Latest News

USCOM increases organs for transplantation by 15% in US study

August 19th, 2008

Today Uscom announced the presentation of a randomised controlled study demonstrating 15% improvement in outcomes using USCOM guided management of organ donors compared with current invasive catheter guided management. The study from the OneLegacy group in Los Angeles, USA, and the Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital in Loma Linda was presented on the 14th August at the 33rd NATCO Annual Meeting in Boston, USA.

The study randomised patients aged from 12mths to 67yrs of age into conventional invasive catheter management or management guided by USCOM and found a 15% increase in successful organ transplants in the USCOM group.

The Director of Clinical Science and Chairman of Uscom Ltd, Rob Phillips said “We know improving circulation saves lives, however this is the first randomised controlled study to prove the real benefit of using USCOM to improve circulation compared with the current invasive catheter. This is practice changing evidence. It will be exciting to see if similar improvements can be identified in USCOM guided treatment of heart failure, hypertension and sepsis.”

Uscom CEO, Paul Butler, said “Organ transplantation is a rapidly growing field where there is a critical need for organs and many patients die waiting for transplants. An increase of 15% in viable organs will have a significant social and financial impact if USCOM is adopted as a standard of practice.”

Background: In the US in excess of 130,000 patients are waiting for an organ transplant, with approximately 30,000 organs transplanted per year. This inadequate supply of organs resulted in 7191 patient deaths on the transplant waiting list in 2006. Tragically many of the patients awaiting transplantation are children. An increase in available organs by 15% could result in life saving transplants for many patients on waiting lists. (http://www.ustransplant.org/annual_reports/current/)

Oxycom - New US patent for Uscom

August 7th, 2008

Uscom received its US patent no 7338447, the method for combining blood flow measurement (USCOM) with oximetry to provide a noninvasive measure of the amount of oxygen being delivered to the cells of the body. The granting of the US patent is recognition of the novelty and inventiveness of the method by the US Patent Office and provides commercial protection for the Oxycom device, a new product from Uscom Ltd.

Oxygen delivery via the circulation is fundamental to the health of the body and is disturbed in many common diseases. This is the first device which allows for accurate and non-invasive measurement of oxygen delivery and promises to be useful in many clinical applications including Paediatrics, Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine, and Anaesthesia.

The patent author and Chairman of Uscom Ltd, Rob Phillips said “Oxygen delivery is a critical measure of the effectiveness of the circulation, and reflects the severity of cardiovascular disease. The new Oxycom product, currently in testing, provides this information non-invasively and beat to beat; a first in the world of physiology and medicine.”

Uscom CEO, Paul Butler, said “Intellectual property (IP) represents a significant component of the value of Uscom, and patents provide commercial protection for future product developments. This patent and the product it protects provide a great opportunity for Uscom to strengthen its position in the cardiovascular device marketplace and increase the value of the Company.”

Uscom continues to develop IP as part of the process of developing innovative solutions to important clinical problems and has over 30 patents and intellectual protection applications in various stages of recognition around the world. This IP forms the commercial protection for a pipeline of new devices planned for development by the Company and is significant part of a shareholder value.

USCOM endorsed in key Pediatric Publication

August 6th, 2008

Uscom today announced the release of a new peer reviewed publication in the July Pediatric and Emergency Care journal. The publication was from the World Recognised Loma Linda University Medical Centre and Children’s Hospital in Loma Linda, California, USA. The study evaluated the reproducibility of the USCOM technology in children aged 1 month to 17years old with many different diseases and concludes the results reveal strong correlation between repeated measures; the key test of repeatability of a method.

Mr Rob Phillips, Executive Chairman and Director of Clinical Science said “This is more important science proving USCOM is safe, accurate and reproducible in pediatrics; an application in which USCOM can really make a difference. This study demonstrates the accuracy of USCOM measures when used by different operators in the Emergency Dept on children.”

Mr Paul Butler, the Uscom CEO said “Studies such as this add support to the USCOM proposition both for adoption and reimbursement. That this study is in pediatrics, our major target market, is especially pleasing.”

Mr Paul Butler is currently head quartered in the US to promote adoption of USCOM in the USA and to develop strategic market relationships with large specialist organisations to increase the market opportunity for the USCOM device. Currently discussions are progressing across a number of clinical applications.

Reference: Stewart GM, Nguyen HB, Kim TY, Jauregui J, Hayes SR, Corbett S. Inter-Rater Reliability for Noninvasive Measurement of Cardiac Function in Children. Pediatric Emergency Care 2008; 24(7):433-7.