ImaCor Inc., developer of the world´s first and only hemodynamic transesophageal echocardiographic (hTEE TM) management device, today announced that 25 leading hospitals in the U.S., Canada and Europe are now using their advanced system in perioperative and intensive care settings. The ClariTEE® probe and Zura TM imaging platform allow physicians to directly visualize cardiac size and function of high-risk anesthesiology patients during and after surgery. Direct visualization enables physicians to identify the underlying cause of hemodynamic instability (compromised blood movement) in patients with trauma or septic shock.
Current literature suggests that several conventional measures (catheter or pressure based) fail to assess cardiac performance effectively. When not managed properly, patients may experience prolonged hemodynamic instability, additional complications, lengthy hospital stays, and an overall increase in their cost of care. TEE imaging is the evidence-based gold standard for assessing cardiac performance. But the images are not easily obtainable in critical care settings, hence their utility to assess fluid responsiveness is limited. hTEE information is continuously available to evaluate patient response to fluid interventions, as it combines on-demand access to TEE with the unique feature of safe imaging for extended periods of time.
"ClariTEE is the world´s only miniaturized, disposable TEE probe that can lay in-dwelling for 72 hours, which is essential for initial resuscitation and subsequent patient management while medical interventions are made," said Peter Pellerito President/CEO, ImaCor Inc. "Seamless integration of ultrasound is the future of critical care."
In addition to fulfilling all U.S. FDA and Health Canada commercialization requirements, ImaCor received its Conformité Européenne (CE) mark for the ClariTEE® probe and Zura TM imaging system in July 2011. The growing list of ImaCor users includes Methodist Hospital (San Antonio, TX), St. Georges Hospital (London, UK), Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center (Winston-Salem, NC) and Foothills Medical Centre (Alberta, CA).
"We have a lot of devices that we could use, but the best clinical approach for our patients is to be able to see the heart over a prolonged period of time," commented Dr. Benjamin Kohl, Chief, Division of Critical Care at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. "hTEE provides easily-acquired, clear images that we use to affirm or redirect our course of management, leading to optimal patient care."
About ImaCor
ImaCor Inc. is a privately held company headquartered in Garden City, NY. The company designs, manufactures, and distributes advanced solutions for hemodynamic assessment in the critical care environment for the purpose of improving patient outcomes and optimizing utilization of healthcare costs. ImaCor manufactures the ClariTEE® probe, the only miniaturized, indwelling TEE probe suitable for long-term clinical settings. hTEE TM, Zura TM and ClariTEE® are trademarks of ImaCor, Inc. www.imacorinc.com.
