Uscom Partners with A&D for BP+ New Advanced Modules
Uscom Limited today announced the signing of a development and supply agreement with A&D Limited of Japan. The agreement relates to new technology being installed in the patented protected Uscom BP+ central blood pressure monitor. This supply agreement comes as the BP+ approaches regulatory approval in China and the US, and as Uscom transitions to volume manufacturing to meet the anticipated increased BP+ demand. The A&D module will be included in all new BP+ devices.
The BP+ advanced central blood pressure (BP) monitor and its stand alone software, the BP+ Reporter, provides new information to improve diagnosis and management of hypertension and vascular health. The noninvasive device provides information previously requiring invasive cardiac catheterisation, and measures more then 26 parameters of BP and generates three discrete pulse pressure wave forms from various locations in the circulation, including the aorta as the blood exits the heart and represents the most advanced technology of its kind.
Hypertension occurs in approximately 40% of all people over the age of 25 and is responsible for approximately 7.5m deaths annually from the associated complications of stroke, heart attack and kidney failure. Hypertension is one of the most preventable causes of disease, however its management depends on accurate diagnosis and precise application of therapy. However simple home care BP devices measuring BP in the arm are relatively ineffective, with less than 20% of all patients with hypertension having controlled BP. The BP+ has been nearly 10 years in R&D, and the clinical utility of this new technology continues to be defined across a number of important international studies with some of the world’s leading clinicians and technology companies. Uscom has been working with A&D for 12 months on the development and refinement of precision components for the Uscom BP+.
A&D (Analogue and Digital) are a Tokyo based multinational company engaged in the development, manufacture and sale of precision measurement instruments in the Industrial and Medical and Health care sector. A&D was founded in 1977, and reported an annual revenue of ~$600m AUD in 2018, of which approximately 1/3rd was from the Medical and Health care sector, and it was capitalised at a value of ~$15B AUD on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Executive Chairman of Uscom, Associate Professor Rob Phillips said “Current hypertensive management is poor, and we have developed the BP+ to advance the science in this common and dangerous condition. Quality technology is critical for our devices, and this new partnership with A&D, world leaders in medical measurements and instrumentation, allows Uscom to provide clinicians with the best tools for BP monitoring and hypertensive care. These technologic co-developments have been in testing for 12 months and are now central to the new BP+ devices. Uscom’s philosophy is that improved clinical care will be driven by the implementation of advanced life-saving medical devices, and this is why BP+ is important.”
Uscom manufactures and markets the USCOM 1A, the Uscom BP+, and the Uscom SpiroSonic digital ultrasonic spirometry technologies. These premium digital devices are changing the way we diagnose and treat cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. The USCOM 1A provides vital guidance for optimising management of sepsis and the administration of fluid, inotropes and vasoactive therapies in critical care monitoring. The BP+ SpiroSonic devices improve diagnosis and management of hypertension, heart failure, asthma, COPD and sleep disorders in the clinical and home care environments.
References:
www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hypertension
www.who.int/gho/ncd/risk_factors/blood_pressure_prevalence_text/en/