Handheld Device Performs Needleless Hemoglobin Spot-Checks

An innovative handheld device carries out noninvasive hemoglobin spot-check (SpHb) testing, along with pulse oximetry (SpO2), pulse rate, and perfusion index, in virtually any environment.

The Masimo Pronto-7 is a needleless, palm-sized instrument weighing less than 300 g, which measures hemoglobin levels in less than one minute. Embedded wireless and Bluetooth communication capabilities allow test results to be quickly printed or e-mailed; future upgrades will also permit wireless transmission of data to electronic health record (EHR) systems. The Pronto-7 is also the first Masimo device to feature Rainbow 4D, which allows fast and accurate spot-check SpHb and other measurements, even in low perfusion conditions.

The technology behind Rainbow 4D is based on an innovative sensor technology that uses more than 7 wavelengths of light to acquire blood constituent data based on their light absorption characteristics. Advanced signal processing algorithms and unique adaptive filters then work together to isolate, identify, and quantify various hemoglobin species, and the blood measurement results are then displayed numerically. The Masimo Pronto-7 is a product of Masimo (Irvine, CA, USA), and has been approved by both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Community (CE Marking).

"The portable Pronto-7 device is a revolutionary new product that offers speed, functionality, simplicity, and accuracy in a completely noninvasive manner,” said Joe Kiani, founder and CEO of Masimo. "It's the perfect complement to existing Masimo Rainbow devices currently used in hospitals throughout the world to help clinicians continuously assess hemoglobin, detect internal bleeding, and aid in blood transfusion management. We believe that the Pronto-7 will have significant appeal to clinicians whose patients don't require continuous hemoglobin monitoring, but do appreciate the immediate and noninvasive anytime/anywhere testing capability it offers.”

"Noninvasive hemoglobin testing at the point-of-care offers a giant leap forward in our ability to tackle the global burden of anemia. Although it is a common blood disorder, it is grossly under-tested and under-diagnosed. And, if left untreated, anemia has a variety of serious health consequences and complications,” commented Aryeh Shander, M.D., president-elect of the Society for the Advancement of Blood Management (SABM; Milwaukee, WI, USA). "The beauty of immediate, noninvasive hemoglobin testing is that it will allow more patients to be assessed, so their physician can determine additional test options and initiate potentially lifesaving treatment.”

Related Links:
Masimo
Society for the Advancement of Blood Management