The Medtronic Affinity CP centrifugal blood pump [Image courtesy of Medtronic]
Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) is temporarily modifying product indications so that health providers can use its extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) technology to treat people with severe cases of COVID-19.
ECMO could be described as a type of “artificial lung” technology that pumps blood from a person’s body to an oxygenator that provides long-term oxygen and carbon-dioxide transfer. Medtronic has devices that are FDA-cleared for extracorporeal support of up to 6 hours — an appropriate amount of time for cardiopulmonary bypass procedures (up to 6 hours).
In accordance with a new FDA guidance, Medtronic says the following devices can now be used for longer than 6 hours in an ECMO circuit to treat people experiencing acute respiratory/cardiopulmonary failure during the COVID-19 pandemic:
- The Bio-Console 560 extracorporeal blood pumping console with accessories
- Affinity CP adapter;
- Affinity centrifugal blood pumps.
Medtronic included an extended list of accessories in its news release.
ECMO technology could matter when it comes to treating COVID-19, because it potentially reduces or eliminates the need for mechanical ventilation. Fresenius (NYSE:FMS), appears to recognize the promise for the technology, too. Fresenius on its website says it has considerably expanded its capacity to produce its Novalung ECMO system — delivering a large number of the devices to Wuhan, China in February.
FDA in February cleared the Novalung to provide more than six hours of outside-the-body life support. The company at the time said it planned a U.S. launch in mid-2020; a spokesperson could not be immediately reached for an update.