Low cost and visually motivational, the piCO+™ CO monitor is a leader in a new generation of breath carbon monoxide monitors. The CO monitor has user profiles for adult smokers, young smokers and pregnant women, as well the ability to easily create custom profiles when used alongside the COdata+™ PC software.
Motivational traffic light coloured LEDs display the users' carbon monoxide levels, while the lit liquid crystal display gives corresponding readings in single ppm1 and %COHb2. The single-switch operation makes the piCO+™ Smokerlyzer CO monitor incredibly easy to use.
The piCO+™ CO monitor is lightweight and battery powered and combines the features of the original piCO and piCO-lo models, used throughout the world by health professionals working in smoking cessation programmes.
Breath CO levels are easily measured when patients blow into the monitor through single-use disposable mouthpieces. These cardboard mouthpieces are connected to the piCO+™ CO monitor via a unique breath sampling D-piece, which incorporates a one-way valve and an infection control filter to address potential cross-contamination concerns.
Features of the piCO+ Smokerlyzer® CO Monitor
- Motivates smokers to quit.
- Easy to read display with instant results.
- Auto-zero and breath-hold countdown timer.
- Easy to use and calibrate by non-technical personnel.
- COdata+™ software available for creating database and personalised settings.
- Improved sampling system to address infection control issues.
- Inexpensive disposable mouthpieces.
- Also used for the screening of CO poisoning and smoke inhalation.
Support for Young People and Pregnant Women
Young people's smoking habits and motivations tend to differ from adults and their breath CO readings are typically lower. Using breath CO monitors as part of a young people's smoking cessation programme can often be devalued due to these lower readings, which may reduce the impact of the visual display.
The piCO+™ is unique in allowing the user to switch from an "adult" to an "adolescent" setting which addresses this problem by lowering the ppm cut-off points between levels of smoking status. The same setting can be applied to pregnant women, who may not necessarily smoke less but are a traditionally problematic group to target (see MaternityCO Chart below). In this way, hard to reach smokers can be encouraged of the dangers of smoking and become motivated more easily.
COdata+™ is a piece of software for Microsoft Windows, for use with the piCO+™ and Micro™ Smokerlyzer®s. It is also compatible with the piCO and piCO-lo monitors. PiCO+ Drivers available here.
When connected to the piCO+™ the software allows users to create custom ppm settings, allowing them to amplify smoking status when treating particularly hard to motivate patients or testing under unusual circumstances. For example, tests taken early in the morning can give lower than typical results as the patient may not have had their usual quota of cigarettes. Presetting a "morning session" custom profile with COdata+™ allows the operator to be prepared.
The piCO+™ readings are downloaded from the monitor to COdata+™, which provides a virtual display of the instrument and an instant report of the patient's results. The report includes a specific interpretation of the patient's smoking habit and personal dependence on nicotine. This can be printed out and kept by the patient for their own records. The integrated database records patients' details and their results for subsequent sessions.
The MaternityCO™ Chart can be used alongside the piCO+™ to illustrate the dangers of smoking whilst pregnant and the effects that first and second hand smoke can have on an unborn baby.
By using the ppm reading given by the piCO+™ monitor and the easy to use MaternityCO™ wheel, it is possible to show mothers-to-be not only their reading but also that of their unborn baby and the average expected birth weight if they continued to smoke.
The chart also gives a result for second hand smoke, such as a partner's smoking habit, and how it can add to the damaging effects of carbon monoxide on the unborn foetus.
Calibration
The piCO+™ requires a calibration check once every six months with Bedfont's 20ppm CO in air calibration gas. No specialist technical knowledge or skills are required, making it easy to calibrate with our Calibration Kit. We can also supply replacement calibration gas in lightweight disposable cylinders.
A range of annual service packages are also available.
Consumables & Accessories
Cardboard mouthpieces are connected to the piCO+™ via a unique breath sampling D-piece. A one-way valve prevents air being drawn back form the monitor. The breath then passes through an infection control filter, proven to remove and trap > 99.9% of airborne bacteria3. This system further reduces the risks of cross infection and protects the instrument from contamination.
We also supply an instrument cleansing wipe specifically developed for cleaning the surface of the monitors. Each wipe contains 1% Cetrimide, a powerful antimicrobial detergent. The wipes can also be used by patients to clean their hands before handling the instruments in areas without hand washing facilities, or where infection control may be a particular concern. Alcohol, or cleaning agents containing alcohol, should never be used as they may adversely affect the sensor within the instrument.
1parts per million
2Carboxyhaemoglobin
3Health Protection Agency (HPA), Porton Down, Report No.43/06, pp.10-11.
