Masimo is betting big that technology that helps prevent anesthesia awareness will catch on in ORs throughout the country. The company that has established itself as a leader in pulse oximetry has invested $3.5 million in a newly-formed private company called SEDLine that makes brain function monitor technology.
SEDLine's electroencephalogram (EEG) brain function monitors are said to be similar to Aspect Medical's bispectral index (BIS) technology in that they both process, analyze and display EEG signals. BIS has struggled to gain a foothold, its promise of lowering the incidence of anesthesia awareness and reducing administration of volatile anesthetic gases remaining largely unfulfilled. Brain monitors have 2 strikes against them.
The American Society of Anesthesiologists doesn't recommend the routine use of brain function monitoring devices.
A damning study published in the March 2008 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine found that BIS neither reduced anesthesia awareness nor administration of volatile anesthetic gas.
Most anesthesiologists adjust the depth of anesthesia based on heart rate and blood pressure.
"Multiple leading hospitals in the United States have already chosen SEDLine because they believe, as Masimo does, that SEDLine's current technology is better than competitive brain function monitoring technologies," says Masimo Chairman and CEO Joe Kiani, in a prepared statement. "Masimo has always been a strong advocate for innovation, patient care and providing choice in the marketplace, so we are happy to become an investor in SEDLine's continued commercial availability and support this new entity in their goal to enhance and expand the applications for brain function monitoring."
Masimo says its investment will let SEDLine continue to support its existing customers, market to new customers, and expand its research and development efforts.
Dan O'Connor
