WOODLAND HILLS, Calif., April 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SPO Medical Inc. (SPOM.PK), a leading developer of biosensor and microprocessor technologies for use in portable monitoring devices, today announced that it is now shipping its commercially available version of the PulseOx 7500(TM) that is supported by the PROFOX Oximetry Software. The PulseOx 7500(TM) is a compact, wrist-mounted oximetry system and is the first affordable home screening device to monitor the vital signs of people experiencing sleep disorder symptoms, such as sleep apnea.
An estimated 18 million persons in the USA and millions elsewhere suffer from sleep apnea, a condition characterized by repeated breathing interruptions during sleep, sometimes numerous times a night. When the brain arouses the person to resume breathing, it disrupts the normal sleep cycle, producing fragmented and poor quality sleep as well as excessive fatigue during the day. Typically, people with sleep disorder symptoms are referred by their primary care physician to third-party sleep clinics where their oxygen saturation and heart rate levels are monitored overnight and, depending on the diagnosis, are prescribed medications or other appropriate medical action.
During 2006, SPO Medical began selling PulseOx 7500(TM) using its patented technology, to enable doctors to monitor patients from the convenience of the patient’s home. PulseOx 7500(TM) is a compact, easy-to-use, wrist-mounted unit designed for wearer comfort and flexibility. The device includes a finger-tip sensor which measures oxygen saturation and heart rate, storing the data in the wrist-mounted unit. Data is collected and stored overnight while the wearer sleeps in the comfort of his or her home; the next morning, the data are downloaded by the family care or general practitioner for analysis using sleep apnea reporting software. For an image of the PulseOx 7500(TM) visit www.spomedical.com/7500.php.
“We’ve seen mounting acceptance of the PulseOx 7500(TM) since it enables doctors to study patients’ sleeping disorders in the comfort of the patient’s home as well as creating a value added revenue stream for general practitioners,” stated Michael Braunold, SPO Medical’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Consistent with our approach of using customer feedback to continuously improve our products, we’re now releasing a commercial version which is supported by PROFOX. The market requested that the PulseOx 7500(TM) work with commercially readily available software for greater flexibility, and specifically PROFOX Oximetry software which is recognized as the ‘gold standard’ of professional reporting software. SPO has partnered with PROFOX to offer to general practitioners and others in the health services market the PROFOX software when purchasing the PulseOx 7500. In addition, we’ve added an automatic on/off capability to minimize operator use and maximize battery life, which, at up to 300 hours, already has the highest longevity in the market. Finally, we’ve embedded the sensor in a silicon finger boot for ease of use, hygiene, and maximum patient comfort.”
“We’re proud to have PROFOX Oximetry Software offered as part of the PulseOx 7500’s reporting system,” said Michael Geddes, General Manager of PROFOX. “Our respiratory oximetry reporting, analysis and management software is the recognized market leader because it provides automatic desaturation event scoring and data analysis, has easy-to-read and easy-to-interpret charts and reports, and offers flexible reporting features for sleep screening and other oxygen related studies. Moreover, it complies with the requirements of most third-party providers, including satisfying the latest Medicare guidelines; a key concern for many health care providers. We look forward to increased adoption of the PulseOx 7500(TM) with our software by both doctors and patients.”
About SPO Medical:
SPO Medical (SPOM.PK) a leading developer of biosensor and microprocessor technologies for use in portable monitoring devices to capture life-saving and life-enhancing information within four key markets: medical care; home and remote-care; sports and wellness; and safety and security. Its patented technology uses information gathered from the reflectance of light on the human blood stream, in a non-invasive manner, to monitor key vital signs. The Company distributes its products through a network of distributors and also licenses its technologies to appropriate client corporations for commercialization and distribution. For more information, visit www.spomedical.com
About PROFOX:
PROFOX is an acronym for PROgrams For OXimetry and represents over 20 years of experience in data acquisition and analysis. PROFOX distributes oximetry and capnography software internationally to over 25 countries, develops custom applications for physiologic monitoring and research projects, and is compatible with over 50 different oximeters from 19 manufacturers. As the gold standard in oximetry reporting and analysis, PROFOX provides flexible and easy-to-read reporting for oxygen and prescription studies, ICU monitoring, exercise testing, spot checks and continued justification of supplemental oxygen or respiratory support. For more information, visit www.profox.net
Safe Harbor:
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial uncertainties and risks. These forward-looking statements are based upon our current expectations, estimates and projections about our business and our industry, and that reflect our beliefs and assumptions based upon information available to us at the date of this release. We caution readers that forward-looking statements are predictions based on our current expectations about future events. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Our actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including but not limited to, changes in economic conditions generally and the medical devices market specifically, market acceptance of new or upgraded devices that we introduce, changes in technology, legislative or regulatory changes that affect us, the availability of working capital, changes in costs and the availability of goods and services, the introduction of competing products, changes in our operating strategy or development plans, our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel, and the risks and uncertainties discussed under the heading “RISK FACTORS” in Item 1 of our Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006. We undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement for any reason.
SPO Medical Inc.
CONTACT: Michael Braunold, CEO of SPO Medical Inc., +1-818-888-4380,braunold@spomedical.com; or Media Contact, Jerry Cahn, President of Target3 Communications, +1-646-827-0009, jerry@target3.com, for SPO Medical Inc.;or Mike Geddes, General Manager of PROFOX Associates, Inc.,+1-760-432-9921, mike@profox.net
