Hospitals are using the same oxygen treatment methods as in 1920

It is dangerous for patients, time consuming for medical staff, and expensive for society

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PRESS RELEASE

Automatic oxygen treatment at home

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Dangerous for patients

Oxygen therapy today is based on a 100-year-old method, where manual adjustments are made to try to keep the patient’s oxygen saturation within a certain range. But it is hard to dose accurately, as levels of oxygen in the blood can rise and fall in a matter of moments. The patient only receives the correct oxygen dosage in just under half of the time. Both too much and too little oxygen can be harmful. If the patient does not receive the correct dosage, there is a risk of tissue damage, inhibited breathing, or the need for respiratory treatment.

Time consuming

Oxygen treatment of, for example, a COPD patient is normally done by manually reading and adjusting the patient’s oxygen level. The oxygen delivery system is then adjusted by turning a pressure regulator and reading the flowmeter. Nursing staff shall typically make this adjustment up to 30 times per patient per day – a huge demand on the department’s limited time.

Expensive for society

An estimated 328 million people suffer from the lung-disease Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, COPD. When a COPD patient is admitted, many man-hours of the nursing staff are used for the monitoring of and countless manual adjustments to their oxygen levels. Furthermore, the imprecise dosing of oxygen can create unforeseen complications, both lengthening hospitalisation and increasing the mortality rate.

O2matic brings oxygen therapy into the digital age.

New Danish-developed system monitors and doses oxygen based on the patient’s current condition

Oxygen therapy is becoming more precise and safe. The automated system keeps the patient’s oxygen saturation levels in the correct range 85% of the time, while this is the case for only 47% of the time with manual treatment. This significantly increases patient safety. At the same time, the patients can rest assured during their hospitalisation that the O2matic is delivering the correct amount of oxygen.

A giant leap for oxygen treatment

O2matic replaces the old-fashioned manual apparatus that typically sits on the wall behind the patient’s bed. A sensor measures the patient’s blood oxygen level, and O2matic’s algorithms automatically adjust the dose of oxygen accordingly. At the same time, the O2matic monitors the patient’s well-being and gives a signal if their condition requires attention.

Great savings for both the individual hospital and for national healthcare costs

With the introduction of automated oxygen therapy, a large number of nurses can be freed up to perform other tasks. The number of adverse events – thus additional treatments – will fall significantly. Additionally, the length of hospital admission could be shortened.

CE marked
O2matic is an IIB-classed medical device and is CE marked by TÜV SÜD.
O2matic ApS is ISO13485 certified.

The global economic burden of COPD is increasing rapidly¹⁾

COPD is a common disease

An estimated 328 million people have COPD worldwide, and in 15 years, COPD is expected to become the leading cause of death. 1) COPD is a disease that cannot be cured. Lung tissue damage is irreparable. Oxygen treatment is an important part of a COPD sufferer’s life. With severe coughing and shortness of breath, the patient is hospitalised and receives oxygen through a nasal cannula. Care staff adjust the manual apparatus up to 30 times a day, as receiving both too little and too much oxygen is dangerous for the patient. As the patient recovers, oxygen therapy is phased out. This also happens manually.

Developed in collaboration with Hvidovre Hospital

The oxygen dosing system O2matic has been developed in collaboration with Hvidovre Hospital and has been clinically tested in four hospitals throughout Denmark. O2matic is almost twice as good at maintaining the correct level of oxygen saturation as by manual manipulation. Furthermore, O2matic can automate the phasing out of oxygen therapy.

1) The unmet global burden of COPD. US National Library of Medicine, 2018 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5921960/