Vygon UK launches FreeO2 to transform the delivery of oxygen therapy

FreeO2 is a brand-new, automated oxygen titration and weaning system from Vygon.

Different to other oxygen delivery methods, FreeO2 automatically adjusts the oxygen flow rate to achieve target oxygenation set by the clinician until the patient is fully weaned. This reduces the need for manual intervention and reduces the time to wean. With patients treated according to their needs, the risk of complications relating to hypoxia and hyperoxia are reduced.

FreeO2 works on a closed loop and continuously adjusts the flow rate administered between 0 and 20 l/min (with or without humidification) based on blood saturation (SpO2). An oximeter is attached to the patient to measure blood saturation ­­and record conventional cardio-respiratory parameters. With its simple, user-friendly touch screen interface, it’s easy  to start, pause or resume treatment, access all monitoring settings, and view the patient data collected during treatment.

“The concept behind FreeO2 is really quite simple” explains Sam Kirby, the Anaesthesia & Emergency Business Unit Manager at Vygon. “Automating the oxygen titration process until weaning is achieved means that regardless of a patent’s age – infant, child or adult – healthcare professionals’ can correctly manage a patient’s oxygen therapy without the regular manual checks and interventions.”

Before its launch, FreeO2 was involved in a number of studies and clinical trials with over 500 patients including:

• Patients with acute respiratory distress in emergency departments; FreeO2 made it possible to treat people more effectively (assessed according to the time spent at the target SpO2) by limiting any complications relating to hypoxia and hyperoxia. FreeO2 also weans patients with certain conditions more quickly and avoids transfers to intensive care. In addition, the data in one study¹ points to a reduction in the workload of healthcare professionals’ and greater compliance with clinical protocols.
• Patients admitted to hospital for an exacerbation of COPD²; Hospital stays were reduced by two days (6.7 days compared with 9.5 days), another key benefit for the busy nursing team was the ability to remotely monitor the automated titration and weaning from the nurses’ station.
• COPD patients³ undergoing walking endurance exercises; the use of FreeO2 prevented any cases hypercapnia as target SpO2 adjustments prevented the onset of hyperoxia. Plus more effective oxygenation increased effort endurance times significantly greater than the control group.

Sam adds: “FreeO2 delivers far fewer complications relating to hypoxia and hyperoxia and significantly reduces hospitals stays and the associated costs of care. All this, plus FreeO2 delivers better clinical outcomes for patients. There are benefits across the board.”

1. L’Her E, Dias P, Gouillou M, et al. Automatic versus manual oxygen administration in the emergency department. Eur Respir J 2017; 50: 1602552 [https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.02552-2016].
2. Lellouche F, Bouchard P et al. Automated oxygen titration and weaning with FreeO2 in patients with acute exacerbation of COPD: a pilot randomized trial. Doverpress 24 August 2016 Volume 2016:11(1) Pages 1983—1990.
3. I.Viodtzev, E LHer, C Yankoff, A Grangier, G Vottero, V Mayer, D Veale, F Maltais,F Lellouche, JL Pépin. Automatically adjusted oxygen flow rates to maintain stable oxygen saturations during exercise in O2 – dependent and hypercapnic COPD patients ERS 2017 meeting: Best abstracts in exercise capacity and testing in chronic lung disease September 4th 2016 from 14:45 to 16:45 in Room ICC Captial Suite 7.