US-based integrated healthcare system Sutter Health is set to implement Flosonics Medical’s wireless, wearable Doppler ultrasound device, FloPatch, to enhance the safety of intensive care unit (ICU) patients.

The technology offers a fast, hands-free method for clinicians to assess blood flow, aiding in the management of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and fluid administration in critically ill patients.

The FloPatch device has been cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use and will be deployed by Sutter Health across its ICU facilities.

This summer (June to September), Sutter Health plans to deploy FloPatch at two of its Bay Area medical centres, initially at Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley, California, followed by the California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC) in San Francisco, across the CPMC Van Ness, Davies, and Mission Bernal campuses.

Sutter’s Eden Medical Center critical care medical director Kristina Kury said: “FloPatch can make a large impact on patient care by allowing goal-directed care, which will prevent potentially harmful interventions and, in some cases, may avoid the need for ICU-level care.

“I believe this technology will provide more precise, actionable data that will allow us to optimise patient care, decrease complications and decrease length of stay for many of our patients.”

The FloPatch device is designed to simplify the process of measuring blood flow and heart function concerning intravenous (IV) fluid volume.

Its precise monitoring capabilities are particularly beneficial for patients with conditions such as septic shock.

By providing more accurate data, FloPatch aims to improve patient outcomes and optimise care in the ICU setting. The device can be positioned on the patient's neck, where it continuously measures the blood flow in the carotid arteries. 

FloPatch then transmits the data wirelessly to a secure iOS mobile application, giving information needed for healthcare providers that can inform treatment decisions at the bedside.

Flosonics Medical CEO Joe Eibl said: “FloPatch is a new paradigm linking physiology and resuscitation medicine. We believe it can revolutionize treatment for critical care patients by bringing much-needed insight to the most complex and urgent medical scenarios.”

According to a recent study, FloPatch demonstrated that for every ten assessments performed in the emergency department, approximately four patients could avoid the risks associated with fluid overload.

Last year, El Camino Health deployed Flosonics’ FloPatch system for sepsis management.