Newswise — The Baylor Research Institute (BRI) in Dallas has received a grant from Nellcor in support of the development of an information system that tracks oxygen saturation levels of neonatal patients via pulse oximetry.
Baylor researchers hope by creating this system, known as the Neonatal Oxygen Therapy Information System (NOTIS), it will help to prevent the occurrence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a disorder affecting premature newborns that can cause severe visual impairments or blindness. While several factors may contribute to developing ROP, some clinicians feel closer examination of current oxygenation standards could improve ROP outcomes.
"As clinicians, we already know to avoid saturation levels over 95 percent in high risk babies," said Cody Arnold, M.D., head of the NOTIS research team at BRI, neonatologist on the medical staff at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas and epidemiologist and health services researcher at the Baylor Institute for Healthcare Research "But by more closely evaluating those oxygenation levels with an information system like NOTIS, we have an opportunity to safely increase the amount of time patients spend in the desired saturation range and, hopefully, reduce incidence of ROP."
When complete, NOTIS, in development at BRI, will be available at no cost to any researcher or newborn intensive care unit (NICU) interested in studying oxygenation levels of premature infants in an effort to advance patient care.
Dr. Arnold said he approached Nellcor for financial support to develop NOTIS because Baylor Dallas uses Nellcor® pulse oximetry products in its NICU.
"We greatly appreciate Nellcor's financial support of this important academic program," Dr. Arnold said. "The company's contribution offered us more than monetary support. It was the first grant we received for NOTIS, thereby validating our cause and making it easier to seek funding from other organizations."
"For Nellcor, supporting Dr. Arnold and the NOTIS project offered us an opportunity to get involved in a meaningful way to support important research efforts aimed at improving the care of newborns," said Robert St. John, R.N., R.R.T., director of clinical research for Nellcor. "We feel the development of NOTIS holds great promise as a tool for NICUs everywhere."
"Our grant for the Baylor Research Institute reflects our commitment and support for the research and clinical education efforts that help physicians and clinicians around the world as they seek advances in patient care," said Matthew J. Herwig, vice president of marketing for Nellcor.
About the Baylor Research Institute:Established in 1984, the Baylor Research Institute is a dedicated research center for finding prevention therapies and treatments for diseases and illnesses. Its mission is to develop innovative therapies to improve the care and well being of its community. Baylor Research Institute matches its research efforts with the strengths and expertise of the medical staffs at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas and other Baylor medical centers throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The institute is supported by philanthropy through the Baylor Health Care System Foundation and by grants from the National Institutes of Health and other national organizations. Baylor Health Care System also provides financial support.
About Nellcor:Nellcor is dedicated to developing innovative, clinically relevant medical products with an emphasis on noninvasive patient safety monitoring and respiratory care. A part of Tyco Healthcare/Mallinckrodt, Nellcor is the world's foremost supplier of pulse oximetry and airway management products. The company also offers a wide range of products for measuring and regulating patient body temperature. For more information, visit http://www.nellcor.com.
About Tyco Healthcare:As a major business segment of Tyco International Ltd. (NYSE:TYC), Tyco Healthcare manufactures, distributes and services an extensive product line including disposable medical supplies, monitoring equipment, innovative wound closure products, advanced surgical devices, medical instruments and bulk analgesic pharmaceuticals. With industry-leading brand names such as Autosuture, Kendall, Mallinckrodt, Nellcor, Puritan Bennett, Syneture and Valleylab, Tyco Healthcare products are found in virtually every healthcare setting. For further information, please visit the website at http://www.tycohealthcare.com.
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