Download microlife launches first ever digital peak flow meter

Microlife Contact:
Teresa Barnes
303-521-4080
[email protected]
MICROLIFE LAUNCHES FIRST EVER DIGITAL PEAK FLOW METER WITH FEV-1
New Digital Asthma and Emphysema Monitor Hits Shelves in Retail Pharmacies Nationwide;
Provides Simple, Accurate Way to Monitor Lung Function at Home
Tampa, FL, Dec. XX 2004 – Microlife has launched the first digital peak flow meter that also
provides FEV-1 measurement through its first major retail chain partner. According to practice
guidelines and recommendations by the respected medical societies such as the American Lung
Association and the American Thoracic Society, patients with asthma and emphysema should be
performing peak flow and FEV-1 measurements at home on a routine basis. Before now, daily
monitoring of peak flow and FEV-1 wasn’t reliable, practical or affordable. Yet, 35 million
Americans suffer from chronic lung disease. Of them, 20 million Americans, including more than
six million children, have asthma and more than 16 million Americans have emphysema or
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) according to the American Lung Association.
“Managing asthma and other chronic lung diseases such as COPD needs to be a daily practice
and having tools that are not only simple, but are highly accurate and reliable is key,” said James
Mault, MD, Cardiothoracic Surgeon and Chief Medical Officer for Microlife USA.
The simple to use handheld device has received FDA clearance and is designed to be used by
children as well as adults with chronic lung disease. The Microlife Peak Flow Monitor makes
each breathing measurement automatically and stores up to 240 peak flow and FEV-1
measurements. Peak flow or peak expiratory rate measures how fast a person can exhale air. A
peak flow test measures the function of the airways and indicates whether there is restriction or
obstruction. This information can be easily downloaded and emailed so the patient can share
their measurements with their doctor. The device also measures an important parameter called
FEV-1, which is the forced expiratory volume after one second of exhaling. Usually, FEV-1 is
decreased in obstructive airways due to mucus secretion, bronchospasm, inflammation or loss of
elastic support of the airways.
Acute asthma attacks increase in the fall and winter months and are deadly for nearly 5,000
Americans each year. Chest colds are a leading culprit for setbacks and deaths of COPD
patients. An important way to monitor lung function for the warning signs that often exist before
crisis, is to use a device that measures peak flow and FEV-1.
“Monitoring peak flow and FEV-1 in between visits to the doctor can be very important to a
patient’s care. These important measurements help determine whether the patient’s medications
are working, dosages need to be changed or if the patient’s disease management program needs
revision,” said Norbert Voelkel, M.D., Chief of the COPD Center, University of Colorado Hospital.
Shortcomings of Traditional Tools
Traditionally, some asthma and other lung disease patients have monitored their lung function at
home using a plastic, manual peak flow meter which is unsophisticated and often difficult for
patients to use. Most importantly, the manual meters contain a bead that goes up in the plastic
tube when a patient blows into it; knowing exactly the point it at which the bead stops before
dropping down into the tube is critical. With the manual meters, this often proves difficult, making
record keeping unreliable and inaccurate.
Benefits of Peak Flow Monitoring
Measurements with a peak flow device can help both the patient and their doctor to monitor their
disease and can help determine the effectiveness of medications and therapies. In addition, a
peak flow measurement can help when a disease state is getting worse. A patient’s peak flow
and FEV-1 may show changes before the patient recognizes any symptoms and can allow a
physician to adjust a patient’s treatment to prevent dangerous episodes that could require
hospitalization or may be life threatening.
Pulmonologists Recommend Digital Peak Flow
Pulmonary doctors at the American Thoracic Society meeting earlier this year were surveyed on
the value of home monitoring for asthma patients and others suffering from lung diseases such as
COPD. Of them, 78% said home monitoring of lung function for these patients is important, very
important or critical to their disease management. 62% recommend digital peak flow devices to
their patients.
The Microlife Peak Flow Monitor is available in CVS pharmacies nationwide. They are also
available by calling Microlife Customer Service at 1-888-314-2599 or visiting www.cvs.com.
About Microlife
Microlife is a global company and the world leader in the development and manufacturing of
medical diagnostic equipment for home and institutional use. Blood pressure monitors, digital
thermometers and peak flow meters are Microlife’s core business. Microlife is a vertically
integrated manufacturing company with a worldwide sales and distribution network. Microlife
exports over 35 million unit each year from its factory in Shenzhen, China to all parts of the world.
Each unit utilizes leading edge technology for monitoring key health indicators. The Microlife
family consists of more than 2,400 dedicated employees worldwide and is committed to continued
research and development in medical devices that enable people to responsibly manage their
own health. Visit Microlife USA’s website at www.microlifeusa.com.
About CVS
CVS is America's #1 retail pharmacy, operating over 5,000 retail and specialty pharmacy stores
in 36 states and the District of Columbia. With more than 40 years of dynamic growth in the retail
pharmacy industry, CVS is committed to being the easiest pharmacy retailer for customers to
use. CVS has created innovative approaches to serve the healthcare needs of all customers
through its CVS/pharmacy stores, its online pharmacy, CVS.com, and its pharmacy benefit
management and specialty pharmacy subsidiary, PharmaCare Management Services. General
information about CVS is available through the Investor Relations portion of the Company's
website, at http://investor.CVS.com.