Taking the Guess Work out of TEE Procedures

A start-up company is hoping to take the guess work out of transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) procedures. Visura Technologies said it has developed TEE Camera Assist Device (TEECAD) System, a single use disposable camera that easily attaches to a TEE ultrasound probe allowing physicians to view the upper airway and esophagus during probe placement for safe intubation.
The Evanston, IL-based company recently received FDA clearance for the device. David Marmor MD, the founder and CMO of the Visura Technologies said prior to the clearance physicians had were operating blind during TEE procedures.
“We would place the probes down the esophagus by physician feel and patient cooperation – we weren’t able to see where we were going,” Marmor, told MD+DI. “There are certainly tricks you can use to make it a little easier, but at the end of the day you’re still doing a blind procedure.”
Marmor added that theTEECAD system is going to take the guess work out of the procedure. "We hope it’s going to have a higher rate of success for first attempt intubation of the esophagus,” he said.
The TEECAD System consists of a single-use disposable camera Carrier that removably attaches to the TEE probe, and a separate Viewing System display that allows the physician to view real-time images from the camera to visually assist with safe probe intubation.
The clearance of Visura’s first TEECAD camera Carrier is for use with the Philips X7-2t probe. The company said it plans to de...

Source: MDDI - July 11, 2018 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Omar Ford Tags: Business Imaging Source Type: news