Sonos (NASDAQ:SONO)
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SonoSite, Inc. (Nasdaq:SONO), commented today on the new
federal law on Medicare reimbursement for a screening test to detect
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms (AAA) as part of the "Welcome To Medicare
Physical Exam." The recent passage of the Screening for Abdominal
Aortic Aneurysms Very Efficiently (SAAAVE) Act, which will become
effective in 2007, is considered a momentous development within the
cardiovascular community. SonoSite, the market leader in hand-carried
ultrasound systems, has actively supported passage of this
legislation.
"The SAAAVE Act means that thousands of American lives will be
saved from this potentially fatal disease," said Kevin M. Goodwin,
SonoSite President and CEO. "The SAAAVE Act is among a growing number
of examples of the value that hand-carried ultrasound can play in
screening for the early detection and management of cardiovascular
disease. SonoSite is proud to partner with leading medical societies
as part of the National Aneurysm Alliance to help improve the
cardiovascular health of Americans."
According to figures from the National Aneurysm Alliance, AAAs
kill between 15,000-30,000 people annually, making it the 16th leading
cause of death in the United States. According to the medical
literature, AAA tends to strike victims over 55 years old. Other
important risk factors for AAA include smoking or a history of
smoking, high blood pressure, heart disease, and a family history of
AAA. In addition, AAAs affect men more frequently than women, although
women with a family history of AAA are four times more likely to
develop AAA compared to women without such family history.
"The use of ultrasound to screen for AAAs makes both clinical and
economic sense," said Dr. William Flinn, a vascular surgeon at the
University of Maryland School of Medicine, and current vice-chair of
the American Vascular Association. "Even today, when an AAA ruptures,
it is fatal in over half the cases. Unfortunately, 80% of people who
suffer AAA rupture never knew they had an aneurysm. Even those who
survive AAA rupture often need extended care and suffer permanent
disabilities. So, screening not only saves lives, but can result in
significant financial savings as well. Elective treatments, for AAA
are safe and effective, and early detection by screening will allow us
to avoid many catastrophic outcomes. Countless deaths from AAA will be
prevented by this screening program."
SonoSite's hand-carried ultrasound (HCU) systems were used in
numerous AAA screening demonstration events in support of the passage
of the SAAAVE Act. "We have screened thousands of Americans using
SonoSite's products," said Sheila Arrington, founder of Aneurysm
Outreach, a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing public
awareness of AAAs. "Our physicians and sonographers were always
impressed by the quality and durability of SonoSite's systems. HCU
systems are the logical choice for use in large scale screening
programs as they can easily be taken to the site of the screening
whether it is in the physician's office or at a community health fair,
even in remote areas of the US."
About SonoSite
SonoSite, Inc. (www.sonosite.com) is the innovator and world
leader in hand-carried ultrasound, with an installed base of more than
25,000 systems. The company, headquartered near Seattle, Washington,
is represented by eight subsidiaries and a global distribution network
in over 75 countries. SonoSite's small, lightweight systems are
expanding the use of ultrasound across the clinical spectrum by
cost-effectively bringing high performance ultrasound to the point of
patient care. The company employs approximately 500 people worldwide.