From: Craig Abud [craig@nichemedical.ccsend.com] on behalf of Craig Abud
[craig@nichemedical.com.au]
Sent: Wednesday, 3 August 2011 9:11 AM
To: Craig Abud
Subject: Niche News - August 2011
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Welcome to Niche Medical's Customer Newsletter. This newsletter is designed to inform our customers of the
latest information on our products and services. We highly value your input and feedback and encourage you to
send all feedback and comments to Craig Abud by simply replying to this
email. If for any reason you do not wish to receive this newsletter in
the future, simply click on the SafeUnsubscribe button at the bottom of this
newsletter. Please feel free to pass this newsletter onto those who may find
it valuable. There is a forward email icon located at the bottom of this
newsletter. Craig Abud, Niche Medical
A recently published study by Skloot et al (Respiratory Care -
July 2010) has shown that the EasyOne spirometer retained inhalation and
exhalation volume accuracy of better than 3% for at least 4 years. (1). The authors concluded that the acceptability and repeatability
of patient efforts should be the primary focus of quality-assurance programs
with spirometers that have been demonstrated to remain accurate for long
periods. In fact the EasyOne spirometers used in this intervention (Lung
Function in Rescue Workers at the World Trade Center after 7 Years) had been
in use since August 2002 so therefore these EasyOne spirometers have
maintained their calibration for over 7 years which is essentially the
lifetime of the instrument. (2). This study supports the findings of previous studies which
demonstrated the stability of the EasyOne spirometer over periods of three to
six months. (3,4). The manufacturer of the EasyOne spirometer (ndd Medical
Technologies) issues a Certificate of Stability guaranteeing that every
instrument is life time stable and needs no calibration checks what so ever.*
1. Four-Year Calibration Stability of the EasyOne Portable
Spirometer - Skloot et al - Respir Care 2010;55(7):873- 877. 2. Lung Function in Rescue Workers at the World Trade Center
after 7 Years - Aldrich et al - n engl j med 362;14 April 8, 2010. 3. Stability of the EasyOne ultrasonic spirometer for use in
general practice - Walters et al - Respirology (2006) 11, 306-310. 4. The Long-Term Stability of Portable Spirometers Used in a
Multinational Study of the Prevalence of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary
Disease - Padilla et al - Respir Care - October 2006 VOL 51 NO 10 1167. * Some clinical studies and / or other applicable guidelines do
call for frequent calibration or calibration checks. This is required for
spirometers not following the ndd measurement principle i.e. for spirometers
that have not been shown to be stable over the long term. In the case of the
EasyOne spirometer you can follow such guidelines calling for calibration
check procedures by choosing "Check Calibration" which you will
find in the main menu of the EasyOne spirometer. Note that ndd instruments
cannot and do not need to be calibrated. Click on this link for
information on the Lifetime Stability Guarantee......
Niche Medical is pleased to annouce that we are now the
exclusive suppliers of the Bedfont range of Smokerlyzer Breath CO (Carbon
Monoxide) Monitors in Australia. What is a Smokerlyzer? Smokerlyzers are a range of breath CO (Carbon Monoxide) monitors
and testers which measure the small amounts of CO in the exhaled breath. The
more a person smokes, the higher their CO reading will be. The reading is given in ppm, which is the number of CO molecules
in a million parts of air. The ppm reading can also tell you how much CO is
in the blood (the %COHb reading). %COHb is the percentage of red blood cells
carrying CO instead of oxygen. The amount of CO in an unborn baby's blood is referred to as
%FCOHb (percentage of foetal carboxyhaemoglobin). Some of the Smokerlyzer
range can analyse %FCOHb as an incentive to stop smoking and complies with
the new NICE guidelines for smoking in pregnancy. Why monitor CO? CO testing is a quick, non-invasive and cost-effective means of
validating the smoking status of a significant number of clients. Smoking is
the single greatest avoidable risk factor for lung cancer. Carbon monoxide monitors offer tobacco treatment specialists an
independent clinical tool which provides valuable evidence in identifying,
educating, assessing and treating tobacco-dependent patients. Monitoring patients' CO levels helps to work out their level of
nicotine dependence: the more they smoke, the higher their reading will be,
indicating a higher dependence on nicotine. There are four Smokerlyzers in the Bedfont range as follows:
Introducing the NIOX MINO from Aerocrine:
Inflammation measurement with NIOX MINO offers personalised
asthma management that can dramatically improve the treatment and care of
your patients. Several underlying diseases can present symptoms similar to
asthma. Therefore, a correct diagnosis relies on establishing whether or not
the patient is characterised by allergic airway inflammation. Until recently, diagnostic devices have not been able to convey
a complete clinical overview and clearly identify the underlying cause of the
symptoms. Consequently, patients that are not suffering from asthma have
received unnecessary or inadequate treatment. 1. Patients with asthma symptoms due to allergic inflammation will
respond favourably to inhaled corticosteroids, while those who are suffering
from other airway disorders may not. 2,3. Measuring exhaled NO (FeNO ) helps to eliminate the
uncertainties and discrepancies that contribute to asthma morbidity and
mortality, including incorrect diagnosis and poor adherence to treatment. Nitric Oxide (NO) - a marker of inflammation.
