ROANOKE, Va., Oct. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Luna Innovations Incorporated today announced the introduction of EN-TACT(TM) (Emergency Noninvasive Tissue and Compartment Testing), an ultrasonic medical device that noninvasively and quickly measures and monitors intramuscular and intracranial pressures.
“The introduction of the EN-TACT device is another demonstration of Luna Innovations’ unique business model at work. After discovering and developing the technology with one of our key government partners, we realized its commercial potential,” said Kent Murphy, Ph.D., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Luna Innovations. “Once we determined that there may be a significant market for our product, we applied the resources necessary to take this cutting-edge technology to commercialization.”
Luna’s EN-TACT device uses proprietary algorithms for tracking tissue motion to the sub-micron range, enabling it to accurately reproduce the pressure waveforms that create this motion. The high-resolution of the EN- TACT waveform makes it possible to estimate both intracranial and intramuscular pressures based on the waveform shape. The portable system can be operated by a non-specialist with minimal training, and is therefore ideal for traumatic injuries, sports medicine (ex. football), and military combat situations in which compartment syndrome and traumatic brain injury are common.
Compartment syndrome results from injuries where pressure within the muscles builds to dangerous levels and prevents nourishment from reaching nerve and muscle cells. This painful condition can damage blood vessels, nerve and muscle cells and if undiagnosed and untreated can lead to extreme discomfort, paralysis or in some cases fatalities. For compartment syndrome within muscles, the portable EN-TACT system can replace the current diagnostic process which involves a large bore needle repeatedly injected into the muscle.
In intracranial applications, the EN-TACT system detects increased intracranial pressure due to brain swelling caused by traumatic brain injury. Currently, the noninvasive diagnosis involves a neurological exam in which the patient must respond to verbal and non-verbal stimuli. The EN-TACT system allows an emergency medical responder to detect this dangerous condition even when the patient is non-responsive due to unconsciousness or chemical sedation.
The EN-TACT system was initially launched in August 2006 at the Advanced Technology Applications for Combat Casualty Care conference in St. Pete Beach, Florida and will next be exhibited at the Ultrasonic Measurement and Tissue Elasticity conference in Snowbird, Utah on October 8-11, 2006. Currently, EN- TACT is labeled For Investigational Use Only and Luna is accepting orders for research purposes. For more information, see http://www.lunamedicalproducts.com or email support@lunamedicalproducts.com.
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About Luna Innovations Incorporated:
Luna Innovations researches, develops and commercializes innovative technologies in molecular technology and sensing solutions. Luna accelerates the process of bringing new and innovative products to market by focusing on technologies that can fulfill identified market needs and then takes these technologies from the applied research stage through commercialization. Since its inception, Luna has successfully developed products for the energy, telecommunications, life sciences and defense industries. Headquartered in Roanoke, Virginia, the company has research, development and manufacturing facilities in Blacksburg, Charlottesville, Hampton, and Danville, Virginia and a sales office in McLean, Virginia.
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FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release includes information that constitutes “forward-looking statements” made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including, for example: there may be a significant market for our product; the system can be operated by a non- specialist with minimal training and is therefore ideal for certain injuries; the EN-TACT system allows an emergency medical responder to detect this dangerous condition even when the patient is non-responsive. The company has attempted, whenever possible, to identify these forward-looking statements by words such as “intends,” “will,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “may,” “estimates,” “believes,” “should,” “projects,” or “continue,” or the negative of those words and other comparable words. Similarly, statements that describe the company’s business strategy, goals, prospects, opportunities, outlook, objectives, plans or intentions are also forward-looking statements. Luna Innovations wishes to take advantage of the “safe harbor” provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and you are cautioned that actual events or results may differ materially from the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (1) it may experience lower than expected sales of products, (2) it may not be able to realize the expected benefits, if any, from its product development activities, (3) it may not be successful in identifying market needs for new products, (4) it may be unable to manage its growth effectively, (5) it faces substantial competition in its markets, (6) its proprietary rights may be insufficient to protect its technologies, (7) third parties may claim that it infringes their intellectual property rights, (8) its ability to develop and market certain of our products may be delayed by U.S. or foreign regulatory requirements, (9) it has limited manufacturing experience and may experience unanticipated manufacturing or supply problems, and (10) it may experience changes in customer demand for its products and product candidates. Additional factors that may affect the future results of Luna Innovations are set forth in its Registration Statement on Form S-1, its quarterly report on Form 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), which are available at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov, and at Luna Innovations’ website at http://www.lunainnovations.com. Luna Innovations undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements herein after the date of this press release.
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CONTACT: Media: Mildred Cooper, +1-540-557-7561,cooperm@lunainnovations.com, or Sales and Marketing: Karin Clark,+1-540-769-8446, kclark@lunainnovations.com, both of Luna InnovationsIncorporated
