Ambulatory
Sleep Screener Announced by Astro-Med
WEST WARWICK, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 12, 2004--The Grass Technologies
Product Group of Astro-Med, Inc. (NASDAQ:ALOT) has introduced a new
ambulatory Sleep Screener. Called SleepTrek®, the small, lightweight
9-channel data recorder was engineered for use in the home to screen
patients for possible sleep disorders. If a disorder such as sleep apnea
is detected, the patient can be brought to the hospital or sleep clinic
for full diagnostic monitoring on a system such as the Grass Technologies
Comet Sleep unit.
Prior to the introduction of SleepTrek, most sleep disorders were traditionally
diagnosed in the hospital or sleep clinic. Because of the cost associated
with an overnight hospital stay, many sleep disorders went undetected
in the past. Now, the SleepTrek sleep screener can be used at home in
an unsupervised mode by the patient, and simply returned to the hospital
for a quick record review by a technician. This procedure greatly reduces
the cost of discovering potentially serious sleep disorders early so
they can be treated effectively thereby improving the quality of life.
SleepTrek uses sensors to record oxygen saturation, pulse rate, airflow
(filtered and unfiltered), thoracic and abdominal respiratory effort,
periodic limb movement and body position. It is capable of recording
over 12 hours of patient data using an internal battery and a MultiMedia
Card. An auxiliary channel is also available to record data from other
equipment such as pressure from a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
(CPAP) device.
Grass Technologies believes the market for Ambulatory Sleep Screeners
is expanding both domestically, as insurance providers begin to reimburse
this home procedure, and internationally, where the lower cost home
screening device is of even more importance.
SleepTrek is now available from stock, and can easily be purchased by
phone or from the Grass Technologies web based store.
The Grass Technologies Product Group of Astro-Med designs, manufactures,
and sells advanced systems for EEG and PSG (sleep monitoring), Long-term
Epilepsy monitoring, and OR/ICU neuromonitoring, as well as supplies,
accessories, and a broad range of products for neurophysiological research.
Visit Astro-Med, Inc. at www.grasstechnologies.com for further information.
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 FY2004 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.
