Astro-Med
EC2 Selected for New Video-EEG Applications
WEST WARWICK, R.I.--(BUSINESS
WIRE)--Aug. 30, 2005--The Grass Technologies product group of Astro-Med,
Inc. (NASDAQ:ALOT), announces the results of a new study which validates
the Company's EC2® Electrode Cream for attaching electrodes in the
long-term video-EEG epilepsy lab. The study concluded that the use of
EC2 resulted in optimal cost-benefit ratio in terms of recording performance,
time consumption, and patient safety.
EC2 is a proprietary formulation of electrolyte cream that Grass Technologies
has been manufacturing and selling for many years. It is a consumable
product that is used not only in long-term video-EEG applications, but
also for routine EEG, Sleep and Neuromonitoring studies. In long-term
video-EEG applications, it has been necessary to use a collodian (a
highly flammable glue that contains alcohol and ether) to better secure
the electrodes for the several days or week of monitoring. The collodian
tends to irritate the patient's skin and many labs, especially in Europe,
are beginning to ban the substance. As a result, a team of clinicians
in Italy performed a patient study to find a safe alternative to the
collodian.
The study was performed at Neuromed, a hospital in the Naples area of
Italy, by a team of clinicians at their video-EEG laboratory. A total
of 40 patients with drug resistant partial epilepsy participated in
the study. In 20 patients, electrode placement on the scalp was made
with collodian and on the remaining 20 patients EC2 was used. The results
confirmed better electrical signal quality, faster application, and
more patient comfort and safety with the EC2.
The study was published in the Official Journal of the International
Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology, entitled Clinical Neurophysiology,
Volume 116, Issue 8, dated August, 2005. Clinical Neurophysiology is
published by Elsevier Limited, a large European publishing firm.
The Company expects sales of EC2 to increase substantially as a result
of the new study. EC2 is one of many consumable supplies manufactured
by Grass Technologies, and is sold hand in hand with the famous Genuine
Grass Gold Cup Electrodes for EEG and Sleep applications.
Astro-Med, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of test and measurement instruments,
high tech specialty printing systems and electronic medical instrumentation
employed around the world in a wide range of industrial, scientific
and medical applications.
Safe Harbor Statement
This news release contains forward-looking statements, and actual results
may vary from those expressed or implied herein. Factors that could
affect these results include those mentioned in Astro-Med's FY2005 annual
report and its annual and quarterly filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
CONTACT: Astro-Med, Inc.
Everett V. Pizzuti, 401-828-4000
SOURCE: Astro-Med, Inc.
