Nonin Medical Rolls Out New Pulse Oximetry Technology at Medica

Nonin Medical Inc., a developer of finger pulse oximetry and non-invasive physiological monitoring, released what company executives claim is the world’s first regional oximetry OEM solution, the Equanox Model 7610.

The announcement came during Medica 2011, the world’s largest medical product exhibition held Nov. 16-19 in Dusseldorf, Germany.

A pulse oximeter is a medical device that indirectly monitors the oxygen saturation of a patient’s blood (as opposed to measuring oxygen saturation directly through a blood sample) and changes in blood volume in the skin. Pulse oximeters provide an easy way of partly assessing someone’s breathing by measuring the oxygen saturation of arterial blood.

According to a report by Frost & Sullivan titled “U.S. Pulse Oximetry Monitoring Equipment Market,” U.S. sales of oximeters were worth $201 million in 2006. The report estimated that oximeter sales in the U.S. would increase to $310 million annually by 2013.

The 7610 is designed for medical monitoring manufacturers that need a “low-power, integration-ready solution” for integrating cerebral and tissue oximetry technology into their patient monitoring systems, according to Nonin Medical.

Regional oximetry non-invasively measures oxygen saturation, which allows clinicians to improve outcomes by peri-operative monitoring on targeted tissue beds such as the brain.

“Nonin’s newest OEM solution delivers highly accurate rs02 monitoring technology in an easy-to-integrate, easy-to-use solution that … allows business partners and clinicians to spend more time on their core mission,” said Chris Holland, vice president of regional oximetry for Nonin Medical.

To accommodate different clinical requirements, the new device includes:
• Two-channel and four-channel configurations;
• Type-A USB connector with accompanying data output specifications;
• Compatibility with existing Nonin regional oximetry sensors; and
• An OEM evaluation kit with guide and Microsoft Windows demonstration software that allows customers to drive multiple rSO2 channels using a standard USB port.

Nonin Medical Inc. is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn. The company claims to have more than 100 OEM partners worldwide.