Accident · Airway & Breathing · Chest Trauma · Education · emergency preparedness · first aid · first responder · gunshot wound · paramedic · Trauma ·May 15, 2025

CAPNOSPOT: Now Available

We have been waiting for this moment for a while now... And finally we can officially announce that the ground-breaking Capnospot Pneumothorax Decompression Indicator is approved and officially available in Australia.

This innovative medical device represents a significant advancement in the treatment of tension pneumothorax, providing immediate visual confirmation of successful needle decompression procedures.

The image shows a gloved hand in a blue glove inserting a CapnoSpot needle into a person's chest during a decompression procedure. The person is lying down, wearing a brown shirt, with a green-uniformed individual assisting. The focus is on the needle's application in an emergency setting.

Understanding Tension Pneumothorax

For those unfamiliar with the condition, a pneumothorax occurs when air leaks into the space between the lung and chest wall (the pleural space), causing the lung to collapse. A tension pneumothorax is an acute, life-threatening emergency where air continues to enter but cannot exit this space, creating increasing pressure that can rapidly lead to cardiovascular collapse and death if not promptly treated.

Tension pneumothorax is particularly common in trauma scenarios, including:
- Penetrating chest injuries
- Blunt force trauma to the chest
- High-energy impacts
- Complications from mechanical ventilation
- Iatrogenic injuries during medical procedures

The rapid progression of tension pneumothorax demands immediate intervention. Without prompt, accurate treatment, respiratory insufficiency, cardiovascular collapse, and even death can occur within minutes.

The image features a blue-gloved hand holding a CapnoSpot needle with an orange cap against a white background. Text below reads: "CapnoSpot lets you know you're in by offering objective, visual confirmation. PNEUMERIC CAPNOSPOT."

The Current Challenge

Healthcare providers have long struggled with a fundamental challenge when treating tension pneumothorax: how to objectively confirm successful needle decompression, particularly in chaotic, loud emergency environments.

The current standard practice relies primarily on auditory confirmation—listening for a "rush of air" when a needle is inserted—and monitoring for subsequent improvements in vital signs. While this approach has been the mainstay for decades, it comes with significant limitations:

- Loud prehospital environments (ambulances, helicopters, battlefield) make hearing the "rush of air" virtually impossible
- The technique is highly subjective and operator-dependent
- Success confirmation often relies on secondary indicators like improved vital signs, which may take time to manifest
- High failure rates of 10-50% have been documented with traditional needle thoracostomy techniques

These limitations create a critical need for a more reliable, objective method of confirming successful decompression—a need that the Capnospot device directly addresses.

The image displays a row of seven CapnoSpot devices, each with a transparent body containing colored liquids (blue, yellow, and gradients). The text below reads: "The CapnoSpot® Pneumothorax Decompression Indicator is transforming the standard of care in needle decompression from 'a gush of air' to a straightforward color change. PNEUMERIC CAPNOSPOT."

The Capnospot Solution

The Capnospot is a revolutionary approach to confirming needle thoracostomy placement. Developed initially at Mayo Clinic, USA and brought to market by Pneumeric Inc., this device utilises colorimetric capnography to provide immediate visual feedback during decompression procedures.

How It Works

The Capnospot's design is matched by its straightforward operation:

The device attaches to any standard needle or catheter via a universal luer lock fitting
When properly placed in a tension pneumothorax, the pleural air (which contains carbon dioxide) flows through the needle and the Capnospot device
Upon contact with CO2, the device's colorimetric indicator paper changes from dark blue to bright yellow within seconds
This distinct colour change provides immediate, objective visual confirmation of correct needle placement
If the catheter becomes dislodged or blocked, the indicator reverts to its original colour, alerting the provider to potential problems

This simple yet effective mechanism transforms a traditionally subjective procedure into an objective, visually confirmed intervention.

