BRANFORD, Conn., Sept. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CAS Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CASM), a medical device company focused on innovative, non- invasive vital signs monitoring, today announced that it has been awarded a Phase IIb Small Business Innovative Research Grant by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH),

The three-year grant totaling $2.8 million will be used primarily to support advanced clinical outcome studies that focus on the Company's proprietary LASER-SIGHT(R) technology. This technology is incorporated into the FORE-SIGHT(R) Cerebral Oximeter, which started shipping to distributors and customers in the second quarter of this year. Further clinical studies funded by this grant will be used to expand the clinical applications for FORE-SIGHT outside of the initial target market of high risk cardio-vascular surgery.

"This NIH grant supports the clinical advancement of absolute cerebral oximetry and recognizes the value of CASMED's unique solution to improve patient outcomes," said Andrew E. Kersey, President and CEO of CAS Medical Systems. "We are pleased with our early market response and success with FORE-SIGHT and our customers' understanding of the benefits of absolute cerebral oximetry. We believe the FORE-SIGHT Cerebral Oximeter, featuring our proprietary LASER-SIGHT technology, significantly improves a physician's ability to recognize and correct oxygen deprivation in the brain."

Paul B. Benni, Chief Scientific Officer, added, "The award of this peer- reviewed grant will enable us to provide physicians with expanded guidance for establishing cerebral tissue oxygen saturation threshold values in various medical situations. Studies with this funding are planned to begin within the next two months."

To date, CASMED has been awarded six SBIR grants totaling $5 million from NINDS of the National Institutes of Health to support the development and commercialization of its absolute cerebral oximeter.

About the FORE-SIGHT Absolute Cerebral Oximeter

CASMED's initial market focus for the FORE-SIGHT product is on high-risk cardiovascular surgeries, of which there are about 700,000 performed each year in the U.S. Additional market opportunities include a broad range of general surgical procedures and post-operative and critical care settings. Protecting the brain from low oxygen levels during these procedures is an important goal of every surgical team because the brain is highly vulnerable to oxygen deprivation. At normal body temperatures, damage to brain cells due to lack of oxygen can occur after just a few seconds. The FORE-SIGHT Cerebral Oximeter provides new information that allows clinicians to monitor and respond to instances of brain tissue oxygen deprivation before damage to the brain occurs.

About CASMED(R)

Founded in 1984, CAS Medical Systems, Inc. is dedicated to the design and manufacture of innovative technologies and products vital to patient care in the most challenging clinical environments. Its current product lines include blood pressure measurement technology, vital signs monitoring equipment, blood pressure cuffs, apnea monitoring equipment and products for neonatal intensive care. With a reputation for the highest quality products available in the markets it serves, CASMED products are used by clinicians worldwide.

For further information regarding CAS Medical Systems, Inc., visit the Company's website at www.casmed.com.

     Company Contacts
     CAS Medical Systems, Inc.
     Jeffery Baird, CFO
     203-488-6056
     ir@casmed.com

     Investors                                  Media
     FD                                         FD
     John Capodanno                             Robert Stanislaro
     212-850-5705                               212-850-5657
     jcapodanno@fd-us.com                       rstanislaro@fd-us.com

Statements included in this press release, which are not historical in nature, are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements relating to the future performance of the Company are subject to many factors including, but not limited to, the customer acceptance of the products in the market, the introduction of competitive products and product development, commercialization and technological difficulties, and other risks detailed in the Company's most recent Form 10-KSB and other Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the Company's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. When used in this press release the terms "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "may", "objective", "plan", "possible", "potential", "project", "will" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and we do not undertake any obligation to update any forward- looking statements, whether as a result of future events, new information or otherwise.

Source: CAS Medical Systems, Inc.