#United States #Zynex #Englewood, Colorado #NICOSystem #LEDPulseOximeter

Study Overview

Zynex, Inc., known for its innovative medical technology, has made significant strides in addressing racial disparities in healthcare through the recent study conducted at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). The research focused on evaluating the effectiveness of Zynex’s NiCO™ laser pulse oximeter, especially in its ability to provide accurate blood oxygen level readings across different skin pigmentation.

Background on Pulse Oximetry

Traditional LED-based pulse oximeters, while widely used, have been shown to produce incorrect readings when used on individuals with darker skin tones. This flaw can lead to inadequate medical responses in critical situations. The NiCO pulse oximeter, however, utilizes laser technology to directly measure blood oxygenation, offering a significant improvement over conventional devices.

Study Details

The findings were presented during the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2024 Event held in Philadelphia, where a controlled desaturation study involved participants with both darkly and lightly pigmented skin. Nine participants from each group were tested using both Zynex’s NiCO device and two conventional LED-based pulse oximeters. The research aimed to directly compare the accuracy of these monitoring tools.

Key Findings

The results confirmed that the NiCO pulse oximeter did not show any detectable bias between the darkly and lightly pigmented participants. In contrast, traditional LED devices produced higher readings in participants with darker skin, particularly when oxygen saturation levels were lower. This finding underscores the potential of the NiCO device to improve clinical decision-making and minimize racial disparities in healthcare.

Implications for Healthcare

Donald Gregg, President of Zynex Monitoring Solutions, emphasized that the outcomes of this study align with earlier findings from Duke University, reinforcing the NiCO pulse oximeter's accuracy across various skin tones. This is crucial, given previous research highlighted in a 2022 JAMA study pointed out that racial and ethnic minorities in ICUs receive inadequate care owing to discrepancies in blood saturation readings.

Moving Forward

Zynex plans to seek FDA clearance for the NiCO pulse oximeter, a step that could further enhance its integration into healthcare systems. The company believes that the device could significantly contribute to closing the equity gap in patient care by ensuring that all patients receive appropriate and timely medical interventions.

Conclusion

As Zynex prepares for the next phase of its journey, including regulatory milestones and product innovations, the ongoing commitment to enhancing healthcare equity through its advanced technology remains a top priority. The NiCO pulse oximeter represents a promising evolution in medical monitoring, with the potential to profoundly impact healthcare standards and patient outcomes across diverse populations.