9 November 2004

NEW YORK. Nexense, an emerging sensing technology company, has created a generic biosensor platform which offers direct, contact-free monitoring of vital signs, including heart and respiration rate, in a passive, non-intrusive and non-radiating manner.

The biosensor platform is based on Nexense's patented method of measuring parameters, such as temperature, acceleration, pressure, distance, weight and any other physical entities. Measurements are made in a direct digital manner and not constrained by the limitations of traditional sensor technologies.

"The biosensor's accuracy and sensitivity far surpass anything available on the market today, even when compared to hospital-based professional patient monitoring systems," said Asialee Huang, senior vice president, corporate strategies and worldwide business development, Nexense. "As a result, it's easy to see the potential for developing innovative physiological monitoring applications and improving on existing patient monitors and current diagnostic imaging systems based on this platform."

This generic platform can be adapted and integrated into many existing medical imaging systems to enhance performance. For example, Nexense is currently collaborating with a leading medical company to develop a triggering device for MRI and CT, based on Nexense's generic technology platform, which will enable real-time 3D images of any organ in a non-invasive and non-intrusive way and without the risks associated with a catheter procedure.

Nexense is also working with Fujitsu on the development of an ASIC chip for non-intrusive monitoring and tracking of vital signs via mobile phones. The company expects the technology to be available in early 2005. Additionally, the biosensor will be the platform for the company's Nexaver(TM) line of non-intrusive, vital signs monitors. These products non-intrusively monitor vital signs from under a mattress, and require no wiring or contact with the user.

This biosensor platform can be applied to a variety of other industries outside of the healthcare sector. In automotive, the technology is being used to develop seat occupancy detection for smart air bag deployment. It can also be used to notify parents of a child left alone in a vehicle or alert a tired driver. Similar applications can be developed for aviation. In security, monitoring cargo containers or creating high sensitivity intrusion detection systems can be developed.

"The miniscule size, extreme accuracy, and low power consumption of our biosensor makes embedding it into new and existing electronics easy," added Huang. "This gives Nexense the ability to provide solutions to our partner companies, from simple to extremely complex, within a quick-to-market time frame and higher profitability opportunities.