Smiths Medical launches ventilator in US, Canada

St. Paul – Smiths Medical, a leading global medical device manufacturer, today announced the launch of its Pneupac paraPAC plus ventilator in the U.S. and Canada. The ventilator, cleared by the FDA and Health Canada, has been used clinically since early 2011 in countries accepting CE-marked devices.

The paraPAC plus is the most advanced transport ventilator of the Pneupac range, supporting the basic life-sustaining needs of a patient in respiratory distress as well as the needs of an inpatient receiving CPAP or other high efficiency oxygen therapy. It is compact, measuring 235mm x 165mm x 93mm and weighs less than five pounds, approximately a third lighter than its market leading predecessor, the Pneupac paraPAC . The small footprint fits neatly at a patient's side, on a stretcher or bed, in an ambulance or aircraft, and on an MRI table. The non-ferrous construction allows it to be positioned next to a 3-Tesla shielded magnet affecting neither ventilator function nor MRI scan quality and it is approved for use in a spatial gradient of up to 7.5 Tesla in the MRI environment. It is built with a rugged case that encapsulates internal structures, the intake and output ports, controls, and indicators from the bumps and knocks that come with everyday use.

The paraPAC plus is fully pneumatic while performing essential operations – ventilation and oxygen therapies – without electrical power. An electronic alarm system of visual and audible signals can be powered by a long-life, MRI compatible lithium battery. In addition, the ventilator's Air Mix feature helps conserve precious oxygen supplies when used during lengthy transports.

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"We are pleased to offer our most advanced, best-equipped transport ventilator in North America," said Andrew Rose, vice president specialty business. "Globally paraPAC plus has had more than two years of clinical use and we are confident that it is one of the most reliable, resilient and versatile transport ventilators that we have ever produced."

Source: Smiths Medical