Monitoring asthma symptoms is important , but correct interpretation of the
underlying inflammation determines the therapy. Measuring exhaled NO provides
an immediate answer to three critical questions:
NIOX MINO reveals:
Additional features:
Nasal Research Application With the NIOX MINO
Nasal Application nasal FeNO concentration can be measured in gas aspirated
from a nostril using passive sampling. References 1. Aaron SD, Vandemheen KL, Boulet LP, McIvor RA, Fitzgerald JM,
Hernandez P, Lemiere C, S Harma S, Field SK, Alvarez GG, Dales RE, Doucette
S, Fergusson D; Canadian Respiratory Clinical Research Consortium,
Overdiagnosis of asthma in obese and nonobese adults. CMAJ. 2008.
18;179(11):p. 1121-31. 2. Berry, M.A., D.E. Shaw, R.H. Green, C.E. Brightling, A.J.
Wardlaw, and I.D. Pavord, The use of exhaled nitric oxide concentration to
identify eosinophilic airway inflammation: an observational study in adults
with asthma. Clin Exp Allergy, 2005. 35(9): p. 1175-9. 3. Smith, A.D., J.O. Cowan, K.P. Brassett, S. Filsell, C.
McLachlan, G. Monti-Sheehan, G . Peter Herbison, and D. Robin Taylor, Exhaled
nitric oxide: a predictor of steroid response. Am J Respir Crit Care Med,
2005. 172(4): p. 453-9 4. Sandrini A, Taylor DR, Thomas PS, Yates DH, Fractional
exhaled nitric oxide in asthma: an update. Respirology. 2010;15(1): p: 57-70.
5. S Zefler, S.J., H. Mitchell, C.A. Sorkness, P.J. Gergen, G.T.
O'Connor, W.J. Morgan, M. Kattan, A. Pongracic, S.J. Teach, G.R. Bloomberg,
P.A. Eggleston, R.S. Gruchalla, C.M. Kercsmar, A.H. Liu, J.J. Wildfire, M.D.
Curry, and W.W. Busse, Management of asthma based on exhaled nitric oxide in
addition to guideline-based treatment for inner-city adolescents and young
adults: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet, 2008.372(9643): p. 1065-72. 6. Vahlkvist, S., M. Sinding, K. Skamstrup, and H. Bisgaard,
Daily home measurements of exhaled nitric oxide in asthmatic children during
natural birch pollen exposure. J Allergy Clin Immunol, 2006. 117(6): p.
1272-6.
Introducing the dual-indicated Diagnostic and Therapeutic Lung
Flute. The DIAGNOSTIC Lung Flute is designed to be an
alternative to hypertonic saline for sputum induction in respiratory diseases
such as Cystic Fibrosis, Pneumonia, Lung Cancer, Tuberculosis and Asthma. Lung Flute features include:
A low frequency acoustic wave is generated at the mouth by
exhaling through a mouthpiece over a laminar surface (Reed) inside the Lung
Flute. The resulting low frequency acoustic wave that is produced travels
retrograde into the lower airways and lung parenchyma and increases
mucociliary clearance. Patients expel air with the force required to blow out a single
candle. 20 repetitions of a single two breath pattern are performed with the
device to complete a diagnostic session. Clinical Results for Sputum Induction in Tuberculosis Background and Objective: The Lung Flute is a small
self-powered audio device that generates sound waves, which vibrate in tracheobronchial
secretions. This was a preliminary trial to evaluate the usefulness of the
Lung Flute for sputum sampling in patients suspected of pulmonary
tuberculosis (TB). Methods: Thirty-four patients who were not
expectorating sputum, but for whom sputum examination was required for the
differential diagnosis of TB or other diseases, were enrolled in the study.
Patients were instructed to blow out fast and hard through the Lung Flute and
to repeat this for a total 20 sets of two blows each. Results: Using the Lung Flute, sputum samples
were collected within 10 or 20 minutes from 30 of 34 patients (88%). The
device permitted a rapid diagnosis of TB in seven of 15 confirmed TB cases.
In three patients acidfast bacillus smears were positive. In four patients
acid-fast bacillus smears were negative, but PCR tests for TB were positive.
