What’s new in PeriFlux 6000: Medical-grade computer and enhanced features for vascular diagnostics

Like most product managers, my role is highly varied. On the one hand, I might find myself immersed in the technical details of signal processing, or I might be out in the field training customers. During these sessions, I take notes on the things people tell me to identify areas where we can improve our products. On another day, I might be resolving issues related to component availability or managing price hikes.

The hardest part of the job is prioritization: deciding what new features to incorporate into our current development cycle and which ones to defer.

In response to customer demand, we have recently adjusted the way we offer our PeriFlux 6000 systems and released a new version of the interface software — PSW ExM 5.6.1. The changes include:

• Webcam integration
• Simplification of the process to add images to the patient report
• Approval of a medical-grade panel computer
• Connecting an independently sourced computer to the system

In this post, I will describe these changes, some of the driving forces behind them, and how to upgrade.

//Maltha Anatasha

In most clinical environments, the individuals (mainly nurses) who use PeriFlux 6000 to take patient measurements are not the same people (mainly physicians) who use the measurement data to make decisions about treatment or treatment effectiveness.

Consequently, the patient report PeriFlux 6000 generates is a vital communication tool between nurses and physicians, and the ability to include images in the report that document conditions such as wound progression is critical.

To meet this need, we previously offered a handheld digital camera solution. Unfortunately, the implementation was clunky. It relied on manual transfer of images, and as a separate piece of equipment, cameras can be easily misplaced. They also need to be charged — and this is only part of the problem.

The lack of affordable digital cameras has had an impact on our solution. Since the smartphone revolution, the production of compact cameras has declined significantly. The segment may have recently experienced a resurgence driven by retro-seeking content creators, but the price point has become too high for our purposes. In many sectors, smartphone cameras fulfill the need to capture images. Unfortunately, implementing such a solution universally in clinical settings is problematic. Patient privacy is highly regulated and governed by policies such as HIPAA and GDPR, which essentially exclude the use of mobile phones in clinical settings unless protected by sufficient IT policies. Mobile phones present other risks; they are easily stolen or mislaid and contribute to the spread of infection.

To overcome the challenges related to price point, security, and ease of use, we have integrated all our PeriFlux 6000 system configurations [1] with a wired webcam [2]. We figured a wired cam was best, as it delivers a sufficient level of maneuverability while being tethered to the PC, which lowers the likelihood of the camera getting mislaid and eliminates the need for charging.

This new feature eliminates the need to manually transfer images from a handheld device to the hard drive of the computer connected to your PeriFlux 6000 instrument. I’ve been testing it, and I think the best aspect of it is its usability, especially when wearing protective gloves. It’s so much easier to handle the webcam; you can see the image directly in the interface (see the image below), and you don’t need to press any buttons because we’ve programmed the solution to take pictures automatically after a programmable delay.

In my role as product manager for PeriFlux 6000, I serve as the central link between our customers’ clinical needs and the development of our technology. My role involves working cross-functionally with R&D, Marketing, Regulatory Affairs, Production, and the Executive Leadership to ensure that our instrument not only meets high technical and regulatory standards but also delivers clinical value.

I hold a Master’s degree in Bioentrepreneurship from the Karolinska Institute and a B.Sc. in Medical Technology from Swinburne University of Technology.