An innovative monitor provides a comprehensive approach for patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and warns clinicians of severe medical changes.

The Royal Philips (Amsterdam, The Netherlands) Expression MR400 MRI Patient Monitor provides intensive care unit (ICU)-comparable, bedside-quality monitoring in the MRI suite for all patients, including those requiring anesthesia. Vital signs monitored include invasive blood pressure (IBP), pulse, blood oxygen saturation oximetry (SpO2), body and surface temperatures, end-tidal and inspired CO2, and anesthetic agents, including end-tidal and inspired N2O, inspired O2, and total MAC. The monitor also includes advanced electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring.

The Expression MR400 uses a 15” LED touch screen display with an interface identical to other Philips monitors, making it easier for clinicians to view and respond to patient data; patient warning signals can be prioritized individually to reduce alarm fatigue. Using wireless technology, the monitor connects to an electronic medical record (EMR) and shares information with the Philips IntelliBridge Enterprise system to seamlessly send and receive patient information, ensuring that all care team members have access to the same high-quality patient information.

Features include an intuitive touchscreen graphical user interface with large numerics and simultaneous display of up to thirteen parameters, as well as six waveforms and associated values; gating of both digital pulse and analog waveforms; multi-priority visual and audible alarm signals, unique alarm flag messages and pulse tones; and an 8-hour battery life and user-replaceable batteries for extended run time. Options include an information portal (IP5) with wireless remote printing.

Strong electromagnetic fields in the MRI suite make it impossible for clinicians to use traditional patient monitors without causing complications with the monitor itself or degradation of the acquired images. The lack of adequate monitoring is particularly problematic for those patients, including children, who require anesthesia when getting an MRI; without the ability to reliably track key vital signs, clinicians may not know a patient is in distress until it is too late.

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