Venture-backed medical device start-up company Ceribell announced its new software ClarityPro has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the indication of diagnosing Electrographic Status Epilepticus (ESE). ESE is a potentially hidden condition where a brain seizure may not trigger any convulsive signs.

ClarityPro is now the only FDA-indicated device for the diagnosis of ESE in adult patients over the age of 18. ClarityPro is also the first and only device to offer NTAP reimbursement for the diagnosis of ESE, the company said in a press release.

The FDA grants a limited number of Breakthrough Designations annually, with the aim of expediting FDA review to give patients and healthcare providers accelerated access to new technologies that meet rigorous standards. Ceribell's ESE Diagnosis is the second Breakthrough Device Designation granted to the company in the past 12 months.

The NTAP reimbursement program recognizes new technologies that provide a substantially improved clinical benefit over currently available therapies, giving Medicare beneficiaries timely access to advancements in healthcare. With a historically low number of NTAPs granted, approval for Ceribell signifies CMS confidence in both the technology and in the need for point-of-care diagnosis of ESE. ClarityPro is the first and only ICU monitoring device to receive CMS NTAP reimbursement. NTAP reimbursement of up to $913.90 for eligible Medicare patient cases will become available on October 1, 2023.

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"These decisions from the FDA and CMS are further validation that Ceribell's clinical impact is significant for patients," said Jane Chao, Ph.D. Ceribell's Co-founder and CEO. "This dedicated reimbursement from CMS will also expand access to this vital technology to more Americans, especially seniors and critically ill patients who are more likely to suffer from neurological illnesses."

The ability to diagnose ESE is essential to treating prolonged seizures, which may affect one-third of neurological critical care patients during their hospital stay. These seizures increase the risk of permanent brain injury with long-term neurological disability. Early diagnosis and management have been shown to dramatically improve patient outcomes.

Ceribell is a point-of-care EEG system that delivers real-time seizure monitoring and alerts 24/7, enabling rapid and more precise treatment of patients with suspected non-convulsive seizures. The new CeribellClarityPro software utilizes a machine learning model to analyze EEG signals and generate bedside alerts. The software, combined with the ease of use of the Ceribell system, empowers bedside clinicians to make decisions quickly and confidently.

Ceribell's ClarityPro is now the first and only device to diagnose ESE according to the American Clinical Neurophysiology Society (ACNS)definition of ESE. Neurologists are required to review all EEGs for the presence of other pathological EEG patterns. ClarityPro will streamline the EEG review process by flagging all portions of the EEG that could contain seizures or other areas of concern, enabling faster and more confident triage.

About Ceribell

Ceribell, Inc. is headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA. Ceribell deploys a cloud-linked, portable electroencephalogram (EEG) device to assess brain waves in minutes to identify the occurrence of seizures in emergency rooms and intensive care units. The Ceribell system can be quickly and easily applied to a patient by any healthcare provider and delivers brain monitoring results within minutes. Ceribell is focused on making EEG widely available, more efficient, and more cost-effective to improve the diagnosis and treatment of neurological conditions for patients at risk for seizures. The Ceribell EEGSystem first received FDA 510(k) clearance in 2017 and is commercially available in the United States.

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