Hillrom (NYSE:HRC) announced today that it received FDA emergency use authorization (EUA) for its MetaNeb system to help COVID-19 patients.
Chicago-based Hillrom designed MetaNeb to combine lung expansion, secretion clearance and aerosol delivery into a single therapy session available for use with any ventilator. MetaNeb includes a closed-circuit design with a bacterial-viral filter to protect patients from aerosolized particles that might escape during treatment, according to a news release.
“Our team has been working tirelessly to rapidly develop and deliver critical care devices and solutions for COVID -19 patients, from triage to treatment for those in the ICU,” Hillrom president & CEO John Groetelaars said in the release. “In addition to receiving emergency use authorization to enhance our MetaNeb system, we are also pleased to offer new mobile care communications and innovative vital signs remote monitoring solutions to help save lives.”
Hillrom’s additional offerings in the coronavirus crisis include integrated digital respiratory rate capture capabilities in its Welch Allyn Connex spot monitor, allowing care teams to accurately monitor the respiratory rate of COVID-19 patients with the potential for earlier detection and intervention.
The company’s Spot 4400 vital signs monitor is set to receive a remote monitoring platform as well so clinicians can remotely receive a complete set of vitals through a smartphone app and a web portal. The company also created a cloud-hosted version of its Voalte mobile solution for allowing caregivers and patients in field hospitals to communicate.
Hillrom also announced that it is partnering with AgileMD to offer constantly updated COVID-19 clinical pathways from leading centers managing coronavirus patients. The partnership sets out to offer access to advanced COVID-19 pathways and analytics to give providers a way to implement best practices for evidence-based care.
“Hillrom’s delivery of these innovative solutions and clinical protocols demonstrates the breadth of our portfolio, our ability to meet the rapidly evolving needs of patients, and the ingenuity and dedication of our employees globally,” Groetelaars said. “Our teams are demonstrating their unwavering commitment and focus on our mission of enhancing outcomes for patients and caregivers as the fight against COVID-19 continues.”