TSO3 Establishes Medical Industry's First-Ever Claims for Duodenoscope Terminal Sterilization

STERIZONE® VP4 Sterilizer Validated to Sterilize Complex, Multi-Channel Endoscopic Devices

QUÉBEC CITY, Dec. 17, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - TSO₃ Inc. (TSX:TOS), an innovator in sterilization technology for medical devices in healthcare settings, has added to its label claims for the STERIZONE® VP4 sterilizer in Canada that validates the ability to sterilize a specific duodenoscope.

Duodenoscopes are multi-channel endoscopic devices with flexible lighted tubes that are typically threaded through the mouth, throat and stomach and into the top of the small intestine (duodenum). They are used in an increasingly common procedure called endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). ERCP is used primarily to diagnose and treat conditions of the bile ducts and main pancreatic duct, including gallstones, inflammatory strictures (scars), leaks (from trauma and surgery) and cancer. 

Duodenoscopes are complex endoscopes, with small working parts that include an elevator guide-wire mechanism that is difficult to reach when reprocessing. This is compounded by the fact that the design varies across brands and models. However, if a duodenoscope is not meticulously reprocessed, living microbes harboring in residual tissue or fluid from a prior procedure can be transmitted via the scope to a subsequent patient.

TSO₃ has established laboratory data that validates that the STERIZONE® VP4 sterilizer, with its dual sterilants of hydrogen peroxide and ozone, can repeatedly sterilize the Olympus TJF-Q180V Duodenoscope, the industry's leading brand and model of duodenoscope.

"We believe we are the first to validate terminal sterilization of such a device," noted TSO₃ president and CEO, R.M. (Ric) Rumble. "This breakthrough comes at a critical time, with the growing use of Duodenoscopes, along with the increasing number of adverse incidents related to ineffectual reprocessing."

Only this particular Olympus Duodenoscope has been validated and is included in our Canadian label claim and Rumble points out that TSO₃ does not expressly or implicitly claim that the medical device manufacturer has cooperated in performing the tests or has endorsed the test results.

"We are planning to meet with the U.S. FDA in early 2016 to discuss the addition of similar language for our claims in the U.S.," added Rumble.

Duodenoscopes have been directly linked to patient-to-patient transfer of multidrug-resistant bacteria that are not inactivated by high-level disinfection. Published reports confirm the significant risk of device-related transfer of antibiotic resistant microbes, which can lead to patient injury or death.

According to a report published in the L.A. Times in August regarding an ERCP-related superbug outbreak at UCLA, nearly 700,000 ERCP procedures were performed in the U.S. last year, up more than 14% since 2010.

In October, the FDA issued an official statement ordering duodenoscope manufacturers to conduct post market surveillance studies in health care facilities.

About the STERIZONE® VP4 Sterilizer

The STERIZONE® VP4 Sterilizer is a low-temperature (41°C or 105.8°F) 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, error-free sterilization process. 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 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. This 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). Other H₂O₂ sterilizers are limited to load weights of up to only 25 lb and require dedicated fixed cycles for different types of instruments (reducing overall throughput).

The STERIZONE® VP4 Sterilizer was cleared for commercialization in the United States in December 2014 and in Canada in October 2015.

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. It 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 web site at www.tso3.com or contact Liolios Group at [phone] or email [email protected].

The statements in this release and oral statements made by representatives of TSO₃ relating to matters that are not historical facts (including, without limitation, those regarding the timing or outcome of any financing undertaken by TSO₃) are forward-looking statements that involve certain risks, uncertainties and hypotheses, including, but not limited to, 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.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

The TSX as neither approved nor disapproved the information contained herein and accepts no responsibility for it.

SOURCE TSO3 Inc.

Company Contact: TSO, Inc., R.M. (Ric) Rumble, President and CEO, Tel: [phone], Email: [email protected]; Investor Relations: Liolios Group, Inc., Chris Tyson, Tel: [phone], [email protected]