Geratherm Medical AG

Regulatory Filings • Mar 25, 2009

News Details

Corporate | 25 March 2009 09:12

Geratherm Medical AG:Berufsverband Deutscher Neurologen

Geratherm Medical AG / Contract

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Corporate News

Berufsverband Deutscher Neurologen (Professional Association of German
Neurologists) places trust in the SRA procedure from apoplex/Geratherm
Medical for the identification of stroke risk

Pirmasens and Krefeld, March 25, 2009. Prevention - instead of cure.
Against the background of this catchphrase, the Berufsverband Deutscher
Neurologen (BDN) and the Berufsverband Deutscher Nervenärtzte (BVDN;
Professional Association of German Neurological Doctors), Krefeld, and
apoplex medical technologies GmbH from Pirmasens - a subsidiary of
Geratherm Medical AG - have now formed a partnership which no longer
approaches dementia and strokes from the treatment side, but instead
proceeds in an emphatically preventative manner. As a result of this
agreement, the approximately 3,500 neurologists who are connected with the
associations can make use of the early warning system for strokes SRA
(Stroke Risk Analysis) from apoplex medical technologies.

Invoicing is effected within the scope of an integrated Medical Supplies
Agreement at a flat rate price and under special conditions. SRA is a
mathematical procedure that automatically analyses the results of an hour
long dual-channel ECG recording and thus detects certain atypical patterns
that indicate an atrial fibrillation which could cause dementia and
strokes. What makes this special: The irregular atrial fibrillation, which
the patient also generally does not notice, does not necessarily have to
occur during the ECG recording to be discovered - in principle, it could
also have occurred at an earlier point.

'Getting away from the mere treatment of outcomes and concentrating more
intensely on the prevention of diseases with far-reaching consequences -
that's the clear commitment of the BDN towards the patients' of its member
physicians,' BDN chairman Dr. med. Uwe Meier explains. 'In this
connection,the SRA method with its extensive possibilities for the early
detection of imminent strokes and dementia is an important milestone in
what we are able to offer our members.'

Simple SRA procedure …

During the examination, an hour long dual-channel ECG is recorded on a
digital memory card in the medical practice and subsequently made anonymous
and transferred to the central internet server belonging to apoplex medical
technologies. Here, an algorithm detects certain atypical patterns which
indicate an atrial fibrillation - at present or at some point in the
past.Within a few minutes, the physician receives the results of the
analysis by e-mail in a fully automated process. Using the SRA viewer, he
can also access all the details of the original ECG recording quickly and
easily in order to trace conspicuous segments of the graphical
representation of results to the relevant ECG data. On this basis, the
physician can, if necessary, introduce specific steps to prevent incidents
from occurring.

... for effective prevention

Thanks to the high level of automation, the SRA method is secure and
economical. For this reason, the first German public health insurance
companies, such as KKH, have already decided to bear the costs of the
examination, within the framework of their prevention programs and in order
to prevent strokes, for their at risk members (aged over 50, medicinally
treated high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, cardiac insufficiency,
diabetes, suffered a stroke in the past, sleep apnea). Furthermore, private
insurers in Germany reimburse the costs and the patients can utilize SRA as
a so-called 'individuelle Gesundheitsleistung (IGel; non-insured health
care service).

Background information about strokes and SRA

Every year more than 250,000 people in Germany suffer from strokes. They
are the cause of around one third of deaths and the catalyst for many
lifelong disabilities, such as paralysis, speech disorders or visual
disturbances. However, they are seldom fully unanticipated as risks such as
excess weight, smoking and high blood pressure are known and can also be
reduced through sensible lifestyle choices. A further important risk factor
is the sudden occurrence of an atrial fibrillation. In Germany, around one
million people are affected by this. This is where the SRA procedure comes
into play, so that, if necessary, medicinal treatment can be introduced in
good time before a stroke occurs.

Supplementary information about the professional associations

The Berufsverband Deutscher Neurologen (BDN) e.V. and the Berufsverband
Deutscher Nervenärzte (BVDN) e.V., with their headquarters in Krefeld, are
a Germany-wide collaboration of neurologists. The goal of the associations
is the protection and representation of mutual interests. The members
strive for an improved and quality assured safeguarding of outpatient and
inpatient treatment that is as comprehensive as possible and includes the
treatment of those with neurological diseases at inpatient institutions
that do not specialize in this field. Currently around 3,500 medical
specialists are affiliated with the associations. Further information is
available at http://www.bv-neurologe.de and
www.neurologen-und-psychiater-im-netz.de.

Supplementary information about apoplex medical technologies

apoplex medical technologies GmbH was founded in 2004
in Pirmasens, in the west of the Rhineland-Palatinate, and, within the
field of medical technology, specializes in new and innovative
technological products for the prevention of strokes throughout the
world. The subsidiary of Geratherm Medical AG focuses
on easily applicable and efficient methods of patient
screening using medical-technical applications to prevent strokes and
vascular dementia. The SRA (Stroke Risk Analysis) procedure is the first
practicable screening method for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. It
is available in versions for use in medical practices, pharmacies and
stroke units. apoplex medical technologies is supported by an extensive
academic and clinical network, which professionally supplements its
own core competences in the fields of mathematics, physics and medicine.
Further information is available at www.apoplexmedical.com.

Further information

apoplex medical technologies GmbH

Albert Hirtz

Delaware Avenue 1-3

D-66953 Pirmasens

Tel: +49/(0)6331/698998-0

Fax: +49/(0)6331/698998-19

http://www.apoplexmedical.com

a.hirtz@apoplexmedical.com

Berufsverband Deutscher Neurologen

(BDN) e.V.

Dr. med. Uwe Meier

Am Zollhof 2a

D-47829 Krefeld

fon: +49/(0)2151/4546921

http://www.bv-neurologe.de

umeier@t-online.de
25.03.2009 Financial News transmitted by DGAP

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Language: English
Issuer: Geratherm Medical AG
Fahrenheitstraße 1
98716 Geschwenda
Deutschland
Phone: +49 (0)36205 98-0
Fax: +49 (0)36205 98-1 15
E-mail: info@geratherm.com
Internet: www.geratherm.com
ISIN: DE0005495626
WKN: 549562
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr
in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, München, Stuttgart

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