Deltex Medical Regulatory News (DEMG)

16 Feb 2007 07:00

Deltex Medical Group PLC16 February 2007 Deltex Medical Group plc Next generation prototype SupraQTM monitor developed: next phase of development funded by equity placing 16 February 2007 Deltex Medical Group plc ('Deltex Medical' or the 'Company'),the UK's leading haemodynamic monitoring company, announces the successfuldevelopment of a new prototype platform and probe for its non-invasive SupraQhaemodynamic monitoring system. This new SupraQ monitor is the first to use pulse-wave rather than continuouswave Doppler signals. Probes used with this monitor are significantly cheaper toproduce than those used with previous continuous wave SupraQ variants and havebeen designed to allow the Company to sell them as a single-patient disposableprobe. This new platform will give users the clinical utility of the first generationSupraQ monitor, as reported in work undertaken at both the Medway hospital inGillingham and the Royal Free hospital in London, whilst offering significantimprovements in ease of use. To fund the next stage of development of the new SupraQ, including clinicaltrials, the Company today announces the placing with institutional and privateinvestors of 2,843,163 new ordinary shares of 1p each at 17p per share to raise£465,290 after expenses. Application will be made for the new shares to betraded on AIM and it is expected that dealings will commence on 21 February2007. Following the issue of these new shares the Company has a total of82,900,288 ordinary shares in issue. The Company is arranging a demonstration of this new SupraQ at UniversityCollege Hospital, London on the afternoon of Tuesday 6 March 2007. For furtherdetails and to reserve a place, please contact Paul Mitchell atcosec@deltexmedical.com. Deltex Medical's chairman, Nigel Keen, commented: "This new SupraQ is a major development for the Company. Using pulse rather thancontinuous wave Doppler allows us to obtain signals more easily than ever beforeas we can look deeper into the aorta, the artery that carries blood from theheart for distribution to the rest of the body. It also allows us to 'lock' thesignal at the optimum depth for each patient, facilitating inter-operatorrepeatability. "The continuing rise in reported hospital acquired infections means that modernhospitals are increasingly wary of re-using devices which come into directcontact with the patient. Using a single-patient disposable probe not onlyaddresses this problem but also creates the potential for an attractive businessmodel that includes a comprehensive clinical training and support package forour customers." For further information, please contact:- Deltex Medical Group plc 01243 774 837Nigel Keen, Chairman njk@deltexmedical.comAndy Hill, Chief Executive ahill@deltexmedical.comEwan Phillips, Finance Director eap@deltexmedical.com Gavin Anderson & Company 0207 554 1400Deborah Walter dwalter@gavinanderson.co.ukRobert Speed rspeed@gavinanderson.co.uk Charles Stanley Securities 020 7149 6457Philip Davies philip.davies@csysecurities.com Notes for Editors Deltex Medical manufactures and markets the CardioQ monitor, which usesdisposable ultra-sound probes inserted into the oesophagus to determine theamount of blood being pumped around the body - 'circulating blood volume'.Reduced circulating blood volume is known as hypovolaemia, which leads toinsufficient oxygen being delivered to the organs. This causes medicalcomplications including peripheral and major organ failure which can lead todeath. Hypovolaemia, which is akin to severe dehydration, affects virtuallyevery patient having surgery because of the combined effects of pre-operativestarvation, the impact of the anaesthetic agents and trauma from the surgeryitself. Using fluids and drugs, guided by the CardioQ, to optimise the amount ofcirculating blood significantly reduces post-operative complications allowingpatients to make a faster, more complete recovery and return home earlier. The CardioQ incorporates the Company's proprietary software and a smalldiameter, easy-to-use, minimally invasive, disposable oesophageal probe that isused for transmitting and receiving an ultra-sound signal. By using thistechnology, the CardioQ provides clinicians with the ability to haemodynamicallyoptimise critically ill patients and those undergoing routine moderate to majorsurgery through the controlled administration of fluid and drugs. Haemodynamicoptimisation has been scientifically proven to improve the speed and quality ofpatient recovery and reduce hospital stay. There are already over 1,250 CardioQs currently in use in hospitals worldwideand distribution arrangements are in place in over 30 countries. In addition,there are currently more than 90 clinical publications on the use of the CardioQwhich have repeatedly:- •Validated the results of the Monitor against known standards for measuring cardiac output, demonstrating that the technology works •Proved that the CardioQ works in a wide range of surgical procedures •Demonstrated that the Company's technology provides significant health and economic benefits by helping to reduce post-operative complications and length of hospital stays by an average of 30 to 40 per cent for a wide range of patients. The SupraQ is an entirely non-invasive device which uses an ultrasound probeheld at the base of the patient's neck to track the flow of blood in the aorta;it presents the same data as the CardioQ in a similar format and is used fortaking snapshots or monitoring over short periods. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange