Masimo revealed that the Japanese Ministry for Health Labour and Welfare has given approval for the Rad-87 Pulse CO-Oximeter. The Rad-87 Pulse CO-Oximeter makes use of the rainbow acoustic monitoring technology designed by Masimo.
The Masimo rainbow Acoustic Sensor (right) is applied to the patient's neck (left). Credit: Masimo Corporation
Through this technology, it is possible to monitor the respiration rate (RRa) with high accuracy. This is a real-time, simple and non-invasive method for monitoring the respiration rate. The respiratory rate is an important indicator of the physiological status of the patient and is of great significance especially in patients recovering from surgery.
Dr. Toshiyasu, a professor of Anaesthesiology and one of the first users of the Rad87, pointed out the usefulness of the acoustic monitor in providing efficient and continuous monitoring of the respiratory rate of patients, and ensures reduction of the workload of medical personnel. He added that the Rad-87 was superior to the rate meters that are currently in use and its operation is a simple affair. Another physician from the Baylor University Medical center explained that the Rad-87 was capable of monitoring the respiratory rate continuously and providing instantaneous alerts when abnormalities are detected. He added that the device was easy to wear and hence was a boon for patients. The Acoustic Monitoring technology from Masimo makes use of an adhesive transducer along with the acoustic transducer for rate monitoring. The device can be conveniently positioned on the patient’s neck or upper airway to detect the respiratory rate. The cutting edge signal extraction technology (SET) from Masimo for processing and displaying the measurements has been used in the design of Rad087.