Clarius Mobile Health announced that it partnered with ImaCor to make available a handheld transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) system.

According to a news release, the partnership will enable the availability of the world’s first handheld TEE system designed to manage and guide care for critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU).

ImaCor designed its Zura handheld hemodynamic ultrasound system, powered by Clarius, to provide an instant, clear window to directly visualize preload and contractility over time. The FDA-cleared platform aims to help clinicians make “the right decisions, at the right time,” the companies said.

“A high-risk patient’s hemodynamic status changes dramatically in a matter of minutes, often while clinicians are waiting for test results they submitted 15 minutes ago,” ImaCor founder Dr. Scott Roth said. “The Zura Handheld provides instant and accurate information to guide patient management and it’s proven to save lives. … We’re excited to make this life-saving device now highly accessible to more high acuity care teams with the introduction of our handheld system, which is easier to bring to the bedside, can be used to monitor multiple patients in real-time, and takes up no floor space.

“We chose to partner with Clarius for our handheld solution, because it delivers the highest image quality for the best patient care.”

Hospitals will be able to purchase multiple Zura handheld systems for the cost of one cart-based system, Roth said. Zura is a companion device to the ClariTEE transesophageal echo probe and, now that is is powered by Clarius, the pocket-sized, 22-ounce combination comprises the first and only advanced handheld hemodynamic management platform for real-time decision making to care for the most at-risk patients.

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The platform operates through the Clarius Ultrasound App, which connects wirelessly to Apple and Android smart devices.

“Our collaboration with ImaCor is a powerful example of how Clarius is broadening access to medical imaging and helping clinicians to provide better-specialized patient care,” Clarius founder Laurent Pelissier said. “We have intentionally designed our app-based ultrasound system to push the boundaries of medical imaging. It’s an honor to work with Dr. Roth and his team to make his vision for better acute care a reality, improving patient care and saving lives.”