Clearwater Clinical: First iPhone Application Released to Help Physicians Diagnose and Treat Vertigo Caused by BPPV

OTTAWA, ONTARIO AND CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - May 6, 2010) -

Editors Note: There is a video associated with this Press Release.

Clearwater Clinical today announced the availability of DizzyFIX, a new therapeutic iPhone application, which allows doctors and medical practitioners to diagnose and treat Vertigo caused by BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo) - a condition present in 1 out of 10 people over the age of 60.

Dizziness disorders and impact on healthcare

BPPV is a debilitating condition for those who have it. BPPV, simply described, is a condition which is caused by the migration of calcium crystals known as Otoconia to other parts of the ear. In turn, this causes abnormal fluid displacement, eventually resulting in the sensation of vertigo. The prevalence of BPPV is increasing significantly as the Baby Boomer generation reaches 60 and beyond. Subsequently, healthcare costs due to falls and accidents related to dizziness are also expected to rise. In addition, those in the workforce who suffer from dizziness incur significant expense due to lost work hours, disability and high prescription costs.

Current protocol for diagnosing and treating dizziness disorders

Today, the treatment of BPPV is usually conducted by Vestibular specialists, Audiologists or Neurologists. This current method of treating BPPV is costly and demanding to healthcare systems worldwide. Oftentimes, BPPV can be treated with a therapeutic maneuver called "Particle repositioning" or the "Epley Maneuver". However, if the maneuver is not performed correctly either at the professional or patient level it is ineffective. Clearwater developed the software for Doctors to load onto an iPhone in order to accurately diagnose and treat patients with dizziness directly in their offices, versus treatment by way of a referral to specialists or by prescribing unnecessary medications.

BPPV, Education and the market

BPPV is a relatively new diagnosis in the medical field (1992) and recent research publications note that the education regarding the treatment of Vertigo and dizziness is poor, as most medical students leave school not knowing how to perform the treatment maneuver.

"We developed DizzyFix to facilitate the correct performance of the maneuver and ensure reliable results, following treatment in the community," said Dr. Matthew Bromwich, Chief Executive Officer, Clearwater Clinical. "DizzyFIX for the iPhone provides a clinically relevant diagnostic and therapeutic tool, which is perfectly placed in the hands of the community physician to ensure the early treatment of this important disorder."

According to a survey published by Software Advice in July 2009, 60% of Doctors in the U.S. prefer the use of the iPhone. The survey, which set out to ask the question, "Which smartphone will own the healthcare market", found that those in the "most patient-centric healthcare roles clearly prefer the iPhone over other smartphones."

"We intend to develop this application for other Smartphones, however we recognized the iPhone market was the most immediate opportunity to bring DizzyFIX iPhone to into the hands of doctors dealing with this problem on a daily basis," added Dr. Alp Sener, Chief Operating Officer, Clearwater Clinical.

Treatment and the importance of continuous research

"DizzyFIX iPhone represents a breakthrough in thinking about the treatment and research of medical conditions," said Dr. Bromwich "Not only will this technology manifest as the first time a condition can be effectively diagnosed and treated with the use of a cell phone, but it opens the door to novel methods of population research and data collection. For the first time, this would enable the acquisition of medical research and treatment data on an unprecedented scale resulting in the largest prospective study on the treatment of BPPV and other Vertigo-related conditions."

The Demo Version of DizzyFix iPhone app is now available for download on iTunes for free, the full version will be available at a cost $14.99. For more details, please visit YouTube to learn more about the application and how it works.

About Clearwater Clinical

Clearwater Clinical is a private company engaged in the design, manufacture and distribution of DizzyFIX, a medical device which treats BPPV, and the DizzyFIX iPhone application which aids in the diagnosis of BPPV. Clearwater has more than ten distributors covering the USA, UK, Israel, Jordan, UAE, Turkey Germany, Poland, Korea and Canada.

To view the video associated with this press release, please visit the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfG90gWcZ-0