(RTTNews) - Medical equipment company Masimo Corporation (MASI: News ) Tuesday said its new device for monitoring respiration rate in post-surgical patients received the US Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, clearance. The company also said market release of the device will begin in December.

According to Masimo, Rainbow SET Acoustic Monitoring, the device approved by the FDA, will provide noninvasive and continuous respiration rate monitoring. The device may also enable earlier detection of respiratory compromise and patient distress -- offering a breakthrough in patient safety for post-surgical patients on the general floor.

Continuous monitoring of respiration rate is important for post-surgical patients receiving patient-controlled analgesia for pain management as sedation can induce respiratory depression and place patients at considerable risk of serious injury or death. Current methods for respiration rate monitoring lacks accuracy and patient compliance.

Masimo said that its Rainbow SET Acoustic Monitoring features an innovative adhesive sensor with an integrated acoustic transducer that is easily and comfortably applied to the patient's neck to detect upper airway acoustic vibrations on the surface of the skin during the respiratory cycle.
Rainbow SET Acoustic Monitoring uses Masimo's Signal Extraction Technology, or SET, leveraged by acoustic signal processing by which the respiratory signal is separated and processed to display continuous respiration rate.

MASI closed Monday's regular trading at $26.36 per share on the Nasdaq.

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by RTT Staff Writer

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