Hutchinson Technology Announces CE Mark Of The InSpectra(TM) StO2 Spot Check

HUTCHINSON, Minn., Dec. 9, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hutchinson Technology Incorporated (Nasdaq:HTCH) today announced CE Mark and the market launch of the InSpectra™ StO2 Spot Check for use as a noninvasive, cost-effective tool to rapidly assess the tissue oxygenation of patients in circulatory distress. The product, which is targeted for use in emergency and critical care environments, is now available in countries that recognize the CE Mark. The company also has filed for marketing clearance of the product in the United States under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Premarket Notification, or 510(k), process.

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The InSpectra StO2 Spot Check (model 300) consists of a hand-held device, cable, reusable sensor, charging station and rechargeable battery. These features enable clinicians to quickly and cost-effectively identify at-risk patients, who can then be continuously monitored with the InSpectra ™ StO2 Tissue Oxygenation Monitor (model 650). Used together, these two products help reduce the time to critical actions and help identify the endpoints of resuscitation.

"Having the ability to quickly assess if a patient has inadequate tissue oxygenation, especially when vital signs are not indicating a problem, can speed treatment decisions," said Didier Payen de la Garanderie, MD, PhD, Chief of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Emergency Medicine at Hopital Lariboisiere, Paris, France. "This is an exciting innovation for pre-hospital and emergency medicine patients."

Evidence in favor of incorporating StO2 into clinical practice continues to grow. "Multiple clinical studies demonstrate that patients with low StO2 are at risk of poor clinical outcomes and that measurement of StO2 helps detect problems other vital signs do not," said Rick Penn, President of Hutchinson Technology's BioMeasurement Division. "In addition, recent research suggests that using StO2 to guide patient treatment results in improved clinical outcomes as well as economic benefits in the form of shorter length of stays in the ICU and the hospital."