TAMPA, Fla., Feb. 9, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Southwestern Medical Solutions, Inc. (Pink Sheets:SWNM) reported today that its design team believes that the proprietary Protect-A-Pal(TM) needle safety device may be ideally adaptable for use by doctors/surgeons performing needle breast biopsies.
Breast Biopsies
The three primary types of breast biopsies - Fine Needle Aspiration, Core Needle Aspiration, and Excisional (surgical) biopsies - represent a market approaching $3 billion per year in the U.S. The majority of breast biopsies performed today are needle biopsies. Needle biopsies use a needle to aspirate (draw out) fluid or tissue from a breast lump. This material, composed of millions of cells, is then viewed under a microscope to determine whether it is malignant or benign. Needle aspiration leaves no scarring, is less invasive and quicker than surgical/excisional biopsy, and usually does not require stitches or a recovery period. The patient can resume regular activities immediately. The cost of a needle biopsy is just a fraction of the cost of an excisional biopsy.
Potential Role of Protect-A-Pal
A component of the Company's promising Protect-A-Pal needle safety device uses a flexible material cylinder that, under its current design, has the capability to easily be retrofitted to the Needle Aspiration device which would help the doctor perform this procedure more precisely and allow greater control of the system, while also providing improved safety against "needle stick" injuries.
The effectiveness of this procedure depends somewhat on the skill of the doctor/surgeon or radiologist who performs it. As Southwestern Medical Solutions Vice President of New Product Development, Richard Powell, notes, "If SWNM can help guide the surgeon through instrumentation that offers a more precise feel and capability, then it is accomplishing one of its primary goals: advancement in products that will improve both efficiency and safety for doctors and other healthcare workers."
Poised For Launch into Enormous Healthcare Markets
Currently involved in clinical investigative studies for its patent protected Labguard systems, Southwestern Medical Solutions continues to develop exciting advancements in products for the healthcare community. With the exclusive rights to produce and distribute the patented Protect-A-Pal safe syringe systems, and its potential entrance into the Hydrotherapy market, the Company is aggressively pursuing a meaningful share of the healthcare marketplace.
The Company's proprietary Labguard on-site collection & diagnostic testing technology represents a revolutionary approach that ensures greater safety and convenience for diagnostic testing administrators at an attractive, market-competitive price. Numerous applications of the Labguard to address specific market needs, such as non-invasive HIV testing, are currently in the design, prototype and/or testing stages. Southwestern Medical is also involved in prototype design and testing of several versions of the promising Protect-A-Pal needle safety device, to which it now owns the world marketing rights.
The statements made in this press release, which are not historical facts, contain forward-looking statements concerning potential developments affecting the business, prospects, financial conditions and other aspects of the company to which this release pertains. The actual results of the specific items described in the release, and the company's operations generally, may differ materially from what is projected in such forward- looking statements. Although such statements are based upon the best judgments of management of the company as of the date of this release, significant deviations in magnitude, timing and other factors may result from business risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, the company's dependence on third parties, general market and economic conditions, technical factors, the availability of outside capital, receipt of revenues and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the company. The company disclaims any obligation to update information contained in any forward- looking statement.