CASMED Announces Recent Publication of Study Using FORE-SIGHT Cerebral Tissue Oximetry in the Post-Surgical ICU

BRANFORD, Conn., Feb. 5, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CAS Medical Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:CASM) ("CASMED") announced today the recent pre-publication of a key study showing otherwise unrecognized cerebral desaturation events occurred in more than half of post-surgical ICU patients.

In a study led by Steven Greenberg, M.D. from the University of Chicago and the North Shore University Health System in Evanston, Illinois, clinicians monitored post-cardiac surgery patients during their first six hours in the post-surgical intensive care unit. The study, "Cerebral desaturation events in the intensive care unit following cardiac surgery", pre-published by the Journal of Critical Care and available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrc.2012.09.004, revealed that 53% of the 53 patients studied suffered from low levels of brain oxygen (oxygen desaturations) that were otherwise unrecognized by standard monitoring. More than half of those brain oxygen desaturation events lasted more than one hour. The mortality rate amongst the group that experienced brain oxygen desaturations was 5 out of 28, or 18%, while no one in the non-desaturation group died.

"We believe that this study is the first of its kind, largely because few clinicians thought that unrecognized cerebral desaturations would occur after the conclusion of surgery," Dr. Greenberg reported. "We were quite surprised to discover the high incidence of cerebral desaturations, the length of time that these patients spent in a desaturated state, and the rate of mortality amongst the cerebral desaturation group."

"The ability of the FORE-SIGHT Oximeter to provide highly accurate measurements of cerebral oximetry without the need for a baseline or a pre-induction value proved to be crucial in both the design and successful conduct of this study," Dr. Greenberg continued. "And while more study is necessary, these data suggest that there may be an important role for cerebral oximetry monitoring in the ICU."

"One of our key goals is to continue to generate published clinical data in support of the use of FORE-SIGHT Tissue Oximetry in a broad category of clinical applications where brain protection is critically important," said Thomas M. Patton, President and CEO of CASMED. "This study revealed a new and important application of FORE-SIGHT Oximetry to empower clinicians to improve the care of their patients."

About CASMED^® – Monitoring What's Vital

CASMED is a leading developer and manufacturer of medical devices for non-invasive patient monitoring. The Company's FORE-SIGHT Absolute Cerebral Oximeter provides a highly accurate, non-invasive, continuous measurement of absolute cerebral tissue oxygen saturation. Direct monitoring of tissue oxygenation provides a superior and powerful tool to alert clinicians to otherwise unrecognized and dangerously low levels of oxygenation of the brain and other tissues, thereby allowing them to intervene appropriately in the care of their patients. In addition to FORE-SIGHT Oximeters and accessories, the Company provides a line of bedside patient vital signs monitoring products, proprietary non-invasive blood pressure monitoring solutions for OEM use, neonatal intensive care supplies, and service. CASMED products are designed to provide unique monitoring solutions that are vital to patient care.

For further information regarding CASMED, visit the Company's website at www.casmed.com.

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