IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Masimo , the inventor of Pulse CO-Oximetry and Measure-Through Motion and Low Perfusion pulse oximetry, announced a new SofTouch(TM) disposable pulse oximetry sensor developed specifically for the fragile skin and size of extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants (<500 grams-1,000 grams) in conjunction with the Neonatology 2008 conference in Miami, Florida. The new LNCS(R) SofTouch NeoPt-500 sensor is exclusively designed to fit ELBW babies and features special soft foam and non-adhesive attachments to prevent injury to even the most sensitive skin of premature infants.
Barbara Haley, CRTT, NICU Clinical Coordinator, Respiratory Care Services at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, CA, stated; “We love the LNCS SofTouch NeoPt-500 for the improvement in care it facilitates. It is smaller than other neonatal sensors -- making it a near-perfect fit even for our smallest preemies -- and it is much softer on the skin to maintain skin integrity. We’ve also found that the NeoPt-500 makes nurses more efficient because the wrap is so much easier to apply and secure.”
LNCS SofTouch NeoPt-500 is the first non-adhesive pulse oximetry sensor made specifically for the needs of newborns weighing down to 500 grams or less. At just 20 mm in size, the NeoPt-500 has dimensions that are smaller than typical neonatal sensors. This means that the distance between the emitter and detector on the NeoPt-500 is much smaller -- enabling the sensor to fit better and more securely on the tiniest hand or foot.
Mitchell Goldstein, M.D., Associate Professor, Pediatrics at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital in Loma Linda, CA, stated; “The new LNCS(R) SofTouch NeoPt-500 sensor solves the problems associated with typical pulse oximetry sensors in ELBW infants. ELBW neonates are much more susceptible to skin burn injury and full thickness ulcer formations caused by improper sensor design and placement. Skin injury compromises the body’s most basic protection mechanism and, in this most vulnerable population, the problems and risks associated with sensors not designed or intended for ELBW newborns have much greater consequences. Masimo is a unique company that not only understands this, but designs and develops clinically-relevant solutions to overcome these challenges.”
Masimo SofTouch sensors are designed for single-patient use whenever skin sensitivity is a concern. SofTouch sensors incorporate a hook and loop wrap -- allowing the sensor to be quickly and securely applied on wet and slippery sites, and easily repositioned if necessary. Newborn skin is further protected by soft foam material that surrounds the sensor attachment for maximum comfort, and the NeoPt-500 contains no adhesive materials exposed to skin contact areas. This prevents epidermal stripping and skin trauma typically caused by applying and repositioning an adhesive sensor.
Joe E. Kiani, Founder and CEO of Masimo, stated; “The new LNCS SofTouch NeoPt-500 sensor underscores our core philosophy of ‘doing what is best for patient care.’ We believe that every patient deserves appropriate monitoring solutions. That’s why Masimo provides over 100 different sensors, each uniquely designed to deliver the performance and measurement clinicians want -- including 15 different sensor options to address the challenging needs and specific requirements of neonatal patients.”
About Masimo
Masimo 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, which 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 reliable SpO2 and pulse rate measurements even under the most challenging clinical conditions, including patient motion and low peripheral perfusion. In 2005, Masimo introduced Masimo Rainbow SET Pulse CO-Oximetry, a breakthrough noninvasive blood constituent monitoring platform that can measure many blood constituents that previously required invasive procedures. Masimo Rainbow SET continuously and noninvasively measures total hemoglobin (SpHb(TM)), oxygen content (SpOC(TM)), carboxyhemoglobin (SpCO(R)), methemoglobin (SpMet(R)), and PVI(TM), in addition to oxyhemoglobin (SpO2), pulse rate (PR), and perfusion index (PI), 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 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, including, but not limited to: risks related to our assumption that the addition of the LNCS(R) NeoPt-500 SofTouch(TM)(R) sensor will outperform other neonatal pulse oximetry sensors and will serve to increase clinical accuracy and efficiency and the adoption of Masimo technology, or serve to substantially increase sensor sales, as well as other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 27, 2008, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on October 29, 2008, which may be obtained for free at the SEC’s website at http://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 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 27, 2008, 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 Outcomes and Reducing Cost of Care by Taking Noninvasive Monitoring to New Sites and Applications, Rainbow, SpHb, SpOC, SpCO, SpMet, PVI, Radical-7, Rad-87, Rad-57,Rad-9, Rad-8, Rad-5,Pulse CO-Oximetry and Pulse CO-Oximeter are trademarks or registered trademarks of Masimo Corporation.
CONTACT: Dana Banks of Masimo Corporation, +1-949-297-7348
Web site: http://www.masimo.com/
