Sphere Medical validates performance of Proxima system in new study

Sphere Medical has announced the successful completion of a clinical study of its new Proxima miniature in-line blood gas analyser.

Carried out at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, the observational method comparison study was able to meet its primary endpoint by demonstrating Proxima's excellent agreement with standard benchtop blood gas analysers.

A total of 20 intensive care unit patients with a range of clinical conditions were included in the study, which saw users connected to the Proxima system for up to three days, during which as many as 33 blood gas measurements were obtained per device.

Results from the study are currently being prepared for submission for publication in a peer-reviewed clinical journal, while the device itself will go on sale soon.

Dr Wolfgang Rencken, chief executive officer of Sphere Medical, said: "We have recently launched Proxima and have started the sales process with a number of UK hospitals. We believe that Proxima is well suited to enable nurses and clinicians to more closely manage their unstable and critically ill patients."

Proxima has already received CE Mark approval and consists of a dedicated bedside monitor and the Proxima Sensor, which is integrated into a patient's arterial line to enable blood to be measured directly at the point of care.