Covidien plc today announced US Food and Drug Administration 510(k) clearance for the Nellcor Portable SpO2 Patient Monitoring System (PM10N). The system is a commercially available portable oximeter that is equipped with home care and sleep study modes and complies with IEC 60601-1-11 standards for devices used in the home healthcare environment.

Part of a comprehensive Covidien respiratory function monitoring portfolio, this convenient, handheld patient monitor is simple to use and ideal for fast, accurate, motion-tolerant monitoring of pulse rate and blood oxygenation (SpO2). The Nellcor Portable SpO2 Patient Monitoring System’s compact design and ability to perform in challenging conditions make it an ideal tool for multiple critical clinical screenings including: Six Minute Walk Test, Critical Congenital Heart Disease Screening, and Car Seat Challenge Test.

The lightweight system is user-friendly and features a home care mode that expands the utility of the monitor beyond the hospital to home-use environments. With a simplified user interface, patients can clearly view their vital sign readings, and the settings cannot be easily altered by the patient, so clinicians can feel confident prescribing the home use of this monitor. The system also features a sleep study mode that enables dimming the LCD display and silencing alarms to prevent disrupting patients’ sleep.

“Covidien’s new generation of portable monitors is easy to use and brings our proven pulse oximetry technology to patients inside the hospital, in health care facilities, and even in their own homes,” says Matt Anderson, vice president & general manager, Patient Monitoring, Covidien, in a release. “Because our pulse oximetry technology relies on cardiac signals, it mitigates signal interference, offering caregivers peace of mind. They can count on Covidien to provide accurate patient data, even during difficult conditions. The development of this product exemplifies Covidien’s dedication to enhance patient care, both inside and beyond the hospital.”

The monitoring system includes a vivid three-inch color LCD screen, as well as connectivity to analytics tools and patient management systems. It is compatible with the entire line of Nellcor sensors with OxiMax technology and offers a robust monitoring feature set including SpO2, pulse rate, SatSeconds alarm management, pleth waveform, blip bar, and tabular trend information. The monitor incorporates Nellcor digital signal processing technology to deliver accurate, reliable SpO2 and pulse rate values even during challenging conditions, such as patient motion, noise, signal interference, and low perfusion, all of which can interfere with assessing a patient’s respiratory status.