IRVINE, CA and LONG ISLAND, BAHAMAS -- (Marketwired) -- 04/29/15 --
For the first time in freediving history, Masimo (NASDAQ: MASI), maker of breakthrough Measure-through Motion and Low Perfusion™ pulse oximetry, has equipped the Suunto Vertical Blue freediving competition with consumer versions of MightySat® fingertip pulse oximeters.
Vertical Blue, dubbed "the Wimbledon of freediving" by the New York Times, runs April 27-May 7. The elite event is held each year at Dean's Blue Hole, Long Island, Bahamas -- the world's deepest known underwater sinkhole at 663 feet. This year 24 freedivers from 13 countries will take the plunge in three different disciplines: constant weight (CWT), free immersion (FIM) and constant no-fins (CNF).
Before dives, freedivers typically prepare with physical, mental and breath-holding exercises to slow their metabolism, heart rate, breath rate, and the level of carbon dioxide in their bloodstream. Despite these precautions, freedivers risk shallow- and deep-water blackouts. At Vertical Blue, all competitors will be under supervision of a safety team, sponsored by Masimo.
Additionally, Dr. Stig Severinsen, four-time freediving world champion and holder of the Guinness Book of World Records for an underwater breath hold (22 minutes), will monitor blood oxygenation, pulse rate and other parameters throughout the 10-day competition using a MightySat. Severinsen's monitoring will advance the understanding of what event organizers call one of the world's fastest-growing sports.
"The monitoring of these world-class athletes with this new state-of-the-art device should hopefully yield information to be used for improved training and competition protocols," Severinsen said. "The wireless MightySat from Masimo contains advanced technology to deliver reliable, noninvasive measurements on oxygen saturation levels and pulse rate, making it easy to sample and store data even under extreme conditions, such as high and low temperatures and during states of low perfusion."
"Vertical Blue is looking forward to collaborating this year with Masimo, as part of our efforts to be more informed as to the fascinating physiological changes that occur during deep breath-hold dives," said William Trubridge, 15-time freediving champion and founder of Vertical Blue. "Using Masimo equipment, we can collect more data and monitor our athletes throughout the event, with very simple and noninvasive protocols. We're looking forward to seeing the results!"
MightySat is available in three versions -- each provides oxygen saturation (SpO2), pulse rate (PR), and perfusion index (PI) measurements in a compact, battery-powered design with a large color screen that can be rotated for real-time display of the pleth waveform as well as measurements. Features include:
> Signal I.Q.® to assess measurement confidence
> Rugged, lightweight design for operation in challenging environments
> Long battery life-up to 15 hours with two standard AAA alkaline batteries
> Optional Bluetooth LE wireless functionality enables measurement display via a free, downloadable app on iOS and Android mobile devices as well as the ability to trend and communicate measurements
> Optional PVI version for those who want to use their pulse oximeter to evaluate another physiologic dimension. MightySat is the only fingertip pulse oximeter available with Pleth Variability Index (PVI) measurement. (PVI is a measure of the dynamic changes in the perfusion index (PI) that occur during the respiratory cycle.)
> Two year limited warranty
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About Masimo:
Masimo (NASDAQ: MASI) is a global leader in innovative noninvasive 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®, which virtually eliminated false alarms and increased pulse oximetry's ability to detect life-threatening events. More than 100 independent and objective studies have shown that Masimo SET® outperforms other pulse oximetry technologies, even under the most challenging clinical conditions, including patient motion and low peripheral perfusion. In 2005, Masimo introduced rainbow SET® Pulse CO-Oximetry technology, allowing noninvasive and continuous monitoring of blood constituents that previously could only be measured invasively, including total hemoglobin (SpHb®), oxygen content (SpOC™), carboxyhemoglobin (SpCO®), methemoglobin (SpMet®), and Pleth Variability Index (PVI®), in addition to SpO2, pulse rate, and perfusion index (PI). Additional information about Masimo and its products may be found at www.masimo.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, in connection with the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations about future events affecting us and are subject to risks and uncertainties, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control and could cause our actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed in our forward-looking statements as a result of various risk factors discussed in the Risk Factors" section of our most recent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), which may be obtained for free at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, we do not know whether our expectations will prove correct. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of today's date. We do not undertake any obligation to update, amend or clarify these forward-looking statements or the "Risk Factors" contained in our most recent reports filed with the SEC, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under the applicable securities laws.
Masimo, SET, Signal Extraction Technology, Improving Patient Outcome and Reducing Cost of Care... by Taking Noninvasive Monitoring to New Sites and Applications, rainbow, SpHb, SpOC, SpCO, SpMet, PVI are trademarks or registered trademarks of Masimo.
Media Contact:
Mike Drummond
Masimo Corporation
Phone: (949) 297-7434
Email: mdrummond@masimo.com
Source: Masimo