Telford, PA - Draeger announces that it has embedded continuous noninvasive blood pressure measurement technology into its patient monitoring systems. This technology from CNSystems, which has successfully supported patients in Europe for more than four years, is now available in the United States. Draeger is the first and only vendor to offer CNAP technology, which can help hospitals increase patient safety and reduce costs.

The Infinity CNAP (Continuous Noninvasive Arterial Pressure) SmartPod provides a simple, accurate method for continuously measuring systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure. CNAP technology provides the beat-to-beat vigilance of blood pressure changes equivalent to an invasive arterial line, while avoiding risks of complications and infections associated with the insertion of A-lines. The system is extremely easy to apply and use, and requires minimal training.

"Two of the biggest trends that continue in healthcare today are technologies that provide continuous data and are noninvasive to the patient," says Product Manager David Blackmun. "With the Infinity CNAP SmartPod, Draeger provides hospitals with both of these attributes, which together can help improve patient safety and outcomes, while also saving costs."

Seamless Monitoring of Blood Pressure

Raj Rane, Senior Clinical Engineer at Draeger, explains the clinical benefits of the technology: "CNAP fills the void in situations where NBP is not continuous and fast enough to detect critical blood pressure changes, and an A-line is too invasive, complicated, and expensive. In the past, the physician either had to place an invasive arterial catheter or rely completely on an oscillometric measurement, which only provides a value intermittently. CNAP measures the blood pressure painlessly, noninvasively and continuously in real time - thus detecting changes immediately. CNAP can also be used prior to insertion of the A-line, thus providing seamless blood pressure monitoring in the ICU or OR."

The system works by integrating a light-emitting diode and detector into a double-finger sensor cuff. As the sensor detects changes in blood volume based on the amount of light transmitted through the finger, the cuff pressure closely follows the instantaneous pulsatile blood pressure changes in the finger arteries. Blood pressure can then be calculated beat-to-beat, after calibration with the built-in standard oscillometric measurement (NBP) of the monitor - and a high resolution, real-time arterial pressure waveform and systolic, diastolic and mean pressure value are displayed on the monitor.

The reliability and accuracy of the CNAP measurement during operations have been confirmed in clinical trials by renowned universities on more than 650 patients.

Draeger developed the CNAP pod to bring this innovative technology to its installed base of Infinity Omega and Omega-S solutions, as well as Delta, Delta XL and Kappa patient monitors.

For more information on Draeger and CNSystems, please visit www.draeger.com and www.cnsystems.at.

Draeger. Technology for Life®

Draeger is a leading international company in the fields of medical and safety technology. Draeger products protect, support and save lives. Founded in 1889, in 2010 Draeger generated revenues of around EUR 2.18 billion. The Draeger Group is currently present in more than 190 countries and has about 11,000 employees worldwide. Please visit www.draeger.com for more information.

CNSystems

Headquartered in Graz, Austria, CNSystems is technology leader in the development of noninvasive medical devices designed for real-time evaluation of all medical conditions characterized by rapid and short-term changes in hemodynamics. With CNAP®, the company succeeded in revolutionizing the method of non-invasive continuous blood pressure monitoring in anesthesiology and perioperative care.

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Pam Selker Rak: 412-221-4550