CARDIOTHORACIC ICU OF THE FUTURE©

What the Future Holds For CT Critical Care

Critical care is intrinsic to the specialty of CT surgery. Despite advances in minimally invasive techniques, the early postoperative care of many CT patients occurs in ICUs. The continuing evolution in ICU technology and the increased complexity of cardiothoracic critical care challenges hospitals to keep current on new technologies. The CT ICU of the Future© display allows you to see first hand what the future holds for CT surgical critical care.

Located in the Exhibit Hall between the Cardiac and General Thoracic OR's, the CT ICU of the Future© will showcase the newest technology used in CT surgical critical care, including the latest advances in imaging, monitoring, cardiopulmonary support, and information systems. The ICU of the Future display will feature two patient rooms highlighting two different patient scenarios - one will be a high acuity room, the other a more "standard" ICU room. In 2012, GE Healthcare is a lead contributor to the creation of the futuristic ICU room models.

"GE Healthcare is honored to be a part of the AATS ICU of the Future exhibit" stated Thierry Leclercq, VP & GM of GE Healthcare's Life Care Solutions business. "Patient monitoring is a critical tool in the ICU and GE Healthcare continually works with clinicians to identify and address the unmet needs in the ICU. Through convergence and clinical innovation, medical device companies can partner with clinical experts to truly enable the ICU of the future."

Project Director:

Project Co-Director:

Participating Companies: (as of February 27, 2012)

GE Healthcare
CAE Healthcare
Cook Medical
Copper Development Association, Inc./Antimicrobial Copper
Edwards Lifesciences
Gambro Renal Products
Haemonetics
Hill-Rom
Hutchinson Technology
Masimo
Maquet
Pedigo
PMX Industries
Stryker Medical

AATS ICU of the Future to Highlight Antimicrobial Copper Infection Protection

Visit the ICU of the Future Display and See Examples of Antimicrobial Copper IV Poles,
Overbed Table, Utility Cart, Visitor’s Chair and more

Frequently touched surfaces in ICUs are heavily contaminated with anywhere from several hundred to over ten thousand colony forming units of infectious bacteria. These surfaces are touched by patients, families, doctors, nurses, and cleaning staff and it is exactly here where an added line of defense is needed. Antimicrobial Copper touch surfaces are ideal for the healthcare environment because their inherent, continuous ability to kill bacteria supplements other infection control measures used in ICUs today. Antimicrobial Copper touch surfaces kill the bacteria that cause infections where they lie. No other material is proven to be more effective in continuously killing bacteria that cause infections.

A multi-site clinical trial recently demonstrated that Antimicrobial Copper touch surfaces improved patient safety in the ICU by reducing the risk of infection through the continuous reduction of bacteria. Antimicrobial Copper is a family of copper alloys, such brass and bronze, which are intrinsically antimicrobial. They are the only class of solid materials registered with the Environmental Protection Agency to continuously kill more than 99.9% of certain disease-causing bacteria within two hours, including MRSA and VRE. Antimicrobial Copper can be fashioned into a variety of products such as door handles, railings, IV stands, and more to continuously kill disease-causing bacteria between cleanings.

ICU room with Antimicrobial Copper tray table, IV Pole, mouse,
visitor’s chair (not shown), and copper-clad bed rails and touch-screen monitor.