Hyperventilation-related symptoms occurred in three patients. Conclusions: The application of the Lung Flute may
represent a promising technique for the rapid diagnosis of Pulmonary
Tuberculosis. The Lung Flute is a safe, effective, convenient and rapid method
of sputum induction. The THERAPEUTIC Lung Flute is indicated for Positive
Expiratory Pressure (PEP) Therapy and is clinically proven to be an effective
method for Mucociliary Clearance. Lung Flute features include:
Clinical Results for Mucociliary Clearance in COPD In a recent clinical trial conducted at The WNY VA Medical
Center by the University at Buffalo, School of Medicine, the performance of
the Therapeutic Lung Flute was compared to that of the Acapella device. In this 8-week trial, changes in 24-hour sputum collection was
the primary endpoint. Secondary endpoints were changes in spirometry and
quality of life. Changes in the quality of life questionnaires were noted for
both devices. A larger reduction in symptoms was seen with the Lung Flute with
the CCQ. However, the differences between the two devices were not
statistically significant. Disease related health status is an important
efficacy end point in COPD. The Lung Flute did show larger improvements in health status
than the other device as measured by the SGRQ, though the difference did not
reach statistical significance. The Lung Flute presents a safe, effective, convenient and rapid
method of secretion mobilisation.
Introducing the new EasyOne Pro LabSystem which builds on the
EasyOne Pro DLCO System with the addtion of the Multi Breath Washout Module
for the determination of FRC (Functional Residual Capacity), LCI (Lung
Clearance Index) and derived parameters. In addition to the basic EasyOne Pro this instrument provides
more detailed information about lung volumes and airways disturbance. An additional gas input for the Multi-Breath Washout test gas is
provided; normally oxygen, but alternatively gas mixtures with SF6 (Sulfur
Hexafluoride) or Helium maybe used. Oxygen as commonly available in central
gas supplies (wall outlets) is suitable, facilitating convenient bed side
testing. The FRC valve / washout gas supply unit is mounted on the left
hand side wall of the housing, camouflaged by the cover in EasyOne Pro
colour. Physical dimensions change therefore insignificantly from the
standard EasyOne Pro unit. To prevent connection error, the inlet diameter of
the MBW test gas is different from the one for the DLCO test gas. The software in the EasyWare Pro LabSystem contains an
additional module for MBW analysis which facilitates a smooth and simple MWB
FRC procedure in a neat, precise and smart way. The EasyOne Pro LabSystem provides a number of additional
parameters including the Lung Clearance Index (LCI) which is not available in
common body box systems. Measured Parameters:
The EasyOne Pro LabSystem has been developed based on the ATS
guidelines as referred to in: Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. Vol 175. pp
1304-1345, 2007 (Page 1328 et sqq.) Why choose the EasyOne Pro LabSystem?
The LiteAire Disposable Cardboard Spacer offers proven clinical
efficacy and convenience with minimal storage requirements and an
environmentally friendly alternative to large rigid plastic spacers. In a poster presentation from researchers at the Princess
Margaret Hospital for Children at the recent TSANZ / ANZSRS Conference in
Perth the efficacy (Bronchodilator Response) of the LiteAire spacer was shown
to be clinically equivalent to that of a Large Volume Spacer when tested in
children aged 6-18 years with doctor diagnosed asthma. In addition, a study published in the Journal of Emergency
Medicine in 2009 demonstrated that the LiteAire Disposable Spacer is
clinically equivalent to nebuliser therapy in the treatment of acute adult
asthma in the Emergency Department setting. These are both very important findings for the LiteAire Spacer
given that the recently introduced semi-disposable spacers have never been
tested in-vivo. Rather these semi-disposable spacers have only been tested in
the laboratory setting where the results do not necessarily translate into
the clinical setting. So when it comes to choosing a spacer for your healthcare
facility why not choose the LiteAire spacer which delivers proven results in
real patients.
The EasyWare and Easy on-PC software are upgraded 2-3 times per
year and you can download the latest software free of charge from the
manufacturer's (ndd Medical Technologies) website at http://www.ndd.ch/Downloads/software.aspx
These software downloads are executable files so if you work in
a Hospital or a Government agency please make sure you have an IT person
present to download and install the software as these type of files require
administrator permission. Once you have downloaded and installed the latest EasyWare
software you should then connect your EasyOne spirometer to your computer and
run the EasyWare software as this will also update the internal software in
your EasyOne Spirometer. If you require any assistance please telephone us on 1300 136
855. Click on this link to
download the latest EasyWare or Easy on-PC software
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email: craig@nichemedical.com.au phone: 1300 136 855 |
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