Studies suggest the use of quantitative cultures increase specificity of the diagnosis of hospital-acquired pneumonia (VAP), so Kimberly-Clark has developed the BAL CATH System, a nonbronchioscopic bronchoalveolar lavage catheter that facilitates the diagnosis of VAP.
The BAL-CATH is a telescoping catheter that is positioned in the distal airway to obtain an alveolar lavage sample. It features an atraumatic radiopaque directional tip that allows for selective right or left lung sampling. Trained clinicians can accurately perform mini-bronchoaveolar lavage with the BAL-CATH catheter.
April 2008