Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) announced today that study results showed superiority for its Nellcor pulse oximeter against technology from Masimo (NSDQ:MASI).
Fridley, Minn.-based Medtronic’s Nellcor bedside SpO2 patient monitoring system was compared with the Masimo Radical-7 pulse co-oximeter with both set at the highest sensitivity for electrocardiography (ECG) monitoring following the delivery of 60 term newborns by Caesarian section, according to a news release.
The study results showed that all 60 newborns presented a stable signal with the Nellcor device but only 55 newborns presented a stable signal with the Masimo pulse oximeter. Of the 55 newborns from which a stable signal was obtained by both devices, the average time to stable signal came in at 15 seconds for the Nellcor and 27 seconds for the Radical-7.
Results from the study, which was conducted at the Rabin Medical Center in Israel, were published online in the Journal of Perinatology. Medtronic said the results show that Nellcor’s significant difference in time for delivering a stable signal could potentially impact the provision of care during neonatal resuscitation.
“A newborn’s heart rate is a key component of physician assessment for resuscitation and helps to identify not only those in need of intervention but also their response to treatment. Those who do not achieve a heart rate of 100 beats per minute by five minutes of life are at an increased risk of death,” Medtronic president of patient monitoring Frank Chan said in the release. “This study demonstrates that physicians can rely on Nellcor pulse oximetry technology to post data quickly, offer consistency, perform well with these patients, and meet the requirements of the neonatal resuscitation program guidelines, which are especially important in the delivery room.”
Masimo did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the results of the study. This story may be updated.