WAUKESHA, WI - GE Healthcare has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for new breakthrough methods in ventilation monitoring that further expand the performance of the Engstrm Carestation ventilator. Developed with Professor Ola Stenqvist, M.D., Ph.D, anesthesiologist at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, Sweden, SpiroDynamics and FRC INview are based on validated algorithms and measurements.1,2

The Engstrm Carestation, released in 2004, was the first critical care respiratory carestation to offer integration throughout the care process. The ventilator enables clinicians to integrate ventilation with monitoring modules capable of measuring advanced parameters.

With SpiroDynamics, critical care clinicians can now monitor tracheal pressure regardless of the ventilator setting. The breakthrough method facilitates compliance measurement at the beginning, middle and end of a breath for better assessment of overdistention, providing a dynostatic curve that better estimates Alveolar pressure. This further enhances detection of Intrinsic PEEP and inflection points.


FRC INview, a GE breakthrough technology, adds a new dimension to pulmonary monitoring by providing measurement of FRC without interrupting ventilation. It provides the ability to directly measure the end expiratory lung volume by slightly altering the delivered FiO2 level for short periods of time. Using the volumetric O2 and CO2 measurement capability of the Compact Airway module, the Engstrm Carestation displays the patient's FRC level through numeric values as well as a graphic curve.

"With the release of SpiroDynamics and FRC INview, GE Healthcare once again demonstrates our commitment to bringing real world, clinically-relevant solutions that impact the quality of patient care, by providing new information near-instantaneously at the point-of-care," said Paul Baumgart, general manager of GE Healthcare's Respiratory Care business.

SpiroDynamics is similar to Spirometry by creating a P/V loop that is analyzed by the user. As a component to the INview suite, SpiroDynamics provides a simple, reliable method to gather more accurate information on lung mechanics.

By providing a direct measurement of end expiratory lung volume on mechanically ventilated patients, FRC INview enables cycled, automatic measurement of FRC with no additional gas source required. Calculations are based on real-time lung function, without interruption of ventilation therapy and allows for a better assessment of the effectiveness of lung recruitment maneuvers.

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