CAS Medical Systems Earns Japanese Nod for Cerebral Oximeters

Branford, Conn.-based CAS Medical Systems Inc. (CASMED), a non-invasive patient monitoring device maker, has gained Japanese regulatory clearance for its Fore-Sight Elite cerebral oximeter.

Under a previously announced exclusive distribution agreement for Japan with Century Medical Inc. (CMI), CASMED will soon begin shipping Fore-Sight Elite oximetry products to CMI and expects that CMI will begin making the product available to customers in July.

“We are pleased to offer our world-class Fore-Sight Elite technology to clinicians and their patients in the world’s second largest medical market,” said Thomas Patton, CASMED’s president and CEO. “Although the Fore-Sight technology has been available in the United States and elsewhere since 2007, this approval marks the first time Fore-Sight will be available in Japan. Importantly, there appear to be many Japanese physicians who are keenly interested in evaluating our technology for incorporation into their clinical practice. With CMI as our committed distribution partner and with our product’s industry-leading accuracy, we believe that revenues in Japan may soon be second only to those in the United States.”

“A key component of our company’s growth strategy is expanding international distribution of FORE-SIGHT, and the launch of Fore-Sight ELITE oximetry and the hiring of Karen Harris-Coleman as Vice President of International Sales were the catalysts to advance that strategy,” said Chief Commercial Officer Brian Wagner. “With Japan we now have approvals and high-quality distributors in the world’s top six medical markets and expect to open additional markets for FORE-SIGHT throughout the world.”