British medical device firm Bedfont said today that it won FDA 510(k) clearance for its ToxCO breath analysis monitor designed to measure exhaled carbon monoxide to indicate levels of CO in the blood.
The newly cleared system is intended for use in triaging cases of CO poisoning as it provides instant results at the point-of-care, the Maidstone, UK-based company said.
Samples can be taken via a low-cost mouth piece or a face mask option for patients who are either unconscious or injured, the company said. The system also automatically samples the ambient air and alarms when CO in the environment reaches a harmful level.
“Not only can our breath analysis monitor help to evaluate patients quickly and effectively for CO poisoning, but it can also reduce emergency department visits and hospitalizations. We are thrilled with the FDA approval of the ToxCO; we believe it will be game-changer for healthcare personnel in America,” managing director Jason Smith said in a press release.
Bedfont said that it has already inked an exclusive U.S. distribution deal with CoVita.
“The ToxCO will be a useful tool for healthcare professionals such as paramedics in Firefighter Rehab. We believe it will fundamentally change how people are assessed for CO poisoning in the United States,” CoVita prez Jason Aversano said in a prepared statement.