TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 11, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Southwestern Medical Solutions, Inc. (Pink Sheets:SWNM) is pleased to announce that it has significantly advanced manufacturing specifications for the Protect-A-Pal(tm) needle protection devices. SWNM has discovered the winning combination of manufacturing processes to carry out the completion of this much-awaited device.
The technology, for which SWNM has filed patents, combined with a major medical supplier's special polymer technologies/materials, which are approved medically for these purposes, is expected to substantially shorten the time to ultimate commercialization of Protect-A-Pal(tm). Southwestern Vice President of New Products and Marketing, Richard Powell, characterizes the combination of technologies as being "A marriage made in Heaven."
SWNM Proprietary Manufacturing Process
The winning combination of manufacturing processes brings two key achievements to the Company in its efforts to advance Protect-A-Pal to the commercialization stage: 1) The ability to build prototypes much quicker and make necessary changes on the fly, and 2) Use of the latest in medical grade materials which will allow the extrusion of the necessary pieces to fit in a much more precise configuration, removing any of the issues once hindering the release of the product in a timely fashion. "It is exciting to see the right people come together to tackle these individual design elements, brainstorm, and then be able to witness the enthusiasm when solutions become clear," stated Mr. Powell. Having completed successful prototype testing, minor modifications to the Protect-A-Pal(tm) safety device are being carried out to adapt the technology to several unique applications in the healthcare field.
Addressing Critical Needs in an Enormous Market
Given the critical need for an economic, convenient and effective needle-safety device throughout the global healthcare system, the management of Southwestern Medical Solutions, Inc. is extremely optimistic that the Protect-A-Pal(tm) has the potential, when ultimately brought to market, to make rapid and extensive inroads into the billion-dollar needle (and needle-safety!) industry.
The potentially life-saving safety device is expected to meet with a universally positive reception by the physicians and healthcare workers who use literally millions of needles each and every day. Several configurations of the needle safety device are being developed to fulfill a comprehensive market that includes, syringes, sutures, intravenous needles, and hypodermic needles, all of which address a critically important need for higher safety in the billion-dollar healthcare needle market. Concurrent with the development, testing and outsourcing of the safer, more affordable, and patented Protect-A-Pal(tm) needle-safety devices in the months ahead, Southwestern Medical Solutions Inc. will also be devising marketing strategies in preparation for ultimate product launch.
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 he company disclaims any obligation to update information contained in any forward- looking statement.