MAQUET Cardiovascular Receives EACTS Techno College Innovation Award for Revolutionary CARDIOHELP System

WAYNE, N.J., Oct. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- MAQUET, a global leader in medical systems, today announced that the company has received the 2011 European Association of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) Techno College Innovation Award for its revolutionary CARDIOHELP System. Approved for use in the United States and Europe, CARDIOHELP is the world's smallest portable heart-lung support system providing extracorporeal life support to replace or support a patient's circulation and respiration. It is the first portable, lightweight device of its kind, and the first support system that can be used for both land and air transportation.

Before the availability of CARDIOHELP, critically ill patients suffering from heart-lung failure required transportation to an operating room (OR) for treatment with a heart-lung bypass machine, a technologically difficult and cumbersome process.

"It's not surprising that CARDIOHELP was recognized with the Innovation Award because it is a medical breakthrough that has the potential to revolutionize cardiac and respiratory assist," said Raoul Quintero, President and CEO, MAQUET Cardiovascular. "CARDIOHELP allows clinicians and rapid response teams to provide patients with seamless cardiac and/or respiratory support during inter- and intra-hospital transport.  Furthermore, because CARDIOHELP is portable, critically ill heart-lung failure patients can be connected quickly to the cardiopulmonary support they need in the field or at the bedside instead of in the OR, allowing clinicians to gain valuable time that could save patients' lives."

Mr. Quintero received the Techno College Innovation Award for CARDIOHELP and presented a demonstration of the technology at the EACTS Techno College on October 1, 2011, in Lisbon, Portugal. The EACTS Techno College Innovation Award recognizes technological breakthroughs in all areas related to thoracic and cardiovascular research, in particular for new surgical methods or devices. The winning innovation is selected because it goes beyond marginal improvements in existing procedures or products and has the potential to change standard practice.  

About CARDIOHELP  

The CARDIOHELP System is suitable for conditions in which cardiac and/or respiratory support is needed, including patients who require veno-venous life support or veno-arterial life support. CARDIOHELP also can be used during open heart surgery and for extracorporeal carbon dioxide (CO2) removal for up to six hours.  

Veno-venous life support, or respiratory assistance for lung disorders, is primarily used when the heart is still able to pump blood through the circulatory system without any additional support, as in the case of acute respiratory failure or a massive pulmonary embolism. The blood is removed from the jugular vein or a femoral vein for enrichment with oxygen, after which it is returned to a vein. Veno-arterial life support is used with patients whose hearts are not adequately supporting their circulation or have stopped, which may occur with a myocardial infarction (heart attack). The blood is removed from the right atrium or a femoral vein and is returned to the aorta or a femoral artery after oxygenation. Because some of the blood bypasses the heart in a parallel circulatory system, stress on the heart muscle is relieved.

In severe cases of respiratory failure, CARDIOHELP can be used to reduce the CO2 level in the blood. High CO2 levels (e.g., from acidosis or pulmonary hypertension) can, in some cases, lead to complications, and some patients need low to normal CO2 levels to protect the brain.

CARDIOHELP allows important blood parameters to be monitored during life support, including venous oxygen saturation, hemoglobin, hematocrit and arterial and venous blood temperature, ensuring the patient's safety.

CARDIOHELP can be installed in ambulances and helicopters and can be connected to the on-board power supply. It has an integrated rechargeable battery that provides a minimum of 90 minutes of operation without an external power supply. CARDIOHELP is operated via an easy touch screen with user guidance and a rotary knob to allow medical personnel with minimal life support experience to safely use the unit after suitable training. It can be configured to capture case data. For more information, visit http://www.cardiohelp-us.com.

About MAQUET  

As a trusted partner for hospitals and clinicians since 1838, MAQUET is a global leader in medical systems that advance surgical interventions, cardiovascular procedures and critical care. MAQUET develops and designs innovative products and therapeutic applications for the operating room, hybrid OR/cath lab, intensive care unit and patient transport within acute care hospitals, improving outcomes and quality of life for patients.

Cardiovascular specialties include intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation (IABC) therapy for cardiac assist; coronary artery bypass surgery; aortic and peripheral vascular surgery; and extracorporeal circulation. The Critical Care portfolio includes market-leading intensive care ventilators and anesthesia machines. MAQUET also equips Surgical Workplaces with critical infrastructure, such as flexible room design for OR and ICU; OR tables; lights and ceiling supply units; and OR integration for image data management.

MAQUET is a subsidiary of the publicly listed Swedish GETINGE GROUP. In 2010, MAQUET generated nearly half of the company's annual revenue of $3.2 billion. The company has 12,000 employees worldwide, including 5,000 employees in 36 international sales and service organizations, as well as a network of more than 250 sales representatives. For more information please visit www.maquet.com and www.getingegroup.com.

MAQUET – The Gold Standard.

SOURCE MAQUET Cardiovascular