Cambridge UK medical device specialist Sphere Medical plc has secured a significant order for its technology from a major Italian pharmaceutical company.

Sphere Medial is a leading developer of innovative monitoring and diagnostic products for the critical care setting. Sorin Group is a global medical device company and Europe’s largest medical technology group specialising in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

In 2008 Sphere Medical and Sorin Group signed a development and supply agreement in relation to the CPB product. This order represents the first sale for this product which will be used by Sorin Group in market assessment studies scheduled to start later this year.

CE Marking of the CPB product is anticipated to coincide with the commencement of the studies. Satisfactory completion of these studies is expected to lead to a European launch by Sorin Group of the CPB product, which is currently scheduled for Q1 2013.

The first commercial sales of the CPB product are anticipated to coincide with the European launch.

The CPB product has been developed to enable the continuous blood monitoring of patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgery, where close monitoring of oxygenation and other blood parameters are critical.

Incorporating Sphere Medical’s core microanalyser technology, the CPB product will allow the clinician to track a comprehensive range of critical blood parameters in real time.

This close monitoring will give clinicians an excellent assessment of a patient’s status and enable them to respond rapidly to a patient’s changing condition. This real time analysis is expected to contribute to improving clinical outcomes for cardiac surgery patients.

Every year approximately 1.1 million patients globally undergo cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. As guidelines become more stringent, there is a resultant growing demand for close monitoring.

Sorin Group’s market-leading position in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases makes Sorin Group an ideal commercialisation partner to address this important market.

Stuart Hendry, CEO of Sphere Medical said: “Achieving our first order from Sorin for our CPB product is an important milestone for Sphere Medical and demonstrates our ability to successfully partner our products with global medical device companies.

“Sphere Medical continues to make encouraging progress in the commercialisation of our innovative monitoring and diagnostic products and we look forward to making further announcements as the year progresses.”