Masimo announced the U.S. introduction of softFlow, pulmonary care therapy that provides nasal high-flow warmed and humidified respiratory gases to spontaneously breathing patients. The technology, available on the softFlow 50, offers adult patients high-flow respiratory support through a soft nasal cannula by generating a consistent high flow of warm, humidified air or air/oxygen mixture.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, increasing the number of patients suffering from respiratory conditions and requiring respiratory support, softFlow offers clinicians across the continuum of care an important tool to help in the treatment of spontaneously breathing patients.
Capable of operating without an external compressed air supply, softFlow is designed for maximum versatility, with utility in settings throughout the hospital, long term-care facilities, and use at home. To reduce the risk of cross-contamination, softFlow uses a single-patient-use flow path from the internal mixing chamber to the patient and a bacterial/viral filter designed to filter contaminants from the air delivered to the patient.
With softFlow, the airflow is consistently delivered through the nose, allowing patients to continue to eat, drink, and speak, which is difficult with mask-based forms of respiratory support. In addition, the softFlow 50 system provides warm, humidified gas into the patient’s nose, to enhance comfort and aid in mucous clearance. With its ability to precisely deliver high respiratory gas flow rates well above those required for typical respiratory demand, clinicians can also take advantage of the high-flow rate to help limit the entrainment of room air (which can reduce the quantity of delivered inhaled oxygen).
The innovative integrated airflow generator of the softFlow technology and water reservoir attachment allow for continued high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) treatment of recovering COVID-19 patients in the home and other care settings, without the need for a separate source for high-flow air like other devices. The device’s simple, intuitive interface allows patients or their caregivers (who can lock settings) to easily customize the flow rate and humidification level.
First available in 2016, softFlow is now in use in numerous countries in Africa, Asia, and Europe.
“We believe softFlow provides clinicians with an important tool to help address the growing number of people with compromised respiratory function, whether in high-acuity or low-acuity settings, including at home,” says Joe Kiani, founder and CEO of Masimo. “We’re happy to now be able to offer this technology in the United States.”
The softFlow 50 is FDA cleared for use in hospital and long-term care facilities. Home use is being made available in the United States under the FDA Enforcement Policy for Ventilators and Accessories and Other Respiratory Devices During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.
For more information, visit Masimo.
Featured image: Masimo softFlow, available on the softFlow 50, offers adult patients high-flow respiratory support through a soft nasal cannula by generating a consistent high flow of warm, humidified air or air/oxygen mixture. (Courtesy: Masimo)
