December 27, 2011 — ImaCor Inc. announced that 25 leading hospitals in the United States, Canada and Europe are now using its hemodynamic transesophageal echocardiographic (hTEE) management devices. The ClariTEE probe and Zura imaging platform allow physicians to directly visualize cardiac size and function of high-risk anesthesiology patients during and after surgery. Direct visualization enables physicians to identify the underlying cause of hemodynamic instability (compromised blood movement) in patients with trauma or septic shock.
Current literature suggests that several conventional measures (catheter- or pressure-based) fail to assess cardiac performance effectively. When not managed properly, patients may experience prolonged hemodynamic instability, additional complications, lengthy hospital stays, and an overall increase in their cost of care.
TEE imaging is the evidence-based gold standard for assessing cardiac performance. But the images are not easily obtainable in critical care settings, hence their utility to assess fluid responsiveness is limited. hTEE information is continuously available to evaluate patient response to fluid interventions, as it combines on-demand access to TEE with safe imaging for extended periods of time.
“ClariTEE is the world’s only miniaturized, disposable TEE probe that can lay in-dwelling for 72 hours, which is essential for initial resuscitation and subsequent patient management while medical interventions are made,” said Peter Pellerito, president/CEO, ImaCor Inc. “Seamless integration of ultrasound is the future of critical care.”
In addition to fulfilling all U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Health Canada commercialization requirements, both ClariTEE and Zura received CE mark in July 2011.
“We have a lot of devices that we could use, but the best clinical approach for our patients is to be able to see the heart over a prolonged period of time,” commented Benjamin Kohl, M.D., chief, division of critical care at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. “hTEE provides easily-acquired, clear images that we use to affirm or redirect our course of management, leading to optimal patient care.”
For more information: www.imacorinc.com