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…