QUÉBEC CITY and MYRTLE BEACH, SC, March 14, 2019 /PRNewswire/ - TSO3 Inc. ("TSO3" or the "Company") (TSX: TOS), an innovator in sterilization technology for medical devices in healthcare settings, announced that the Company has initiated sterilization testing intended to support repeated sterile reprocessing in the TSO3 STERIZONE® VP4 Sterilizer of the Fujifilm ED-530XT duodenoscope supplied by FUJIFILM Medical Systems U.S.A., Inc.
"Since 2016, we have been actively pursuing US regulatory clearance of our patented STERIZONE® VP4 Sterilizers to address growing concerns with existing reprocessing protocols used by medical facilities and specifically in gastrointestinal departments. Change is now coming," stated R.M. (Ric) Rumble, President and CEO of TSO3. "As the only sterilization technology having received US regulatory clearance for the terminal sterilization of long, complex, multi-channel flexible endoscopes that fall within certain dimensions, such as gastroscopes, colonoscopes and duodenoscopes, we are ideally positioned to collaborate with OEMs to improve processes related to infection prevention. TSO3 is dedicated to helping our customers continually innovate and improve patient care with best-in-class technology applications directed at infection prevention."
Although the Fujifilm duodenoscope dimensions fall within TSO3's US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared label claim for sterilization of long, flexible gastro-intestinal endoscopes (see claims at tso3.com), the additional data TSO3 will generate as a result of the testing is intended to further support customer needs for device documentation. There can be no assurance as to the results of this testing or that any additional regulatory submissions will be made other than claims already cleared for the sterilizer and the reprocessing of the endoscope. Results from this testing are anticipated by the end of the first half of 2019.
About the STERIZONE VP4 Sterilizer
The STERIZONE VP4 Sterilizer is a low-temperature sterilization system that utilizes the dual sterilants of vaporized hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and ozone (O3) to achieve terminal sterilization of heat and moisture-sensitive medical devices. Its single pre-programmed cycle can sterilize a large number and wide range of compatible devices, creating a cost-effective sterilization process with error-free cycle selection. The device's unique Dynamic Sterilant Delivery System™ automatically adjusts the quantity of injected sterilant based on the load composition, weight and temperature. This capability removes the guesswork and potential for human error, as there is no need to sort instruments and choose the appropriate cycles as with other machines.
The STERIZONE VP4 Sterilizer is the only terminal sterilization method that is FDA cleared to sterilize long, multi-channel flexible endoscopes (with a maximum of four channels) of up to 3.5 meters in length, such as certain video colonoscopes, duodenoscopes and gastroscopes - an industry first for any medical device sterilization process.
The STERIZONE VP4 Sterilizer is also the only cleared low temperature sterilizer that can process a mixed load consisting of general instruments, single channel flexible endoscopes, and single or double channel rigid endoscopes in the same cycle with load weights of up to 75 lb. The ability to run mixed loads significantly reduces labor costs by minimizing the amount of instrument sorting required, while maximizing the device turns (more productivity from increased throughput capacity).
More information about the STERIZONE VP4 Sterilizer is available through TSO3's website, under the Products section at www.tso3.com.
About TSO3
Founded in 1998, TSO3's activities encompass the sale, production, maintenance, research, development and licensing of sterilization processes, related consumable supplies and accessories for heat-sensitive medical devices. The Company designs products for sterile processing areas in the hospital environment that offer an advantageous replacement solution to other low temperature sterilization processes currently used in hospitals. TSO3 also offers services related to the maintenance of sterilization equipment and compatibility testing of medical devices with such processes.
For more information about TSO3, visit the Company's website at www.tso3.com.
The statements in this release and oral statements made by representatives of TSO3 relating to matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve certain risks, uncertainties and hypotheses, including, but not limited to, the limited history of sales or distribution of the Company, the evolution in customer demand for the Company's products and services, the ability of the Company to obtain the required regulatory clearances to market its products, general business and economic conditions, the condition of the financial markets, the ability of TSO3 to obtain financing on favourable terms and other risks and uncertainties. Although TSO3 believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. The complete versions of the cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements as well as a description of the relevant assumptions and risk factors likely to affect TSO3's actual or projected results are included in the Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2017, which is available on the Company's website. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and TSO3 does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless expressly required by applicable securities laws.
SOURCE TSO3 Inc.
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