Description: An Israeli-developed, thimble-like device worn over a person's index finger has been proven by clinical studies to predict who is at high risk of developing endothelial dysfunction - a key precursor of atherosclerosis, a major component in cardiovascular disease.

Called the Endo-PAT, the device is based on PAT technology that measures subtle but significant vaso-motion changes through the pneumatic probe on the finger. It is the only non-invasive device approved by the US Food and Drug Administration that reliably detects impairment of the endothelial layer (the inner lining of blood vessels).

Developed and manufactured by Itamar Medical in Cesearea, the screening technology adds an important dimension to cardiac medicine by allowing physicians to reliably and non-invasively measure endothelial function and identify pathological cases of dysfunction, according to foreign researchers.

Presentations by four research groups (including the Mayo Clinic and Harvard University) in