American College of Cardiology (ACC) Meeting Confirms CardioDynamics Role in Heart Failure, Hypertension, and Technology Alliances
Company Also Announces Low Cardiac Output Heart Failure Accuracy Study Demonstrating Significant Results
SAN DIEGO, March 21 /PRNewswire/ -- CardioDynamics International Corporation (Nasdaq: CDIC - news), manufacturer of BioZ® noninvasive digital cardiac function monitoring systems, today announced meetings at the ACC 50th Scientific Sessions with leading cardiologists and cardiovascular medical product companies intended to propel the widespread use of the Company's technology. The Company also announced an ACC meeting study validating the Company's Impedance Cardiography (ICG) technology in accurately determining low cardiac output in heart failure patients, which is considered important in their treatment.
Regarding the new and continuing developments, Michael K. Perry, CardioDynamics' CEO, elaborated, ``We are excited about our ACC meetings with leading cardiovascular and telemedicine companies to discuss integration of our ICG technology into their product platforms. Additionally, distinguished researchers updated the Company on the progress of two significant heart failure studies, which we believe will further solidify our technology as a standard of care in the treatment of heart failure patients.''
The ACC-presented Low Cardiac Output Study, presented by researchers from University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, concluded that measurements obtained by ICG compared favorably to the invasive thermodilution and Fick methods. Importantly, the Study's investigators validated the ICG's utility in the serial assessment of patients with heart failure, where detection of low cardiac output identifies high risk patients and significantly alters intervention.
Commenting on the Study, Lead Investigator, Clyde W. Yancy, M.D., Associate Professor of Internal Medicine/Cardiology of UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, stated, ``The Study's results demonstrate the BioZ's accuracy in measuring cardiac output and, in fact, when compared to the gold standard, Fick, has the same degree of accuracy as thermodilution. This valuable technology is a viable alternative to the invasive procedures currently used and could potentially have a significant impact in the future treatment of heart failure.''
Perry added, ``This important Study, together with previously presented ICG studies, clearly demonstrate the benefits of our technology. We are pleased that a growing number of heart failure specialists view the BioZ as a necessary tool in their day-to-day treatment of heart failure patients. We will continue working with leading institutions, researchers, and clinicians to utilize our valuable technology and to establishing our ICG technology as a standard of care.''
The Company also announced meetings with world-renowned hypertension experts to discuss study concepts to utilize ICG in the clinical decision- making, cost reduction, and outcome improvement in the treatment of hypertension. The ultimate goal of the studies is establishment of ICG's role and inclusion in the Joint National Commission (JNC) Guidelines for the treatment of hypertension. The Company's technology is well positioned to help reduce the $30 billion spent annually in the U.S. on the over 50 million patients who suffer from this pervasive disease.
In related ACC news, the Company and GE Medical Systems Information Technologies previewed the BioZ ICG Module. The BioZ ICG Module, a joint development by the companies, integrates CardioDynamics' ICG technology into GE's Solar® patient monitoring systems. Its release is anticipated following FDA 510(k) clearance.
``Collectively, the ACC meeting developments contribute to the momentum our Company is experiencing and represent a significant milestone in our Company's history,'' Perry stated. Our excellent accomplishments to date bring us closer to establishing ICG technology as the Sixth Vital Sign(TM).``
CardioDynamics, with headquarters in San Diego, is a medical technology and information solutions company committed to fundamentally changing the way hemodynamic monitoring is performed in healthcare. The Company's primary products, the BioZ Systems, utilize proprietary BioZ Impedance Cardiography (ICG) technology to noninvasively provide medical professionals with hemodynamic data not previously available in the physician's office and many hospital settings. Just as Electrocardiography (ECG) measures the heart's electrical characteristics, ICG makes it possible to noninvasively measure the heart's mechanical (blood flow) characteristics. Physicians around the world are currently using the BioZ products, including major medical centers such as the Mayo Clinic (Rochester), Stanford University School of Medicine (Palo Alto), University of California San Francisco (San Francisco), Yale New Haven Hospital (New Haven), and Baylor College of Medicine (Houston). The worldwide market potential for BioZ products is estimated to be $5 billion, together with an additional $800 million in recurring annual revenue for disposables. For additional information, please refer to the company's Web site at www.cdic.com.
Forward-Looking (Safe Harbor) Statement:
Note: Except for the historical and factual information contained herein, this release contains forward-looking statements, the accuracy of which are necessarily subject to uncertainties and risks, which include sole dependence on the BioZ product line, competition from Edwards LifeSciences. (manufacturer of the Swan-Ganz device), and various uncertainties characteristic of companies just emerging from the development stage; as well as other risks detailed in the company's filings with the SEC, including its 2000 Form 10-KSB. The company does not undertake to update the disclosures contained in this release.
SOURCE: CardioDynamics International Corporation |
