Applications

The combination of impedance cardiography (ICG) and peripheral impedance plethysmography (IPG) opens new fields of application:

• Noninvasive hemodynamic monitoring
• Early detection of shock
• Therapy management of patients with hypertension
• Adjustment of pacemaker settings
• Cardial screening
• Vascular Diagnosis
• Hemodynamic monitoring during hemodialysis
• Pharmacological studies
• Physiological studies

Noninvasive hemodynamic monitoring

Impedance cardiography allows the determination of hemodynamic parameters, such as Cardiac Output and Systemic Vascular Resistance noninvasively, continuously and very patient friendly (comparable with ECG).

In many cases an invasive catheter can be substituted by this noninvasive method.

Early detection of shock

Simultaneous monitoring of central hemodynamic parameters by impedance cardiography and the peripheral arterial pulse wave by impedance plethysmography shows the development of a shock at a very early stage.

Therapy management of patients with hypertension

Impedance cardiography combined with blood pressure measurement enables the therapy optimization of patients with hypertension, the selection of the most suitable pharmaceutical combinations and the follow up of therapeutical effects.

Adjustment of pacemaker settings

niccomo™ enables hemodynamic monitoring during cardiac pacing. The hemodynamic effect of various pacemaker settings (such as AV-delay and pacing rates limits) can be analysed. The special niccomo™ pacemaker software makes it easy to define the optimal adjustments.

Cardial screening

The curve shape of the impedance cardiographic signal (ICG) allows a fast and simple recognition of cardial diseases. ICG can be used by non-cardiologists as a screening method as well as its use as a part of detailed diagnosis in a cardiological department. niccomo™ offers a special diagnostic screen to evaluate curve shape characteristics. Also early diastolic dysfunction can be detected by an exercise test.

Vascular Diagnosis

niccomo™ is not only a monitor, it has also the capability to diagnose arterial diseases. The arterial pulse wave analysis by impedance plethysmography combined with the special niccomo™ diagnostic screen provides a powerful tool for diagnosing arterial diseases, for example, occlusions, stenosis and arteriosclerosis, cerebral sclerosis or migraine.

Hemodynamic monitoring during hemodialysis

Hemodialysis causes essential hemodynamic stress to the patient. Impedance cardiography - especially in combination with peripheral impedance plethysmography - helps to optimize the dialysis session by a best possible hemodynamic management helping the prevention of cardiovascular shock. The patient’s life quality is improved and the long term prognostics are enhanced.

Pharmacological studies

Impedance cardiography (ICG) is very sensitive to changes in hemodynamics and allows a noninvasive long term follow up. Therefore, ICG is the ideal tool to analyse the cardial and hemodynamic effect of drugs. niccomo™ has special features to support scientific work, like a database with full storage of the curves and a PC-software for offline and interactive analysis. Additionally, the impedance plethysmography (IPG) enables the evaluation of the effects of the drugs on the peripheral blood flow.

Physiological studies

ICG allows a beat-to-beat analysis so that, for example, it is possible to determine beat-to-beat variability and to see the hemodynamic effects of extra systoles. The excellent storage and offline capabilities of the niccomo™ system make it very suitable for scientific physiological studies.

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