CareFusion, a BD company, has released a new respiratory diagnostics tool that is a complete mobile solution for assessing functional exercise capacity in patients. Vyntus WALK allows clinicians to conduct the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) fully independent of any external wires or means of connection.

The application seamlessly integrates with CareFusion’s Windows-based SentrySuite diagnostic platform and software to enable further evaluation, central data management and reporting, but it also functions in standalone mode, independent of a proprietary database interface. In the latter case, reports can be printed directly from the tablet, scanned into the electronic medical record (EMR) or printed to a network PDF location.

“The Vyntus WALK has received positive reviews from patients in Europe, where the technology is already in use,” said Dan Woolson, worldwide president Respiratory Solutions for BD. “In addition, the application is workflow driven, and provides the clinician onscreen guidance to assist the patient during the test for the best possible results.”

A recommended protocol of the American Thoracic Society because it mirrors the levels of exertion typical of daily living, the 6MWT is conducted using Vyntus WALK with the patient wearing wireless sensors that communicate heart rate and SpO2 values from a wrist pulse oximeter to a tablet PC.

The clinician can also manually enter related data such as blood pressure, oxygen supply, oxygen supply type, rate of perceived exertion and BODE index.

More information is available on the CareFusion website.