Deep Breeze™ Launches Unique Non-Invasive, Radiation-Free Pulmonary Imaging System in the U.S.
CHICAGO, Oct. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Deep Breeze Ltd., the leader in Vibration response imaging (VRI(TM)) technology, today announced that its VRIxp(TM) lung imaging system will now be available in the US. The VRIxp(TM) is a pulmonary imaging system that allows healthcare providers to see and monitor lung sounds without exposing the patient to radiation or an invasive procedure. The Company announced the phased U.S. launch at The American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST 2007) annual meeting taking place from October 20-25. The system is on display at booth #710.
The non-invasive and radiation-free lung imaging system records lung sounds from sensors applied to a patient's back. The system then uses an algorithm to convert these data into images. Changes in tissue composition and airflow affect the vibration of sounds within the lung, which is reflected on the image of the VRIxp(TM) system. This information on the patient's lung condition enables the physician to manage and monitor central airway problems.
The preoperative physiologic assessment of a patient being considered for surgical resection of lung cancer is important and should be considered due to the immediate preoperative risks from co-morbid cardiopulmonary disease, the long-term risks of pulmonary disability, and the threat to survival due to inadequately treated lung cancer. Current methods involve lung function tests together with ventilation and perfusion (V/Q) scans which include radiation and are expensive and cumbersome.
"Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the USA and the world and surgery remains the best treatment option for patients with this condition. Predictions of postoperative lung function are crucial to maximize the number of patients that can benefit from surgery and identify patients with such poor respiratory reserve that lung resection would result in an unacceptable quality of life. These preoperative evaluations currently require radionuclide tests of ventilation and perfusion that require administration of radioactive isotopes and not always readily available. Early results of our investigations indicate no significant differences in values calculated with traditional radiospirometric studies and VRI, a simpler, office-based, non-invasive, and radiation-free alternative," said Dr. Rodolfo Morice, MD, at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center USA.
"The VRI system allows you to monitor and record breath sounds. This non- invasive technique has the potential to diagnose a variety of airway conditions promptly and in a cost effective manner," said Prof. Atul Mehta, Medical Director Lung Transplantation, Vice Chairman and Head of Bronchology Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine Cleveland Clinic, Ohio USA.
The availability of the VRIxp(TM) system in the US, advances our efforts to create a new clinical paradigm in which our technology will be the standard application in a broad line of clinical applications," said Igal Kushnir, President & CEO of Deep Breeze Ltd. "It also represents a significant development in the concerted push by Deep Breeze Ltd. to build a global marketing and sales platform directed at pulmonary medical care. Indeed, the potential for this medical technology to effectively help managing patients is unlimited."
About VRIxp(TM)
The procedure takes only minutes in a physician's office and may be performed repeatedly for continuous monitoring. Results are delivered to the physician immediately and can be stored in a system database for future use. The radiation-free technology has been used in more than 3,500 patients worldwide without any single adverse event.
About Deep Breeze Ltd.
Founded in 2001, Israel-based Deep Breeze Ltd. (www.deepbreeze.com) is a privately-held medical device company that is providing advanced pulmonary imaging with its proprietary patented technology, vibration Response Imaging (VRI(TM)). The Company is currently conducting clinical studies globally to evaluate VRI(TM) efficacy in fields such as: general pulmonology, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, congestive heart failure, interventional pulmonology, lung cancer, lung transplant and critical care patient management. Deep Breeze Ltd. is researching and developing the VRI(TM) technology to be applied in other organs of the human body.
CONTACT: Fern Lazar of Lazar Partners, +1-212-867-1762,
flazar@lazarpartners.com, for Deep Breeze Ltd.
Web site: http://www.deepbreeze.com/