Asthmatx, Inc.'s Alair(R) System Named "Best of 2006" by Popular Science.MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- Asthmatx, Inc., a medical device company that has developed a catheter-based procedure for the treatment for asthma, today announced that its Alair[R] System has been awarded the 2006 Popular Science Best of What's New Award in the Personal Health category. The awards recognize breakthrough products and technologies that represent a significant leap forward in categories ranging from Auto Tech and Home Entertainment to Healthcare and Recreation. The Alair System is used for Bronchial Thermoplasty Bronchial Thermoplasty is a new treatment for asthma discovered by Canadian researchers. The surface area of the smooth muscle in the bronchia is reduced. This prevents asthma attacks. , the first-ever non-drug treatment for asthma, and is now under clinical investigation at over 30 leading research centers around the world. During the out-patient investigative procedure the Alair System is used to deliver thermal energy thermal energy Internal energy of a system in thermodynamic equilibrium (see thermodynamics) by virtue of its temperature. A hot body has more thermal energy than a similar cold body, but a large tub of cold water may have more thermal energy than a cup of boiling to the airway airway /air·way/ (-wa) 1. the passage by which air enters and leaves the lungs. 2. a device for securing unobstructed respiration. walls to reduce the amount of airway smooth muscle, the tissue responsible for airway constriction constriction /con·stric·tion/ (kon-strik´shun) 1. a narrowing or compression of a part; a stricture.constric´tive 2. a diminution in range of thinking or feeling, associated with diminished spontaneity. and breathing difficulties in asthma patients. Early data from clinical trials demonstrate that on average, treated patients had less airway narrowing and improvements in key clinical parameters, including peak flow, quality of life, and symptom free days. "Best of What's New is the ultimate Popular Science accolade, representing a year's worth of work evaluating thousands of products," says Mark Jannot, editor of Popular Science. "These awards honor innovations that not only influence the way we live today, but that change the way we think about the future." Each year, the editors of Popular Science review thousands of products in search of the top 100 tech innovations of the year; breakthrough products and technologies that represent a significant leap in their categories. The winners Co the Best of What's New Co are awarded inclusion in the much-anticipated December issue of Popular Science, the most widely read issue of the year since the debut of Best of What's New in 1987. Best of What's New awards are presented to 100 new products and technologies in 10 categories: Automotive, Aviation & Space, Computing, Engineering, Gadgets, General Innovation, Home Entertainment, Home Tech, Personal Health and Recreation. "Asthmatx is honored to have received the 'Best of What's New' award from Popular Science for our Alair System. Our goal is to improve the current standard of care for patients with severe asthma," states Glen French, CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Asthmatx. "Data from previous studies suggest that Bronchial Thermoplasty with the Alair System may reduce the frequency of asthma symptoms, and that these effects may persist after a one-time series of treatments. We are pleased that Popular Science has recognized the Alair System's potential to help control symptoms and improve quality of life in patients with severe asthma." The award winners can be found in the December edition of Popular Science. About Bronchial Thermoplasty with the Alair System Bronchial Thermoplasty is an out-patient investigative procedure that is performed through a standard flexible bronchoscope bronchoscope (brŏng`kəskōp'), long, tubular instrument with a light at the tip that is inserted through the windpipe and bronchial tubes to examine these structures. that is introduced through a patient's nose or mouth, and into their lungs. The small diameter Alair catheter is delivered into the airways airways Anatomy The 'pipes'–trachea, bronchi, bronchioles–through which air passes to and from the alveoli. See Small airways. through the working channel of this flexible bronchoscope. The tip of the Alair catheter is expanded to contact the walls of targeted airways. Controlled thermal energy is then delivered to the airway walls to reduce the presence of muscles within the airway wall that narrow the airways in patients with asthma. Although still under clinical investigation, the data from this study suggest that reducing the amount of airway smooth muscle may reduce the ability of treated airways to constrict con·strict v. To make smaller or narrower, especially by binding or squeezing. or narrow during an asthma attack. The procedure, like many other flexible endoscopy endoscopy Examination of the body's interior through an instrument inserted into a natural opening or an incision, usually as an outpatient procedure. Endoscopes include the upper gastrointestinal endoscope (for the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum), the colonoscope (for the procedures, is done under light anesthesia, and the patient returns home the same day. Asthma is one of the most common and costly diseases in the world. The prevalence of asthma is on the rise, and there is no cure. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the American Lung Association The American Lung Association (ALA) is a non-profit organization that "fights lung disease in all its forms, with special emphasis on asthma, tobacco control and environmental health". , more than 20 million Americans have asthma, and about two-thirds of these patients are adults. Managing unstable asthma consumes substantial healthcare resources. In the US each year, asthma attacks result in approximately 10 million unscheduled unscheduled Adjective not planned or intended Adj. 1. unscheduled - not scheduled or not on a regular schedule; "an unscheduled meeting"; "the plane made an unscheduled stop at Gander for refueling" doctor office visits, 2 million emergency rooms visits, 500,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 deaths. Current Research of the Alair System Asthmatx is currently enrolling patients in the AIR2 Trial, our fourth clinical study of Bronchial Thermoplasty with the Alair System (www.AIR2Trial.com). The AIR2 Trial will enroll approximately 300 patients worldwide this year. To date, more than 272 patients have already entered the pre-treatment baseline period or have started their treatment course. If you have asthma, are between 18 and 65 years of age, are a non-smoker, and take medication daily to control your asthma, you may be eligible to participate in the AIR2 Trial. For more information on participation, please call the following toll-free number: (866) 400-AIR2 or visit www.AIR2Trial.com. CAUTION: Alair[R] System is an Investigational Device. It is limited by United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. law to investigational use. To be used by Qualified Investigators only. Editor's Notes Editor's Note (foaled in 1993 in Kentucky) is an American thoroughbred Stallion racehorse. He was sired by 1992 U.S. Champion 2 YO Colt Forty Niner, who in turn was a son of Champion sire Mr. Prospector and out of the mare, Beware Of The Cat. Trained by D. : For more information on Asthmatx or the Alair System, please contact Karen Passafaro at 650-810-1118 or kpassafaro@asthmatx.com. About Asthmatx: Asthmatx is developing catheter-based medical devices for the treatment of asthma, a disease that affects over 20 million people in the United States. Asthmatx has developed the Alair[R] System to perform an investigational outpatient procedure called Bronchial Thermoplasty. Bronchial Thermoplasty involves the delivery of precisely controlled thermal energy to the airway wall, to reduce the amount of airway smooth muscle, and lessen these muscles' ability to narrow the airway. About Popular Science Founded in 1872, Popular Science is the world's largest science and technology magazine; with a circulation of 1.45 million and 6.5 million monthly readers. Each month, Popular Science reports on the intersection of science and everyday life, with an eye toward what's new and why it matters. Popular Science is published by Time4 Media, a subsidiary of Time Inc., which is a wholly owned subsidiary Wholly Owned Subsidiary A subsidiary whose parent company owns 100% of its common stock. Notes: In other words, the parent company owns the company outright and there are no minority owners. of Time Warner Inc. |
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