The image shows a gloved hand holding a medical device, likely a CapnoSpot needle, positioned above a person's chest prior to a decompression procedure. The hand is covered with a white glove, and the background includes a green cloth, suggesting a medical or emergency setting. Text at the bottom reads "Prior to Decompression" in a blue box

"As pneumothorax gas flows through the needle and Capnospot device, dark blue colorimetric paper turns bright yellow in seconds as it comes in contact with CO2." - PNEUMERIC CAPNOSPOT

The image depicts a gloved hand holding a CapnoSpot needle inserted into a person's chest, with a yellow liquid visible in the device, indicating therapeutic confirmation. The hand wears a white glove, and the background features a green cloth. Text at the bottom reads "Therapeutic Confirmation" in a yellow box.

"The color change provides visual confirmation of correct needle placement, allowing providers to quickly proceed with other relevant life-saving therapies." - PNEUMERIC CAPNOSPOT

Key Features and Benefits

The Capnospot offers multiple advantages over traditional techniques:

Objective visual confirmation: the blue-to-yellow colour change provides unambiguous confirmation of successful placement
Rapid feedback: Visual confirmation occurs within seconds, allowing providers to quickly move to additional interventions
Enhanced accuracy: Clinical data demonstrates higher accuracy than clinical judgement alone
Universal compatibility: Works with all standard decompression devices, catheters, and needles
Lightweight and portable: It is small and compact, ideal for field use
Functional in all environments: Works effectively in low-light and high-noise situations
No specialised training required: If you are trained in needle decompression, using a Capnospot is a seamless addition

Real-World Applications

Here at TacMed Australia, we are passionate about this device and believe the Capnospot will be invaluable to those of us practicing prehospital medicine.

By completely removing human error from the process of needle decompression, this device will save lives in the following scenarios:

Tactical and Military Medicine:

Combat medics operating in high-noise, high-stress environments
Battlefield medicine where equipment must be lightweight and reliable
Special operations medical personnel requiring definitive intervention capabilities

Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance:

Paramedics responding to trauma incidents
Air medical crews operating in high-noise helicopter environments
First responders treating traumatic injuries in challenging conditions

Wilderness and Remote Medicine:

Expedition medics working in isolated environments
Search and rescue medical teams trained in needle decompression
Remote industrial or resource sector medical support

Incorporating Capnospot Into Your Response

For prehospital medical providers integrating the Capnospot into their first response, the device requires minimal adaptation to existing protocols.

The recommended procedure involves:

Assessment and diagnosis of suspected tension pneumothorax using standard clinical indicators
Preparation of standard needle thoracostomy equipment
Attachment of the Capnospot device to the needle using the luer lock connection
Performance of needle decompression according to established protocols
Observation of the Capnospot indicator for colour change, confirming successful placement
Securing the catheter and proceeding with definitive care

The device's intuitive design means that providers can easily incorporate it into existing practices with minimal training requirements - if you ask us, this device should be used in every single needle decompression scenario.

"We're proud to introduce the Capnospot to Australian first responders. This device addresses a critical gap in prehospital care, providing objective confirmation during a procedure where certainty can mean the difference between life and death—this technology is a significant advancement in the treatment of tension pneumothorax."
- Jeremy Holder,
Founder of TacMed Australia.

Summary

The introduction of the Capnospot device to the Australian market represents more than just a new product—it signifies an evolution in the standard of care for treating tension pneumothorax. By addressing the fundamental challenge of objectively confirming successful decompression, this innovative device has the potential to save countless lives in emergency situations.

As tension pneumothorax remains one of the most rapidly lethal yet treatable traumatic conditions, tools that enhance procedural accuracy will directly translate to improved patient outcomes. The Capnospot's practical design and clinical effectiveness make it an essential component of emergency medical kits throughout Australia.

TacMed Australia is committed to bringing this life-saving technology to Australian first responders, continuing our mission of providing the highest quality emergency medical equipment to those who need it most.

For more information on adding Capnospot to your organisations emergency response capability, please reach out on 1300 862 633 or info@tacmedaustralia.com.au

Stay safe,
Team TacMed