PROACT continue support for Xtreme Everest

Five years on from the first Caudwell Xtreme Everest research expedition, PROACT Medical have continued to offer support to the project, aimed at extending our understanding of high-altitude physiology and using this knowledge to improve survival rates in hospitals.

Xtreme Everest is a dedicated team of intensive care doctors, nurses and scientists. They conduct experiments on themselves and other volunteers at high altitude in order to develop novel therapies to improve the survival rates of patients. Because it is very difficult to study patients in intensive care units, not least because they are so ill, the team volunteer themselves as subjects.

In order to simulate the critical conditions of intensive care, the team first went to Everest, the world's highest mountain, in 2007. The oxygen levels on the summit are a third of those at sea level - similar to those experienced by patients in intensive care. The team even performed tests on themselves in the "Death Zone" at an altitude where there is barely enough oxygen to support life. This year, volunteer groups joining Xtreme Everest scientists will include twins, children, Sherpas and previous volunteers.

PROACT supplied seventy-five Nonin 9590 Onyx Vantage Fingertip Pulse Oximeters for the expedition, an ideal choice as the system is;

• Highly accurate, especially in conditions of low perfusion or motion
• User friendly with an auto on/off function
• Ergonomically designed with an LED display for total clarity
• Easily positioned on fingers, thumbs or toes of small children to large adults (8mm to 26mm finger thickness)
• Efficient with up to 6000 spot checks from two AAA batteries
• Robust enough to be covered by a five year ‘drop inclusive’ warranty

All the oximetry products supplied by PROACT are type tested to meet and exceed the requirements of ISO 9919:2005 standard for pulse oximetry safety and performance. Testing videos are available to view at www.proactmedical.co.uk/nonin or please call 01536 461981 for further information or to request a quotation.