SOMTÉ – THE NEW WEARABLE SLEEP/HEART MONITORING DEVICE RECEIVES AUSTRALIAN TGA APPROVAL

Posted on January 31, 2001

Compumedics Limited (ASX:CMP), has announced its intention to become a force in the market for heart monitoring devices with the development of a new wearable recording device that can monitor both heart and breathing activity.

Compumedics, a global leader in the development and export of medical diagnostic and monitoring devices, has until now focused primarily on sleep disorders and is a leader in that market.

The development of the new Somte cardiac and respiratory monitor, which has recently received approval for release by Australian health products regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration, will enable Compumedics to gain access to new fast growing global markets.

Somté is a unique monitoring device in that it contains both cardiography and respiratory recording capabilities in a small patient-worn ambulatory device. Somté offers a complete 24 hours a day record of heart and breathing information.

Compumedics intends to market Somté into the CHF (congestive heart failure) monitoring market in the US and Europe by way of appointing a strong distributor with captive customers such as cardiac centres.

Congestive Heart Failure, or CHF, is a syndrome that occurs when your heart cannot pump blood sufficiently to meet your body’s needs. This is generally because the heart muscle is too weak. People with CHF are at risk of developing serious problems. It is most common in the elderly. Medications and lifestyle management can prevent CHF, and treat it effectively once it has developed.

In the US, 5 million people have CHF, and as many as 15 million more are at risk of developing this condition. Approximately 400,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in the US alone. The incidence of CHF is rapidly growing with the aging of the population in the developed West. CHF is also emerging as a serious public health problem in the developing world.

Compumedics plans to release Somté to the Australian market in March this year.