Peer-Reviewed Research Describes How Device Enabled Hospital to Eliminate Confirmatory Chest X-rays

WAYNE, Pa.(BUSINESS WIRE) - Teleflex Incorporated (NYSE: TFX), a leading global provider of medical devices for critical care and surgery, announced that a newly published clinical study demonstrates that the accuracy of the ARROW® VPS G4™ Vascular Positioning System, with placements of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs), can eliminate the use of confirmatory chest X-rays.

The peer-reviewed study, titled "Successfully Eliminating Chest Radiography by Replacing It with Dual Vector Technology and an Algorithm for PICC Placement," appeared in the June 2014 issue of the Journal of the Association for Vascular Access (JAVA). The prospective, non-randomized research showed that the VPS G4™ System achieved 100% accuracy in placement of PICCs in an initial group of patients with normal sinus rhythm (normal heartbeat). When used in this study the device was also found to be useful in several patients who had atrial fibrillation - that is, an irregular heartbeat.


Because the system enables accurate catheter placement, the study concludes, confirmatory chest X-rays can be eliminated, when a steady Blue Bullseye is illuminated, which in turn reduces radiation exposure for patients, speeds the delivery of therapy and lowers direct costs.

The VPS G4™ System combines intravascular electrocardiogram (ECG), intravascular Doppler ultrasound and a unique software algorithm to accurately place catheter tips in the lower 1/3 of the Superior Vena Cava (SVC) at the heart's Cavo-Atrial Junction (CAJ). The VPS G4™ Device is FDA cleared to eliminate chest X-ray in adult patients, when a steady Blue Bullseye is achieved.

In the study, the VPS G4™ System was used with 31 patients selected from the PICC patient population atPresence Saint Joseph Medical Center (Joliet, Ill.). For purposes of the study, placement with the system was considered accurate if the result obtained with a steady Blue Bullseye was confirmed by a subsequent chest X-ray.

Of the 30 subjects, 25 had normal sinus rhythm - that is, a normal heart rate. A steady Blue Bullseye was obtained for all 25 of those patients, an accuracy rate of 100%. Five patients in the study were diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. A steady Blue Bullseye was obtained for three of those patients. Although a confirmatory chest X-ray is required for patients with atrial fibrillation when using the VPS G4™ System, this result was noteworthy, the study said, because some other positioning technologies cannot be used with patients who have an abnormal sinus rhythm. One of the patients was dropped from the study because of technical difficulties.

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