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National Quality Care to Present Its Wearable Artificial Kidney at the American Society of Nephrology

Posted on: Wednesday, 16 November 2005, 09:00 CST

National Quality Care, Inc. (OTCBB:NQCI) reported data obtained from new bench and animal studies on the effectiveness of the Company's newly patented Wearable Artificial Kidney (WAK) at the 38th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Nephrology (ASN), held on November 11, 2005 in Philadelphia, PA.

Victor Gura, M.D., inventor of the Wearable Artificial Kidney and CEO of the Company, presented the new information.

The improved version of the Wearable Artificial Kidney significantly increases its efficiency. The Creatinine Clearance in this series was 41 ml/min as compared to 25 ml/min obtained in the series of animal experiments conducted last year. Dr. Gura also presented bench data that explain why the Wearable Artificial Kidney delivers such impressive results with a device that is a hundred times lighter and smaller than a regular dialysis machine. The summary and conclusions of the data presented were the following:

-- Steady flow generates less mass transfer than pulsatile flow.

-- The dual channel, palm size, battery operated pump generates higher peak blood flows than those of larger, bulkier and AC-driven roller pumps.

-- The higher amplitude, the half cycle difference between the blood and dialysate pulsations, as well as the magnitude and frequency of Trans Membrane Pressure gradient changes in the shuttle pump generate a "push-pull" flow through the dialyzer membrane that may contribute to improving the mass transfer across the membrane and higher clearances of the WAK.

-- The pulsatile flow improves the superficial velocity of the dialysate in contact with the sorbent particles, thus increasing the amounts of solutes adsorbed.

-- The addition of a high flux larger membrane surface, without increasing the bulk or the weight of the dialyzer, contribute to the improved function of the WAK.

-- Increasing the pH improves the adsorptionof solutes from the dialysate in the WAK.

-- This improved version shows that the WAK may be the modality of choice to optimize the care of ESRD patients, by providing 168 hours a week of high clearance dialysis.

-- The WAK may obviate the need for daily intermittent dialysis.

-- The WAK may reduce the cost and simplify the logistical requirements of providing maintenance dialysis. It is hoped that the WAK will improve the quality of life and reduce the mortality of ESRD patients.

The Wearable Artificial Kidney, for which the Company has just received its first patent, is designed to improve the lives of those patients suffering from End Stage Renal Disease by providing continuous dialysis from a device worn as a belt by the patient.

"This work represents the accomplishment of a very important milestone in our program, since we can shed light on the numerous physical and chemical mechanisms that contribute to the superior performance of our device, and will constitute a major qualitative change in the way ESRD patients are treated," said Dr. Gura.

About National Quality Care, Inc.

National Quality Care, Inc. is focused on the development of a Wearable Artificial Kidney that can be worn as a belt and operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Company also has developed a continuous ultrafiltration belt for the treatment of patients with Congestive Heart Failure.

Some paragraphs of this press release, particularly those describing the Company's strategies, operating expense reductions and business plans, contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1993, as amended and Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. While the Company is working to achieve those goals, actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including difficulties in marketing its products and services, need for capital, competition from other companies and other factors, any of which could have an adverse effect on the business plans of the Company, its reputation in the industry or its expected financial return from operations. Factors such as these could have an adverse effect on the Company's results of operations. In light of significant uncertainties inherent in forward-looking statements included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by the Company and its subsidiaries that it will be achieved.

Source: Business Wire

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