Touch Diagnostics Lauches DigiTap™ iPhone App for Assessment of Multiple Sclerosis and Lou Gehrig’s Disease

iPhone app delivers portability and enhanced diagnostic sensitivity for neuroscience professionals.

San Diego, CA, Mar 2, 2010 - Touch Diagnostics launches the second medical diagnostic iPhone application for healthcare practitioners to assess and monitor neurodegenerative disease.

DigiTap™ is a convenient, cost effective replacement of yesterday’s, expensive and boxy Finger Tap machine. DigiTap™ is designed for healthcare professionals in the neurosciences to measure fine motor speed, motor control, and coordination in the upper extremities. The DigiTap™ Heel/Toe Tapping Test aims to assess motor speed and control, along with coordination in the lower extremities.

An estimated 22 million people worldwide are affected by neurodegenerative disease. Neurodegenerative diseases are progressive diseases of the nervous system in which cells of the brain and spinal cord are lost. The loss of cells negatively impacts intellectual and cognitive function, memory and motor skills. Among the most common are multiple sclerosis (MS), and Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS), Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Disease.

The DigiTap™ iPhone app was developed to quantify the results of the tapping test so as to express these results in a more objective manner and to avoid the problem of subjective evaluations by different examiners and the problem of subjective examinations of different examinees.

The determination in the regularity of successive rapid alternating movements has long been a standard measure used to clinically evaluate one aspect of motor function. Tapping frequency can distinguish patients with motor dysfunctions of cerebellar, basal ganglia, and cerebral origins from normal patient controls.

“We continue to develop iPhone based diagnostic applications that offer the neuroscience practitioner portability, convenience, affordability and clinical utility,” said Brent Gutekunst, CEO, Touch Diagnostics.” “The worldwide feedback on our recently launched  OKN+™ iPhone app, for visual deficits and optic nerve pathology, has been overwhelming.”

Founded in 2009, Touch Diagnostics (TouchDx) has pioneered the development of a new class of applications that utilize smartphone technology for medical testing and evaluation. The company develops applications with a focus on leveraging the convenience and technical capabilities of the iPhone to further quantify medical assessments, increase diagnostic sensitivity and yield better health outcomes.

For additional information on the news that is the subject of this release please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.touchdx.com.