Military's Acceptance of Chillbuster Warming System to Benefit Microtek Medical

COLUMBUS, Miss. -- Microtek Medical Holdings, Inc. and ThermoGear, Inc., based in Tigard, Ore., announced today that the Department of the Navy, U.S. Marine Corps System Command has submitted an order to ThermoGear, Inc. to purchase 110 units of ThermoGear's Chillbuster warming system. Early last year, Microtek and ThermoGear entered into exclusive three-year licensing agreements for Microtek to manufacture, market and sell the Chillbuster line of portable thermal products.

According to Mel Campf, founder, president and CEO of ThermoGear, "Our warming system is the world's first fully portable electric blanket." The Chillbuster warming system is specifically designed to treat hypothermia encountered in the field and in pre-hospital, hospital or surgical environments. The system is FDA approved and certified to meet electro-magnetic interference (EMI) standards. ThermoGear holds a patent on the control of battery power by extending its life and applying the technology to warming devices.

In field trials conducted by MARCORSYSCOM, it was found that the Chillbuster warming blanket was the only electronic blanket that can be operated by battery for extended periods of time, making it unique for field medical operations and an important part of the new highly mobile Forward Resuscitative Surgery System (FRSS). Additionally, the warming blanket can be moved with the patient aboard various patient evacuation platforms, an essential characteristic of FRSS. The Chillbuster warming system has a National Stock Number (NSN) and is specified as a line item on the Marine Corps' FRSS Authorized Medical Allowance List (AMAL).

Dan R. Lee, president and CEO of Microtek, said, "We are very encouraged by the acceptance of the Chillbuster warming system by the U.S. Marine Corps, and we believe the other U.S. military services will ultimately place the warming system in their inventories. The shipment of these systems is scheduled to be completed this month. License agreements such as the ones we have with ThermoGear to manufacture, market and sell the Chillbuster(R) warming system are an excellent example of our strategy to leverage our manufacturing capabilities to further penetrate the healthcare market. "

Microtek Medical Holdings, Inc. is a market leader in the healthcare industry, develops, manufactures and sells infection control products, fluid control products and safety products to healthcare professionals for use in environments such as operating rooms and outpatient surgical centers.

Source: Microtek Medical Holdings, Inc.