PLAINSBORO, N.J., April 16, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation (Nasdaq:IART) announced today that new tracking codes for Intracranial Monitoring Systems have been proposed in the April 13th Federal Register. The Federal Register is the daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices of Federal agencies and organizations, as well as executive orders and other presidential documents. The new codes appear now for comment and are expected to go into effect October 1, 2007.
Intracranial monitoring is used to treat an estimated 30,000 patients each year in the United States and a total of nearly 90,000 patients worldwide. Monitoring is essential in the management and treatment of patients with traumatic brain injuries (TBI). An increase in intracranial pressure can cause a decrease in blood flow and oxygen to the brain, causing brain damage. However, episodes of cerebral hypoxia may occur when the patient is in the normal range for intracranial pressure and cerebral perfusion pressure, and recent studies have indicated that monitoring brain oxygen levels can improve the outcome of severely brain injured patients.
These codes represent significant progress for practitioners in the field of brain injury and the industry as a whole. The new monitoring codes expand on the previously available single code (01.18), to allow clinicians to more precisely track the specific parameter being monitored in the brain injured patient.
"This is terrific news," said Jamshid Ghajar, M.D., PhD, President, Brain Trauma Foundation, Chief of Neurosurgery, Jamaica Hospital-Cornell Trauma Center, New York, and Clinical Professor of Neurological Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College. "This expanded level of specificity will allow practitioners to better track usage of brain monitoring, which is a good indicator of the severity of brain injury, and also allow us to study the impact of these monitoring modalities on patient outcomes, including cost and length of stay in the hospital."
The new proposed codes are the result of the advocacy of clinician leaders in neurotrauma working together with the Brain Trauma Foundation. The following codes are proposed:
01.10 Intracranial Pressure Monitoring 01.16 Intracranial Oxygen Monitoring 01.17 Brain Temperature Monitoring
Integra is a leader in the field of neurosurgery, neurotrauma and neuro critical care, providing clinicians with technologies such as Camino(R) for measuring intracranial pressure, Licox(R) for measuring brain tissue oxygen and the Mobius(TM) Multi Modality Monitoring System. These products are sold in the United States by the Integra NeuroSciences(R) direct sales organization. Integra NeuroSciences' direct selling effort in the United States and Europe currently involves over 200 professionals. In all other markets, Integra NeuroSciences products are sold through a network of distributors.
Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation, a world leader in regenerative medicine, is dedicated to improving the quality of life for patients through the development, manufacturing, and marketing of cost-effective surgical implants and medical instruments. Our products, used primarily in neurosurgery, extremity reconstruction, orthopedics and general surgery, are used to treat millions of patients every year. Integra's headquarters are in Plainsboro, New Jersey, and we have research and manufacturing facilities throughout the world. Please visit our website at www.Integra-LS.com.
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the future use of the new tracking codes. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from predicted or expected results. Among other things, the willingness of physicians to use these codes may affect the prospects for their use in clinical procedures. In addition, the economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors, identified under the Risk Factors section of Integra's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, and information contained in subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, could affect actual results.