FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions:

  • Why is hemodynamic monitoring important for inpatient management?

    A primary cause of patient complications in the ICU and OR is circulatory shock, often diagnosed as hypotension. When this occurs, clinicians have limited time to prevent damage to vital organs. Timely intervention with hemodynamic-guided therapy is critical to ensure sufficient oxygen delivery and preserve end organ function.

  • Does the Argos Monitor have regulatory clearance?

    Yes, the Argos Monitor received U.S. FDA 510k Clearance (K181372) in December 2018 and CE Mark for market access to Europe in January 2021.

  • What are the indications and contraindications for the Argos Monitor?

    The Argos Cardiac Output Monitor is intended as a hemodynamic monitor for cardiac output and its derived parameters on patients over the age of 18. It is intended to be used in the intensive care unit (ICU) or in the operating room (OR).

    The Argos Monitor is contraindicated in the following patients:

    • Patients on any type of mechanical cardiac support (e.g., intra-aortic balloon pumps, LVADs);
    • Patients with moderate-to-severe aortic valve regurgitation.

     

    The Argos Monitor is not indicated for use with pediatric patients.

  • How does the Argos Monitor determine cardiac output?

    The Argos Monitor is based on Multi-Beat Analysis (MBA®), a proprietary technology that Retia developed with researchers at Michigan State University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The algorithm has been rigorously tested and validated in diverse and challenging patient populations, including critically ill patients with sepsis and heart failure, as well as patients undergoing major cardiac surgery, neurosurgery, major abdominal surgery, or liver transplants.

    The MBA® algorithm is able to accurately model the circulation by analyzing the blood pressure waveform over multiple beats. Analysis over multiple beats allows the algorithm to take into account the confounding effects of wave reflection due to vascular resistance. In practice, the MBA® algorithm models the patient’s physiology in order to determine the systemic vascular resistance, allowing the clinician to track hemodynamic changes with consistent accuracy and enabling clinicians to make better care decisions.

    Learn more about how the MBA algorithm works here.

  • How do I connect the Argos Monitor to a patient’s bedside multi-parameter monitor?

    Please click here for setup instructions.

  • Can the Argos Monitor be used during surgical procedures that use electrocautery?

    Yes, the Argos Monitor can be used for any patient in the OR or ICU with a radial or femoral arterial line for blood pressure monitoring.

  • What parameters does the Argos™ monitor?

    Consistent with other minimally invasive A-line hemodynamic monitors, the Argos Monitor displays the following parameters:

    • CO (Cardiac Output)
    • CI (Cardiac Index)
    • MAP (Mean Arterial Pressure)
    • HR (Heart Rate)
    • BP (Blood Pressure); Systolic/Diastolic
    • SV (Stroke Volume)
    • SVI (Stroke Volume Index)
    • SVR (Systemic Vascular Resistance)
    • SVRI (Systemic Vascular Resistance Index)
    • PPV (Pulse Pressure Variation)
  • Does the Argos Monitor require calibration?

    No, the Argos Monitor does not require calibration. The user simply inputs the patient age, height, weight, and gender into the monitor, and it calculates the cardiac output based on this information and analysis of the blood pressure waveform.

  • Does acquiring the blood pressure signal directly from the bedside multi-parameter monitor instead of using a separate pressure transducer impact the accuracy of the Argos Monitor?

    No, all validation studies and numerous independent studies were conducted by acquiring the blood pressure signal directly from the bedside multi-parameter monitor.

  • Does the Argos Monitor require any proprietary Retia Medical consumables to monitor patients?

    No, the Argos Monitor can be directly connected to the bedside multi-parameter monitor with a single re-usable interface cable and is compatible with: Philips, GE, Mindray, Draeger, Nihon Kohden, Spacelabs, and others upon request.

    By eliminating the need for any proprietary and expensive consumables, Argos provides your hospital with significant cost savings over time and, more importantly, the ability to increase the number of patients monitored without any additional cost.

  • Does the Argos Monitor contain a battery?

    Yes, the Argos Monitor does include a battery that supplies approximately 30 minutes of functionality, however, it should be plugged into a standard wall outlet when available.

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