Next Generation Blood Gas Monitoring System Launched

Sphere Medical has launched its next generation CE-marked Proxima™ system. This unique bedside blood gas analyser (BGA) incorporates a new design and an extended analyte panel. Parameters now added to the new system include glucose and calculated parameters, such as P/F ratio and temperature corrected gases. The ability to monitor blood gases and measure blood glucose frequently and easily, directly by the patient, can enable earlier interventions and closer patient management, which is vital in fast changing critical situations.

As a patient dedicated system, Proxima is always connected to the patient via their arterial line and ready to go instantly. Since results are also delivered without the caregiver leaving the patient’s bedside, this significantly reduces time to result compared to conventional benchtop analysers. Its novel design means the system can travel with the patient on their pathway through the hospital. This is possible since the Proxima sensor contains an array of proven biosensor technology on a silicon chip, each a miniaturised version of the electrochemical sensors used in a traditional blood gas analyser.

In addition to the sensor, the next generation Proxima system includes a medical grade tablet monitor with an intuitive touchscreen user interface. All results are reported to the monitor and seamlessly transferred directly into laboratory information systems and electronic patient records.

As an ex-vivo analyser operating as a closed system, blood is drawn directly from the patient and over the Proxima sensor. Following analysis, all blood is returned to the patient, meaning that there is no blood loss and risk of iatrogenic anaemia is reduced. Furthermore, infection risk to staff and patients is minimised as the arterial line remains closed throughout sampling. The design of Proxima also reduces pre-analytical errors due to the delivery of a high integrity blood sample direct to the sensor for immediate analysis with no mixing or anti-coagulant required.

The addition of glucose to the new Proxima’s analyte panel is significant as glucose measurements play a key part in the care of critically ill patients. The ability to regularly monitor arterial blood glucose using Proxima will support closer clinical management for improved glycaemic control.