SANUWAVE Receives U.S. Patent for Novel Electrode Design to Increase Useful Life of Electrohydraulic Shock Wave Devices
ALPHARETTA, Ga., March 29, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SANUWAVE Health, Inc. (OTCBB:SNWV), announced today the receipt of U.S. Patent number 9,198,825 from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office entitled “Increase Electrode Life in Devices Used for Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT)”. This patent has a patent life to July 2033.
The patent has claims related to the special construction of the spark gap electrodes used to generate electrohydraulic shock waves. These novel electrodes have a larger cylindrical tip portion when compared to their base portion, a central bore and a planar tip surface. This construction has the advantage to create a larger surface of the electrode tip that translates in slower electrode tip erosion during their use, allowing a longer life for the electrodes when compared to classic electrode designs. The bore found at the tip of this new electrode also assures a much better heat dissipation, which further decreases electrode erosion and consequently increases their longevity. The claims of this patent are also covering a special liquid mixture containing different additives that allow the recombination of active atoms/radicals generated during high voltage discharge in between aforementioned electrodes, which also translates in a longer life for these electrodes.
“The design originality for these new electrodes combined with the use of special liquid mixture inside of our applicators allows a much more efficient utilization of our devices and can produce a competitive advantage by increasing significantly the life for our applicators, which makes this new patent very important to us. This new electrode design can be incorporated into extracorporeal shock wave applicators used in the medical field for lithotripsy, wound treatment, burns, post-operative healing, pain management, orthopedic treatment, diagnosis, skin and organ transplantation supporting devices, arteriosclerosis treatment, cosmetic applications for scars and cellulite, etc. or for veterinary use in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders,” commented Kevin A. Richardson, II, Chairman of the board of directors of SANUWAVE.
This new patent is the sixth patent received by SANUWAVE in 2015, with three of them referring to improvements in device construction (electronic devices with data storage/tracking medium, reversed reflectors and new electrode design), one regarding the use of shock waves with stem cells for medical indication and two for non-medical applications (fracking and meat tenderizing).
“Innovation is a fundamental activity at SANUWAVE and we are constantly looking for new feasible applications of our proprietary shock wave technology. Based on this philosophy, besides orthopedic and wound care indications, we succeeded to extend our intellectual property protection for new medical applications as stem cell treatments, blood sterilization and tissue cleaning for re-implantation or non-medical/industrial applications as fracking, water cleaning or meat tenderizing. We also developed and patented new designs for our devices that can be used in a broad spectrum of applications, can provide increased efficiency and maximize the value of our pressure shock wave technology,” concluded Mr. Richardson.
SANUWAVE Health Inc., and its wholly owned subsidiary SANUWAVE, Inc., now have 52 patents (issued or pending) in the field of shock waves used in medical and non-medical applications.
About SANUWAVE Health, Inc.
SANUWAVE Health, Inc. (www.sanuwave.com) is a shock wave technology company initially focused on the development and commercialization of patented noninvasive, biological response activating devices for the repair and regeneration of skin, musculoskeletal tissue and vascular structures. SANUWAVE’s portfolio of regenerative medicine products and product candidates activate biologic signaling and angiogenic responses, producing new vascularization and microcirculatory improvement, which helps restore the body’s normal healing processes and regeneration. SANUWAVE applies its patented PACE technology in wound healing, orthopedic/spine, plastic/cosmetic and cardiac conditions. Its lead product candidate for the global wound care market, dermaPACE®, is CE Marked throughout Europe and has device license approval for the treatment of the skin and subcutaneous soft tissue in Canada, Australia and New Zealand. In the U.S., dermaPACE is currently under the FDA’s Premarket Approval (PMA) review process for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. SANUWAVE researches, designs, manufactures, markets and services its products worldwide, and believes it has demonstrated that its technology is safe and effective in stimulating healing in chronic conditions of the foot (plantar fasciitis) and the elbow (lateral epicondylitis) through its U.S. Class III PMA approved OssaTron® device, as well as stimulating bone and chronic tendonitis regeneration in the musculoskeletal environment through the utilization of its OssaTron, Evotron® and orthoPACE® devices in Europe, Asia and Asia/Pacific. In addition, there are license/partnership opportunities for SANUWAVE’s shock wave technology for non-medical uses, including energy, water, food and industrial markets.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, such as statements relating to financial results and plans for future business development activities, and are thus prospective. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not statements of historical fact regarding intent, belief or current expectations of the Company, its directors or its officers. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s ability to control. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Among the key risks, assumptions and factors that may affect operating results, performance and financial condition are risks associated with the regulatory approval and marketing of the Company’s product candidates and products, unproven pre-clinical and clinical development activities, regulatory oversight, the Company’s ability to manage its capital resource issues, competition, and the other factors discussed in detail in the Company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.
For additional information about the Company, visit www.sanuwave.com.
Contact: Todd Markey IR Partners 818-280-6800 tmarkey@irpartnersinc.com SANUWAVE Health, Inc. Kevin Richardson II Chairman of the Board 617-778-9223 investor.relations@sanuwave.com
Source: SANUWAVE Health, Inc.
Released March 29, 2016
