Neurosonix Wins Major European Cardiac Surgery Innovation Award

Main Category: Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Article Date: 01 Oct 2007 - 6:00 PDT

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Neurosonix Ltd., an Israeli company that developed non-invasive ultrasound-based embolic protection technologies for use in cardiac surgery and cath lab practice, is pleased to announce receiving the European Association of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery Techno-College Innovation Award for its first device, the EmBlocker™. This prestigious award was established to honor technological breakthroughs in all areas related to thoracic and cardiovascular research. The award was announced at a ceremony at the Annual Techno-College in Geneva, in front of an audience of over a 1,000 leading cardiac surgeons from around the world.

"We are honored that the EACTS has acknowledged the breakthrough we achieved in offering the cardiac surgeons and their patients a unique solution aimed at reducing the risk of brain injury following cardiac surgery", says Prof. Simcha Milo, inventor of the technology and co-founder of Neurosonix. "We are very excited that the EACTS recognized that the award-winning technology of the EmBlocker™ has the potential to change standard cardiac surgery practice".

Cerebral embolism is considered a major cause of brain injury during cardiac surgical procedures. Neurosonix first device, the EmBlocker™, uses proprietary ultrasound-based technology, to provide protection against cerebral embolism during open heart procedures. The EmBlocker™ uses ultrasonic energy to non-invasively divert emboli flow away from the cerebral arteries in order to reduce the risk of post-operative brain injury.

Prof. Jos Maessen, principal investigator of the pilot clinical study, Head of the Cardio- Thoracic Surgery Department at the Academic Hospital of Maastricht, the Netherlands, officially presented the results of the study at the 2007 EACTS Meeting. The study showed a significant decrease of over 65% of emboli flow to the brain in patients treated with the EmBlocker™.

"This is an important day for us, because the surgical community who faces the devastating results of brain injury, acknowledged the importance of the ground-breaking solution developed by Neurosonix", says Dr. Nathan Sela, Neurosonix CEO. "In addition, the audience of the Annual Techno-College comprised of worldwide key opinion leaders will be among the early adopters of the EmBlocker™".

Dr. Sela adds that "Neurosonix expects to release the EmBlocker™ to the European market during 2008".

About Neurosonix Ltd.

Neurosonix Ltd. is a medical device company founded in Israel in 2002, aimed at developing and marketing non-invasive ultrasound-based embolic protection technology and devices for use in cardiac surgery and cath lab practice. The company has a staff of 15 and is located in the Scientific Park of Rehovot, Israel. Neurosonix is backed by a strong group of investors, among which Elron Electronic Industries (NASDAQ: ELRN), Evergreen Venture Partners, Ofer Hitech and Peregrine Ventures. For more information, visit http://www.neurosonix.co.il.

About EACTS

The European Association of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery was founded in 1986. Its 2000 members are spread all over the world in all continents, representing some 70 countries. The main objects of the EACTS are to advance education in the field of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, and to promote for the public benefit research in thoracic physiology, pathology and therapy and to correlate and disseminate the useful results thereof.

http://www.eacts.org/