Healthcare Industry News: BIS monitoring
News Release - June 15, 2006
Aspect Medical Systems Comments on Perspective Article in June 15, 2006 New England Journal of Medicine
NEWTON, Mass.--(HSMN NewsFeed)--June 15, 2006--Aspect Medical Systems (NASDAQ: ASPM ) today commented on the use of its Bispectral Index(TM) (BIS) technology in execution settings as described in a Perspective article published in the June 15 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). The article by Dr. Robert Steinbrook, entitled "New Technology, Old Dilemma - Monitoring EEG Activity during Executions," highlighted the case of Willie Brown, Jr., who was executed by lethal injection in North Carolina in April 2006. During the execution, Brown's electroencephalogram (EEG) was monitored using Aspect Medical Systems' BIS technology.More information on the BIS monitor and scientific evidence supporting its intended use can be found by visiting the Aspect Medical Systems' Web site at www.aspectms.com.
About BIS monitoring
Using a sensor placed on the patient's forehead, BIS monitoring translates information from the electroencephalogram (EEG) into a single number that represents each patient's level of consciousness. This number - the BIS value - ranges from 100 (indicating an awake patient) to zero (indicating the absence of brain activity). Using the BIS value to guide administration of anesthetic medication, in conjunction with other vital signs, allows clinicians to make better-informed decisions to achieve optimal anesthesia.
About Aspect Medical Systems, Inc.
Aspect Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASPM ) is a global market leader in brain monitoring technology. To date, the Company's Bispectral Index (BIS) technology has been used to assess more than 15.2 million patients and has been the subject of approximately 2,500 published articles and abstracts. BIS technology is installed in approximately 70 percent of hospitals listed in the July 2005 U.S. News and World Report ranking of America's Best Hospitals and in approximately 47 percent of all domestic operating rooms. In the last twelve months BIS technology was used in approximately 14 percent of all U.S. surgical procedures requiring general anesthesia or deep sedation. BIS technology is available in more than 160 countries. Aspect Medical Systems has OEM agreements with seven leading manufacturers of patient monitoring systems. The company is also investigating how other methods of analyzing brain waves may aid in the diagnosis and management of neurological diseases, including depression and Alzheimer's disease. For more information, visit Aspect's Web site at http://www.aspectmedical.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
Certain statements in this release are forward-looking and may involve risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding the benefits and potential therapeutic applications of BIS technology. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements. For example, the Company may not achieve widespread market acceptance of its BIS monitoring technology among anesthesiologists. The Company also faces other barriers to market penetration and acceptance. The Company may not be able to compete with new products or alternative techniques that may be developed by others, including third-party anesthesia monitoring products approved by the FDA, and also faces competitive and regulatory risks relating to its ability to successfully develop and introduce enhancements and new products. Cases of awareness with recall during monitoring with the BIS system and significant product liability claims are among the factors that could limit market acceptance. There are additional factors that could cause the Company's actual results to vary from its forward-looking statements, including without limitation those set forth under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended April 1, 2006 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent the Company's views only as of the date of this press release and should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any subsequent date. While the Company may elect to update forward-looking statements in the future, it specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, even if its expectations change. Therefore, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.
Aspect, Bispectral Index and BIS are registered trademarks of Aspect Medical Systems, Inc. All other trademarks, service marks and company names are the property of their respective owners.
Source: Aspect Medical Systems
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