IR-Med files Provisional Patent Application Covering Additional Features of its PressureSafe Device for Early Detection of Pressure Injuries
Rosh Pinna, Israel, Aug. 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — (“IR-MED or the “Company”) (OTCQB:IRME), an innovative medical device company, developing non-invasive, real-time detection devices that utilize Infra-Red light spectroscopy (IR) and Artificial Intelligence (AR) for use by healthcare professionals, has announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary IR-Med Ltd. has submitted a new provisional patent application covering new methods relating to its non-invasive device, PressureSafe, for detecting and classifying early-stage pressure injuries (PI). The PressureSafe device is currently in the development stage and is intended to undergo a usability study in a few weeks in several locations in Israel.
The provisional patent application covers advanced methods that combine several technologies to obtain real time high accuracy data relating to suspected latent pressure injuries (PI) , measuring changes in biomarkers that are associated with Stage1 PI and deep-tissue pressure injuries (DTI). Changes in levels of biomarkers can support a healthcare professional’s decision to commence treatment for an Early-Stage PI.
PI are a major challenge for care providers throughout the world. Failure to identify and treat is potentially fatal, with an estimated 60,000 mortalities from PI in the US each year. A study published in 2019 measured the total cost of acute care attributable to Hospital Acquired Pressure Injury (HAPI) for the entire United States at over $26.8 billion (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/iwj.13071). PI remain a concern with regard to hospital quality in addition to being a major source of economic burden on the US health care system. It is expected that Hospitals would need to invest more in quality improvement of early detection and care for PI to avoid higher costs. In many countries, including the US, hospitals and nursing homes are penalized when failing to prevent PI while patients are in their care, including no reimbursement for the cost of treating PI.
Yoram Drucker, Vice President of Business Development and a Director, stated “The new provisional patent application was submitted to protect the Intellectual Property (IP) generated during the development of the PressureSafe device, combining several physiological parameters with non-invasive molecule measurement capabilities.”
The PressureSafe device has the potential to provide accurate and real time information regardless to the skin colors and may prevent development of Pressure Injuries where early detection and treatment by a health care professional are vital.”
About IR-MED
IR-MED, Inc., is developing a non-invasive spectrographic analysis technology platform, allowing healthcare professions to detect and measure, in real time, different molecules in the blood and in human tissue without any invasive procedures. The first product under development is a handheld optical monitoring device that is being developed to support early detection of pressure injuries (PI) to the skin and underlying tissue, regardless of skin tone and which calibrated personally to each patient’s body.
IR-MED technology is being developed to allow accurate readings of biomarkers in a non-invasive method, that may provide caregiver the optimal decision support-system in cases where uncertainties disturb physicians in their decision processes.
IR-MED holds patents protecting its innovation in the noninvasive tissue analysis, and in the modeling and analysis of subcutaneous tissue.
Safe Harbor Statement / Forward-Looking Statements
Statements included in this press release, which are not historical in nature, are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements relating to the future performance of IR-MED are subject to many factors including, but not limited to, the sufficiency or working capital and our ability to raise the capital needed to fund our development efforts, completion of the PressureSafe device, results of clinical/useability studies and trials, timing of product development, FDA approval/clearance of products in development, customer acceptance of our products in the market, the introduction of competitive products, the impact of any product liability or other adverse litigation, commercialization and technological difficulties, and the other risks identified in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K filed on March 31, 2022 with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and we do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of future events, new information, or otherwise.
Contacts
Moshe Gerber, Chief Executive Officer
Tel: +972 4 6555054