CareFusion Launches EnVe Ventilator, Weighing 10 Times Less Than Traditional Critical Care Ventilators

SAN DIEGO, Dec. 20, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- CareFusion (NYSE: CFN), a leading, global medical device company, today launched the EnVe™ ventilator, a high-performance critical care ventilator that weighs 9.5 pounds—about 70-80 pounds lighter than other ventilators with similar functions.

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The EnVe ventilator has the capability to manage non-invasive or mask-ventilated patients to the most critically ill intubated patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). The EnVe system's miniaturization and compact design allows patients to be easily transported throughout the hospital and other environments outside the hospital. Because the patient can remain on the ventilator, the clinician doesn't need to disconnect the breathing circuit, which helps reduce a patient's risk for infection. In addition, the ventilator's small size allows for it to be stored in a cabinet rather than on a typical ventilator stand, freeing up valuable space in some of the most crowded areas of a hospital.

CareFusion first introduced the EnVe ventilator in Oct. 2009 in limited release and completed user preference evaluations at several U.S. hospitals this past year, including North Memorial Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minn.

"During our evaluation, the Enve ventilator proved to be highly capable in both conventional and non-invasive modes, safely transporting extremely critical patients without the usual reduction in support experienced with typical transport equipment," said Nick Kuhnley, manager of respiratory care at North Memorial Medical Center. "We anticipate the Enve ventilator will provide significant cost reductions, by eliminating the need for separate ventilators for patient transport and their secondary circuits for the same patient. Further, we will eliminate a patient-to-circuit separation, which is cited as a potential ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) precursor and is a very costly aspect for hospitals to consider."

"The EnVe ventilator is representative of the type of product innovations that CareFusion is introducing to provide measurable improvements in patient care and address some of the most urgent needs in health care globally," said David Schlotterbeck, chairman and CEO of CareFusion. "Unlike previous generations of ventilators, the EnVe ventilator is also lightweight and portable, making it effective throughout the hospital and for patient transport by helicopter or ambulance outside the hospital."  

The EnVe system is available in the U.S. with plans to launch it in Europe in 2011.

About the EnVe ventilator

At the heart of the EnVe ventilator is the device's patented ActivCore™ technology – the basis for its powerful, compact and portable design. The ActivCore gas delivery system features unprecedented miniaturization and blower technology to provide high-end critical care ventilation while enabling independence from wall air systems. In addition, the ActivCore technology features a hot swappable four-hour battery for extended patient transport capabilities.

Beyond critical care ventilation, the EnVe ventilator provides integrated monitoring and clinical tools to assist clinicians in best managing and caring for patients. To help move patients off of ventilators as quickly as possible, the EnVe ventilator incorporates a Spontaneous Breathing Trial (SBT) which provides data that helps clinicians to make informed decisions about weaning patients from ventilation. The device also features a pulse oximeter to monitor a patient's pulse rate and oxygen saturation level during transport situations.

About CareFusion

CareFusion (NYSE: CFN) is a global corporation serving the health care industry with products and services that help hospitals measurably improve patient care. The company develops market-leading technologies including Alaris® IV pumps, Pyxis® automated dispensing and patient identification systems, AirLife™, AVEA® and LTV® series of ventilators and respiratory products, ChloraPrep® skin prep products, MedMined™ services for infection surveillance, V. Mueller® and Snowden-Pencer® surgical instruments and NeuroCare diagnostic products. CareFusion employs more than 15,000 people across its global operations. More information may be found at www.carefusion.com.

SOURCE CareFusion