A Medical Device Daily

Nonin Medical (Minneapolis) reported the availability of a fingertip oximeter with Bluetooth wireless technology at the American Telemedicine Association (Washington) meeting in Seattle.

The company said its Onyx II, model 9560 fingertip pulse oximeter is designed for interoperability and is intended to help patients, such as those with chronic conditions, and clinicians easily and cost-effectively manage monitored information.

According to Nonin, chronic disease management stands to benefit greatly from wireless physiological monitoring devices by offering patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, or asthma more independence because their vital signs can be monitored by the patient and sent through wireless communication devices such as cell phones and computers.

"With the rapidly rising cost of healthcare and the ever-growing strain put on healthcare facilities, there is tremendous pressure for a streamlined solution that simplifies the exchange of information and promotes patient participation," said Gary Tschautscher, president/CEO of Nonin.

Nonin makes noninvasive physiological monitoring solutions.