MedStar™ Expands Capabilities to Benefit Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Patients

Data Transmission Device Interfaces with Peak Flow Meters and Pulse Oximeters;
Enhances Delayed Transmission Function

Ann Arbor, Mich. - September 24, 2001 -

Cybernet Medical, a leading developer of biometric monitoring technology and medical devices for the disease management industry, today announced the expanded capabilities of its MedStar™ device to include interfaces with spirometers (peak flow) and pulse oximeters, as well as an enhanced internal memory chip to accommodate delayed data transmission. Now, the benefits of daily monitoring can be extended to patients suffering from a range of chronic diseases, even when they are away from home, through the cost-effective and easy-to-use MedStar system.

The MedStar device can now connect to and transmit physiological data from measurement devices used by patients with respiratory conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), in addition to some devices used by congestive heart failure (CHF) patients. For disease management companies currently receiving daily physiological data from patients via hand-written journals or interactive voice response (IVR) methods, the MedStar device eliminates inaccurate readings, costly human errors and non-compliance issues. Since data is collected directly from the measurement device and transmitted to the collection server over a standard telephone line, accurate measurements can be immediately and easily retrieved by disease management professionals for analysis and any recommended action.

"As home-based patient monitoring advances to include additional disease states, disease management companies need products that interface with a wide range of measurement devices and accurately transmit the collected data," notes biomedical engineer Jeffrey Braun, Cybernet Medical's director of engineering. "Expanding the capabilities of MedStar makes it a viable tool for inclusion in numerous chronic disease management programs and clinical trials."

In response to market demand, MedStar includes an enhanced flash memory chip, enabling the device to store approximately 30 days of collected physiological data. This is a key feature for seamlessly incorporating a home-based monitoring unit into a patient's lifestyle - providing the freedom to travel away from home yet still record daily biometric data variances, which can be transmitted when the patient returns home or obtains access to a standard phone line.

"Cybernet Medical's strength is its ability to quickly respond to market change," states Anthony J. Comazzi, CEO of Cybernet Medical. "Our breakthrough technology can be easily configured for custom monitoring processes, offering disease management companies a cost-effective way to incorporate accurate and simple home-based patient monitoring into their specific chronic care programs."

The MedStar device is available for US$250 directly from Cybernet Medical. This translates into disease management companies being able to provide a total in-home monitoring solution for less than $20 per enrollee per month (pepm). View a live demonstration of the expanded capabilities of MedStar™ in booth #122 at the Disease Management Leadership Forum, October 10 through 13 in New Orleans, LA.

About Cybernet Medical 
Cybernet Medical is an innovative, technology-based company focused on using state of the art systems to augment the way chronic care patients are monitored and diagnosed. Through research funded by NASA, National Institute of Health and Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA), Cybernet Medical has developed and patented electronic devices, complex network and server systems, database solutions, and web-based user interfaces for the collection and management of biometric data. Cybernet Medical is a division of Cybernet Systems, a research and development firm based in Ann Arbor, Mich. For more information on Cybernet Medical, visit the company's web site at www.cybernetmedical.com or call 734-668-2567.

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MedStar™ meets all current, applicable FDA requirements. The current MedStar device is not intended for ECG or pacemaker monitoring, or diabetes management.