Smiths Medical Debuts Ventilator in U.S. and Canada

Smiths Medical has launched of Pneupac paraPAC plus ventilator in the United States and Canada. The ventilator, cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Health Canada, has been used clinically since early 2011 in countries accepting CE-marked devices.

The paraPAC plus is the most advanced transport ventilator of the Pneupac range, supporting the basic life-sustaining needs of a patient in respiratory distress as well as the needs of an inpatient receiving continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or other high efficiency oxygen therapy. It measures 235 millimeters by 165 millimeters by 93 millimeters and weighs less than five pounds, approximately a third lighter than its predecessor, the Pneupac paraPAC. It fits at a patient’s side, on a stretcher or bed, in an ambulance or aircraft, and on an MRI table. The non-ferrous construction allows it to be positioned next to a 3-Tesla shielded magnet affecting neither ventilator function nor MRI scan quality and it is approved for use in a spatial gradient of up to 7.5 Tesla in the MRI environment, the company claims. It is built with a rugged case that encapsulates internal structures, the intake and output ports, controls, and indicators from the bumps and knocks that come with frequent use.

The paraPAC plus is fully pneumatic while performing essential operations––ventilation and oxygen therapies––without electrical power. An electronic alarm system of visual and audible signals can be powered by a long-life, MRI compatible lithium battery. In addition, the ventilator’s Air Mix feature helps conserve oxygen supplies when used during lengthy transports, executives said.

“We are pleased to offer our most advanced, best-equipped transport ventilator in North America,” said Andrew Rose, vice president of specialty business. “Globally paraPAC plus has had more than two years of clinical use and we are confident that it is one of the most resilient and versatile transport ventilators that we have produced.”

Smiths Medical supplies specialized medical devices and equipment for global markets, focusing on the medication delivery, vital care and safety devices market segments. It is part of Smiths Group, a developer of technologies for various industries, including threat and contraband detection, energy, medical devices, communications and engineered components. The company employs about 22,000 people in more than 50 countries.