Ultrasound-based cough detector

iSonea Issued U.S. Patent for Cough Detector to Diagnose Respiratory Conditions

Severna Park, MD — March 14, 2012 — Medical technology company iSonea Ltd. (ASX: ISN; OTCQX: ISOAY) today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued U.S. Patent 2009/0216127 A1 covering its cough count technology in the field of acoustic monitoring of respiratory diseases.

Leveraging the company’s proprietary Acoustic Respiratory Monitoring™ (ARM) technology, the patent covers the ultrasound-based cough detector that fits against a patient’s neck and automatically detects coughs and counts coughing events. The sensors on the device can detect high and low frequency mechanical vibrations in the tracheal area. The device senses coughing events, tracks their severity and duration, and stores that data or sends it wirelessly to a computer or other log.



Cough is an important symptom used in many assessment standards for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), among others.

“As stated in our recent half year report to shareholders, developing and growing a deep patent portfolio is one of our core competencies and key business strategies,” said Michael Thomas, chief executive officer of iSonea Ltd. “This latest patent for cough detection, which we have been working with the USPTO to finalize over the past several months, is an important step and addition to our robust patent portfolio. Combining the company’s active and passive acoustic technologies and expertise, the technology provides a meaningful way to quantify this important symptom, which will aid clinicians in the diagnosis and treatment of several diseases and respiratory conditions.”

iSonea’s recently issued patent is part of a patent portfolio that includes more than 15 issued patents and numerous patent applications centered on respiratory diseases and sound analysis.

About iSonea Limited

iSonea Limited (ASX:ISN; OTCQX:ISOAY) is an emerging medical technology company developing innovative, non-invasive devices and mobile health apps to improve the management of chronic, costly respiratory disorders such as asthma and COPD. By leveraging iSonea’s proprietary Acoustic Respiratory Monitoring™ (ARM) technology with its AsthmaSense™ mobile applications, iSonea is turning smartphones into medical devices--enabling anyone, anywhere, at any time to monitor breathing distress symptoms, in order to take action. iSonea’s ARM devices have been cleared for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Australian TGA and the European Union CE. For more information, please visit www.iSoneaMed.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts but rather are based on iSonea’s current expectations, estimates and projections about the industry in which iSonea operates, and its beliefs and assumptions. Words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks,” "estimates,“ “guidance” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements and should be considered an at-risk statement. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, particularly those risks or uncertainties inherent in the process of developing technology and in the endeavour of building a business around such products and services. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond the control of iSonea, are difficult to predict and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements. iSonea cautions shareholders and prospective shareholders not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect the view of iSonea only as of the date of this release. The forward-looking statements made in this announcement relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. iSonea will not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions or updates to these forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances or unanticipated events occurring after the date of this announcement except as required by law or by any appropriate regulatory authority.