ASX Release25 JANUARY 2007US Patent Granted - Improved Spacer...

ASX Release
25 JANUARY 2007
US Patent Granted - Improved Spacer Device for Respiratory Medications
· VSG granted US patent for “Improved Spacer Device“ for inhaled
respiratory medications
· Expands IP portfolio with broad application technology for inhaled
respiratory medications
Visiomed Group Ltd (ASX: VSG) has been granted a United States (US) Patent for its line of
asthma spacers (valved holding chamber) which improves the delivery of respiratory
medication and offers major advantages over other currently available spacer products.
The patent covers the design of the new Visiomed spacer which accommodates and thereby
allows for a wide range of inhaled respiratory medications to be used, rather than just a single
type. Spacers are used to assist with the delivery of inhaled medications for a range of
conditions such as asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, including
chronic bronchitis and emphysema). More than 350 million people suffer from asthma and
COPD and are candidates for Visiomed’s spacer products.
Currently, many commercially available spacers are designed to accommodate only a single
brand of medication; special adapters are required to accept each separate type of
medication, severely limiting the convenience and widespread use of spacers.
The patented “Improved Spacer Device” is currently incorporated into Visiomed’s Funhaler® -
a paediatric incentive spacer for the effective delivery of asthma drugs.
Many respiratory medications are packaged in a ‘puffer’ format; however the use of spacers
along with ‘puffers’ is advocated by the vast majority of health organizations due to the widely
documented improvement in medication delivery and decrease in negative side effects
achieved by spacer use.
VSG’s patented spacer not only provides asthma sufferers with a flexible medication delivery
device but also offers other significant advantages such as durability and reliability. Currently
available single-medication adapters or ‘soft’ (rubberized) adapters can wear and degrade in
performance over time.
Visiomed CEO, Dr William F. Dolphin said: “The intellectual property covered under the patent
expands and complements Visiomed’s existing patented technology relating to delivery and
administration of inhaled medication. The Company is continuing to secure and extend its
intellectual property position in the inhaled medication space with a widening range of products
and potential applications fitting in with the company’s goals of improved medication delivery,
compliance and monitoring.“
About Visiomed Group Ltd
Visiomed (www.visiomed.com.au) develops and commercialises innovative medical technologies for
improved medication delivery and adherence in patients suffering from chronic respiratory diseases,
providing the interface between patient and their medication.
Visiomed manufactures and sells a range of spacers for the paediatric, adolescent and adult market and
is the leading provider of spacers in Australia. More than 350 million people suffer from asthma and
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema) and are
candidates for the Company’s spacer products.
The Funhaler® paediatric incentive spacer and Breath-A-Tech spacer products are covered by
international patents issued and pending. The coverage extends to protection of a wide range of
alternative incentive modules and complimentary applications. The Funhaler® is CE marked for the EU,
FDA cleared for the US and TGA registered in Australia.
Further Comments:
Dr William Dolphin
CEO Visiomed Group Ltd
P: (08) 9321 2712
M: 0433 145 713
Media Enquiries:
Kat Fremlin
Allchurch Communications
P: (08) 9381 6625
M: 0439 938 265