Biological Signal Processing (BSP), a developer of electrocardiograph
(ECG) technology with diagnostic value for detecting and monitoring
ischemic heart diseases (IHD), recently announced the beginning of
joint trials with Maccabee Healthcare Services.
BSP also reported that the Israeli Government's Chief Scientist
Office has approved an R&D grant for the company of $200,000.
BSP is developing a novel system for the monitoring and diagnosis of
ischemic heart diseases. The system will enable early detection and
reliable non-invasive diagnosis of heart diseases that result from
coronary artery disease -- the leading cause of death in the
developed world.
The company's technology is based on proprietary ECG signal
acquisition and signal processing methods, and will be implemented in
stress ECG systems, patient monitoring devices, and in implantable
defibrillators and pacemakers.
Clinical studies will be launched in the first quarter of 2004 in
West Virginia, USA, as well as in two leading hospitals in Israel.
The clinical studies to date have tested the performance of BSP's
system in stress ECG procedures. The results, presenting high
diagnostic efficacy far surpassing that of the standard ECG, were
presented in two European cardiology conferences.
Dr. Amir Beker, CEO, a graduate of the 'Talpiot' program of the
Israeli Air Force, and a PhD in Medical Physics founded BSP in 2000.
The company has raised close to $1m from individual investors in its
last round of financing in 2003, and is planning a $3-5 million round
in 2004 in order to commercialize its prototype system and receive
regulatory FDA and CE approvals.