED setting can lead to "inadvertently returning a
patient to the site of CO exposure and may lead to further toxicity with the
possibility of long-term neurological, psychiatric, or cardiovascular
complications."
Using data extrapolated from the study at Rhode Island Hospital's level-1
trauma center ED, researchers suggest that potentially "as many as 11,000
occult poisoning cases" go undetected annually -- illustrating the significant
impact that universal SpCO screening could have on public health and safety.
"Screening will also protect the public by identifying hidden sources of CO in
households, workplaces and schools," said researchers.
Joe E. Kiani, Chairman and CEO of Masimo, stated: "The researchers at
Rhode Island Hospital have done a great public service in addressing the
benefits of routine, universal screening by Pulse CO-Oximetry upon admission
in emergency departments. As this study has shown, the importance of
diagnosing unsuspected CO poisoning at emergency departments nationwide could
mean a big difference in the lives of the estimated 11,000 people each year
who may be suffering in silence as CO ravages their health."
About Masimo
Masimo (Nasdaq: MASI) develops innovative monitoring technologies that
significantly improve patient care -- helping solve "unsolvable" problems. In
1995, the company debuted Measure-Through-Motion and Low Perfusion pulse
oximetry, known as Masimo SET, and with it virtually eliminated false alarms
and increased pulse oximetry's ability to detect life-threatening events. More
than 100 independent and objective studies demonstrate Masimo SET provides the
most trustworthy SpO2 and pulse rate measurements even under the most
difficult clinical conditions, including patient motion and low peripheral
perfusion. In 2005, Masimo introduced Masimo Rainbow SET, a breakthrough
noninvasive blood constituent monitoring platform that can measure many blood
constituents that previously required invasive procedures. Rainbow SET
continuously and noninvasively measures total hemoglobin (SpHb(TM)) and oxygen
content (SpOC(TM)) (pending FDA clearance), carboxyhemoglobin (SpCO(TM)),
methemoglobin (SpMet(TM)), and pleth variability index (PVI(TM)), in addition
to oxyhemoglobin (SpO2), perfusion index (PI) and pulse rate, allowing early
detection and treatment of potentially life-threatening conditions. Founded in
1989, Masimo has the mission of "Improving Patient Outcomes and Reducing Cost
of Care by Taking Noninvasive Monitoring to New Sites and Applications."
Additional information about Masimo and its products may be found at
http://www.masimo.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may include forward-looking statements. These
forward-looking statements are based on current expectations about future
events affecting us and are subject to uncertainties and factors, all of which
are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control, including:
risks related to our assumption that the Masimo Rainbow SET Rad-57 Pulse
CO-Oximeter will be an effective universal screening tool at all EDs and risks
related to our assumption that Masimo Pulse CO-Oximetry technology will
deliver a sufficient level of clinical improvement over alternative carbon
monoxide screening methods to allow for rapid adoption of the technology in
hospital and emergency medicine environments, as well as other factors
discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of our annual report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 29, 2007, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on March 4, 2008. Although we believe that the expectations
reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, we do not know
whether our expectations will prove correct. You are cautioned not to place
undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the
date hereof. We do not undertake any obligation to update, amend or clarify
these forward-looking statements or the risk factors contained in our annual
report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 2007, whether as a result
of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required
under the federal securities laws.
Masimo, SET, Signal Extraction Technology, Improving Outcomes and Reducing
Cost of Care by Taking Noninvasive Monitoring to New Sites and Applications,
Rainbow, SpHb, SpOC, SpCO, SpMet, PVI, Pulse CO-Oximetry and Pulse CO-Oximeter
are trademarks or registered trademarks of Masimo Corporation.
SOURCE Masimo Corporation
03/19/2008
CONTACT: Dana Banks of Masimo Corporation, +1-949-297-7348
Web site: http://www.masimo.com