Terumo Cardiovascular Systems announces U.S. distribution agreement with Nonin Medical for Nonin's EQUANOX™ 7600 Regional Oximetry System

ANN ARBOR, Mich., April 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Terumo Cardiovascular Systems today announced that it has entered into a multi-year distribution agreement with Nonin Medical, Inc., a leader in noninvasive medical monitoring. Beginning May 1, 2013, Terumo CVS will distribute Nonin's EQUANOX™ Model 7600 Regional Oximetry System to adult and pediatric cardiovascular hospitals in the United States; Nonin's direct sales force will focus on certain non-cardiovascular applications in those hospitals, and applications in all other U.S. hospitals. Terumo CVS manufactures and markets medical devices for the global cardiac surgery market. Nonin Medical and Terumo CVS will make the announcement at the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists (SCA) Annual Meeting in Miami, Florida.

The Nonin EQUANOX Model 7600 Regional Oximetry System is a noninvasive medical monitoring system that continuously detects oxygen saturation status in the brain and tissue beneath the sensor during surgical procedures and in intensive care environments such as pediatric and neonatal intensive care units. The system allows anesthesiologists, perfusionists, cardiovascular surgeons, and other clinicians to quickly react to reverse tissue ischemia events before they become critical. 

"We are confident that Terumo's extensive cardiovascular relationships in heart hospitals, combined with the clinical benefits and technology advancements of the EQUANOX System, will drive further adoption of Nonin's regional oximetry solution across the hospital as a cost-effective, standard-of-care tool that helps prevent brain and organ injury in patients," said Chris Holland, Vice President of Business Development for Nonin Medical.

"Terumo CVS' new collaboration with Nonin Medical expands our patient monitoring technologies to include state-of-the-art regional oximetry," said Eric Sklar, Vice President - Business Development for Terumo CVS. "Unlike other regional oximetry systems that may only indicate whether oxygen levels are increasing or decreasing, EQUANOX system's patented technology provides real-time absolute accuracy of actual physiologic conditions on neonatal to adult patients, regardless of age, weight or skin color. We're pleased to be able to offer this technology to new and current Terumo CVS customers, while further reinforcing our global leadership in the cardiovascular market."

About 500,000 cardiovascular surgical procedures are performed annually in the U.S. Regional oximetry-monitored procedures typically allow for early indication of oxygen desaturation that could lead to stroke, neurocognitive decline and other neurological or major organ injuries resulting from inadequate oxygen saturation. Regional oximetry solutions have been shown to reduce the cost of post-operative care and improve patient outcomes.1

Advantages of the EQUANOX Advance Model 7600 Regional Oximetry System include:

• Cerebral and Somatic Monitoring – Up to four channels displayed on one screen for monitoring oxygen saturation in the brain and somatic sites on the body.

• Patented Dual-Light Emitters and Dual Detectors with Four Wavelength Accuracy – The first and only device that utilizes a dual-light emitting and dual-detecting sensor architecture, which has been shown to more effectively target the cerebral cortex, eliminating surface artifacts that interfere with measurement accuracy.2

• Absolute Accuracy – Assures accurate measure of tissue saturation at a point in time, not just relative or trending accuracy of changes.

• Consistency and Reliability – Rapid, reliable response to change without signal instability and interruptions from electrical and ambient light interference.

• Portability and Connectivity – Lightweight, durable monitor with long battery life and pole-mounting capability for continually monitoring patients during intra-hospital transport. Data output available via Bluetooth® wireless technology or RS232 connection.

For more information about the Nonin EQUANOX System, visit www.noninequanox.com/news.

About Terumo Cardiovascular Systems Corporation

Terumo Cardiovascular Systems Corporation manufactures and markets medical devices for the global cardiac surgery market and is the U.S. distributor for Vascutek® Vascular Grafts. The company is headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with manufacturing operations in Ann Arbor; Elkton, Maryland; and Ashland, Massachusetts. It is one of several subsidiaries of Terumo Corporation of Japan that is focused exclusively on cardiac and vascular specialties, including Terumo Heart, Inc., developer of a ventricular assist device and Vascutek, Ltd., manufacturer of a broad portfolio of vascular grafts. For more information, visit www.terumo-cvs.com.

About Terumo Corporation

Tokyo-based Terumo Corporation is one of the world's leading medical device manufacturers with $5 billion in sales and operations in more than 160 nations. Founded in 1921, the company develops, manufactures, and distributes world-class medical devices including products for use in cardiothoracic surgery, interventional procedures, and transfusion medicine; the company also manufactures a broad array of syringe and hypodermic needle products for hospital and physician office use. Terumo contributes to society by providing valued products and services to the healthcare market and by responding to the needs of healthcare providers and the people they serve.

About Nonin Medical, leaders in noninvasive medical monitoring

Nonin Medical, Inc. invented the finger pulse oximeter and designs and manufactures noninvasive medical monitoring solutions that meet customers' technology needs today and tomorrow. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., with a customer center in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Nonin Medical sells its pulse and regional oximeters, capnographs, sensors and software to health professionals and consumers in more than 125 countries. The company also has more than 100 OEM partners worldwide. For more information, visit www.nonin.com.

References:

1 Goldman SM, Sutter FP, Wertan MA, et al. Outcome improvement and cost reduction in an increasingly morbid cardiac surgery population. Semin Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth 2006;10:171-5.
2 Davie SN, Grocott HP. Impact of Extracranial Contamination on Regional Cerebral Oxygen Saturation: A Comparison of Three Cerebral Oximetry Technologies. Anesthesiology. 2012; 116(4):1-7.

©2013 Terumo Cardiovascular Systems Corporation. Terumo® is a trademark of Terumo Corporation. EQUANOX™ is a trademark of Nonin Medical, Inc. Vascutek® is a trademark of Vascutek Ltd. Bluetooth® is a trademark of Bluetooth SIG.  837786