System Enhances Company's Screening and Diagnostic Capabilities
MUNDELEIN, Ill., July 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Bio-logic Systems Corp.
(Nasdaq: BLSC) announced today that it has signed a licensing and development
agreement with Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary (MEEI) of Boston, an
affiliate of Harvard Medical School, for a breakthrough technology used to
perform detailed evaluation of hearing loss in newborns. Information gained
from this testing is critical for successful fitting of hearing aids and the
implementation of appropriate habilitation programs. MEEI is in the process
of seeking patent protection for the new technology.
Approximately 12,000 of the 4,000,000 babies born annually in 4,200
hospitals in the United States have a hearing impairment. The National
Institutes of Health has recommended Universal Newborn Hearing Screening
(UNHS) of all babies within the first three months of life. To date, more
than 30 states have passed legislation mandating UNHS and eight additional
states are in the process of doing so. "These programs will be referring
increasing numbers of babies for diagnosis and fitting of hearing aids,"
explained Gabriel Raviv Ph.D., Bio-logic's chairman and CEO.
"Only in the last few years, with the increasing practice of hospitals
screening newborns for hearing loss, have hearing disorders been detected so
early," Raviv noted. "Current methods for evaluating a newborn's hearing for
the purpose of hearing aid fitting are difficult and require expertise and
experience not common among many audiologists. This new system will assist
audiologists in obtaining accurate, complete testing that will ultimately
improve the standard of care provided to the infants."
The fitting of an appropriate hearing aid depends upon the accuracy of the
hearing test. Adults can normally provide behavioral responses to tones to
quantify the hearing loss and determine how much amplification is needed at
different frequencies. However, these conventional hearing tests cannot be
used for newborns. Instead, the brain's electrophysiological response to
tones is used for objective assessment of hearing loss. 'This enables the
audiologist to obtain accurate and complete infant brain wave data in a time-
efficient manner, so that treatment can begin and the hearing aid can be
customized based on the configuration of the baby's hearing loss.
Raviv said that, under the agreement with MEEI, Bio-logic would integrate
the new technique into the company's existing ABaer and Navigator Pro systems.
"This expands our already established capabilities in screening and diagnosing
newborn hearing loss, by adding a new component used in habilitation. MEEI's
technology is a vital development for comprehensive hearing testing. It also
represents a significant opportunity for Bio-logic to enhance its leadership
in audiology, the field on which our company was founded in 1979."
Bio-logic Systems Corp., headquartered in Mundelein, Ill., designs,
develops, assembles and markets computer-based electrodiagnostic systems for
use by hospitals, clinics, universities and physicians. The systems conduct
tests that are typically used by medical practitioners to aid in the diagnosis
of certain neurological disorders, brain disorders and tumors, and sensory
disorders, including audiological and hearing screening and diagnosis.
Founded in 1824, the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary is an
international center for treatment and research, and a principal teaching
hospital in its specialties of Harvard Medical School. For more information,
please visit MEEI on the world wide web at http://www.meei.harvard.edu.
Except for descriptions of historical facts, this release contains
forward-looking statements that involve known and unknown risks, which may
cause the company's actual results in the future to differ materially from
those currently anticipated. These results include, among others,
fluctuations in sales and operating results; the company's ability to recruit
and train the necessary number of sales representatives and installation
technicians; risks associated with international operations including monetary
crisis; regulatory, competitive and contractual risks; the effects of economic
conditions; and the availability of capital to finance planned growth, as well
as other risks detailed from time to time in the company's filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
To receive Bio-logic's latest news release and other corporate documents,
free of charge via fax, simply dial 1-800-PRO-INFO. Use company ticker BLSC.
SOURCE Bio-logic Systems Corp.
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Related links:
http://www.bio-logic.com
CONTACT:
Gabriel Raviv, CEO, or Roderick G. Johnson,
President & COO, both of Bio-logic Systems Corporation,
847-949-5200; or General, Leslie Hunziker, 312-640-6760, or
Investor, Leslie Loyet, 312-640-6672, both of the Financial
Relations Board
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