PITTSBURGH, Nov. 10 Neuro Kinetics, Inc. (www.neuro-kinetics.com) , manufacturers of noninvasive medical evaluation equipment used worldwide to test for vestibular and neurological dysfunctions, today issued the following statement from CEO J. Howison Schroeder related to an article published Friday, November 6, 2009, by the Pittsburgh Tribune Review:
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"We are concerned about wrong impressions readers of the Tribune's article might draw, particularly current and prospective users of our equipment in hospitals, universities, clinical offices, military medical facilities, government agencies and elsewhere who might call up the story online or see it linked from an online research service.
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"The Tribune article stated that there are lingering regulatory issues and that we had been 'forced to recall' 72 devices. In fact, there are no lingering regulatory issues and no Neuro Kinetics physical equipment has ever been recalled for any reason whatsoever, anywhere in the world. We did recently undertake a voluntary initiative, with guidance and approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to distribute an updated version of our software (known as VEST(TM)) that we provide our users to operate our testing equipment and to generate analysis of patient evaluations. As our customers know, this updated version of VEST removed only a small portion of the software -- normative data pertaining to certain tests that can be conducted on some of our equipment.
"The so-called 'recall' was of a small slice of software-stored data, not the overall software program and certainly not any of our physical equipment. We feel it is important that our current and prospective users understand that distinction.
"All medical equipment manufacturers have a responsibility to meet the highest standards of safe, efficient and effective patient care. At Neuro Kinetics, we take that responsibility very seriously. We believe we owe our equipment users and their patients - not to mention our investors, employees and other stakeholders - an appropriate reaction to the Tribune article. We are issuing this statement today so that it is fed into the cyber universe of archived information and hopefully can be seen by readers of the Tribune article, next week or next year, in Pittsburgh or twelve time zones away.
"The Tribune article also noted our collaboration with the U.S. military to improve detection of mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) suffered by soldiers returning from Afghanistan and Iraq. We appreciate the Tribune's coverage of our work in this field."
ABOUT NEURO KINETICS, INC.
Neuro Kinetics, Inc. (www.neuro-kinetics.com) is a fast-growing manufacturer of noninvasive medical test equipment used worldwide by audiologists, neurologists, neuro-otologists, ophthalmologists, otolaryngologists and other medical specialists in the detection and evaluation of neurological, otological and vestibular disorders. The privately owned company, originating in the 1970s, pioneered the development of vestibular and neuro-otologic testing equipment, including the renowned Barany (rotational) chair. The company's patented products include the I-Portal® NOTC (Neuro-Otologic Test Center) system, I-Portal® VNG (Video Nystagmography) system and I-Portal® VOG (Video Oculography) system, along with related accessories, software, training and support services. Users include doctors and researchers in universities and government facilities as well as specialists in fields such as audiology, neurology, neuro-otology, ophthalmology and otolaryngology.
MEDIA CONTACT John Buckman Buckman Communications, for Neuro Kinetics, Inc. + 1 412-381-2900 or [email protected]
SOURCE Neuro Kinetics, Inc
