New Published Study Shows Masimo Rainbow SET(R) Pulse CO-Oximetry(TM) Reliably Determines Carbon Monoxide Levels in the Blood

IRVINE, Calif., Nov 05, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- MASI | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Masimo (Nasdaq: MASI), the inventor of Pulse CO-Oximetry(TM) and Measure-Through Motion and Low-Perfusion pulse oximetry, announced today that a new peer-reviewed clinical study published in this month's Inhalation Toxicology demonstrates that Masimo Rainbow SET(R) Pulse CO-Oximetry (SpCO) provides reliable measurements of carbon monoxide (CO) in the blood that facilitate fast, accurate diagnosis of CO poisoning in pre-hospital emergency and rescue environments.(1)

Carbon monoxide - often called the silent killer - is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and deadly gas that is extremely difficult to detect. Prior to Masimo Rainbow SET Pulse CO-Oximetry, an invasive blood draw followed by laboratory blood gas analysis was the only reliable method for diagnosing CO poisoning. Without immediate access to complex and costly laboratory blood analyzers to measure CO in the blood (COHb), emergency first responders were at a critical disadvantage - unable to confirm the diagnosis of CO poisoning necessary to initiate appropriate, often lifesaving treatment. Today, the portable, handheld Masimo Rad-57 Pulse CO-Oximeter provides an accurate and noninvasive way to detect elevated CO levels in the bloodstream in just seconds - allowing emergency first responders to quickly and easily diagnose CO poisoning on-the-scene and initiate prompt, possibly lifesaving treatment.

Dr. Piatkowski and colleagues at the University Hospital Aachen (Germany) used the Masimo Rad-57 Pulse CO-Oximeter to measure SpCO in 20 patients suspected of CO poisoning who were admitted to the burn center and in five healthy volunteers (used as a control group). Comparing SpCO measurements to COHb measurements obtained hourly via invasive blood samples processed using three different laboratory analyzers, researchers found that the mean error of the three different blood gas analyzers was just 1% lower than noninvasive Pulse CO-Oximetry. The SpCO measurements from Pulse CO-Oximetry resulted in a mean error of approximately 3.15% over a COHb range of 1% to 38%, while the invasive COHb measurements from three different blood analyzers resulted in a mean error of 2.4%. Researchers concluded that Pulse CO-Oximetry "represents a reliable measurement technique that is easy to handle and could facilitate the early diagnosis of CO intoxication in pre-hospital rescue conditions."

Masimo Executive Vice President of Medical Affairs, Dr. Michael O'Reilly, stated, "This study adds to the compelling evidence base showing that Masimo Pulse CO-Oximetry SpCO provides accurate and reliable measurements that enable clinicians and first responders to make earlier and better decisions. This study is also the first to show that the differences in COHb measurement from different laboratory analyzers are similar to the differences between laboratory analyzer measurement and noninvasive Pulse CO-Oximetry measurement."

(1) A. Piatkowski, D. Ulrich, G. Grieb, N. Pallua. "A New Tool for the Early Diagnosis of Carbon Monoxide Intoxication." Inhalation Toxicology, November 2009; 21(3):1144-1147.

*Editor's Note: The study is available online at: http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/08958370902839754

About Masimo

Masimo (NASDAQ: MASI | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) 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(R), 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(R) Pulse CO-Oximetry(TM), 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 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 assumptions regarding the repeatability of clinical results, risks related to our belief that Masimo Rainbow SET will provide sufficient sensitivity and specificity to deliver the most accurate and reliable SpCO measurements under all emergency and rescue conditions, and risks related to our belief that the Rad-57 enables fast, reliable, accurate diagnosis of carbon monoxide poisoning, as well as other factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of our most recent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), which may be obtained for free at the SEC's website at 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 most recent reports filed with the SEC, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under the applicable securities laws.

    Media Contact:
    Dana Banks,
    Masimo Corporation
    949-297-7348

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.

SOURCE Masimo

http://www.masimo.com

More News:   Market Updates | Stock Alerts | All Trading News | Stock Index