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Mission Pharmacal offers the StoneRisk Diagnostic Profile, which measures10 urine risk factors for stone formation. It offers a urine collectionand preservation system and is recommended for initial and recurrent stoneformers who test positive for a urinary tract infection, according to thecompany. Test results are shown on a computer-generated graphic display.

Rüsch announces the addition of the original Belly Bag, formerlyof Life Tech Inc., to its extensive line of urological products. The urinedrainage bag is designed to restore mobility and dramatically increase comfortand quality of life for patients who are currently using indwelling catheters.

Bayer Corp. has received FDA approval to market ciprofloxacin extended-releasetablets (Cipro XR), 500 mg, for the treatment of uncomplicated UTI. Thequinolone antibiotic is formulated for use once a day over a 3-day period.

TAP Pharmaceuticals Products, Inc., presents the Lupron Living Album,the company's new booth design, which reflects its continued commitmentto the urology community for more than 17 years. Highlights include an interactivequiz game of pertinent clinical messages for physicians who treat advancedprostate cancer and updated information CaPSURE, the nationwide prostatecancer database.

GlaxoSmithKline features dutasteride (Avodart), 0.5 mg, an FDA-approved5-alpha-reductase inhibitor for patients with BPH. Initially approved forthe treatment of BPH, the drug is now also indicated for the treatment ofsymptomatic BPH in men with an enlarged prostate to improve urinary symptomsand reduce the risk of urinary retention and the need for BPH-related surgery.

World of Medicine offers Uropower, a self-cleaning device for the measurementof urinary flow that can be operated by the patient. To start the measuringprocess, the patient inserts a measuring card into the product. A displaymounted above the urinal explains each step. Immediately after urine flowis measured, the patient's flow measurement and assessment are printed onthe card, which can be presented to a physician and kept as a personal record.If the urine volume is too low for a proper evaluation in accordance withmedical regulations, the product will advise the patient.

For improved and precise coagulation and transection of tissue, GyrusMedical offers the following bipolar devices for use in laparoscopic urologicsurgery: PK Zip L-Hook, PK Cutting Forceps, and PK Lyons Dissector.

Gyrus Medical introduces the PK System Open Forceps with an angled jawfor open urologic procedures, including prostatectomies, nephrectomies,and cystectomies. The bipolar radiofrequency-based device coagulates vesselsup to 7 mm, has minimal thermal spread, and replaces sutures and staples,the company says.

The PK Saline TUR System from Gyrus Medical combines the safety and efficacyof bipolar radiofrequency energy and saline for "seal-as-you-go"tissue resection and vaporization for treating enlarged prostates and bladdertumors. Benefits include less bleeding, shorter catheterization, and improvedpost-op results, according to the company.

Rosenblum Industries, LLC, has received FDA approval to market FoleyGoalie,a device designed to prevent male patients from pulling out their Foleycatheter with the balloon inflated. The cylindrical device is constructedof braided helical strands of stretch-resistant multifilament polyesterand urethane-coated nylon. It is back-loaded over a patient's indwellingFoley catheter and penis. A Velcro strap secures the product to the baseof the penis, and distally, tape adheres the product to the indwelling catheter.

Varian BrachyTherapy, a division of Varian Medical Systems, offers anextensive line of brachytherapy products, including the GammaMed planningsoftware product line and the enhanced features of VariSeed planning softwarefor permanent brachytherapy. VariSeed's new features are designed to overcometechnical difficulties associated with the protocol, allow real-time planningin the procedure room, and enable functional image-guided therapy, accordingto the company.

The UroPro from Medstone Inc., is a digital urology imaging table withtomographic option. The compact, modular design makes future upgrades fast,easy, and cost effective. The imaging system allows complete coverage andunencumbered studies without bladder cutoff.

The new Pro-2000TU Urodynamics/Urology C-Arm Table from Medstone allowsunencumbered imaging. It was designed with all C-arms in mind, accordingto the manufacturer.

The Medstone Pro-2000BT carbon fiber C-arm table allows imaging for urology,brachytherapy, surgery, and other procedures. Motorized movements include16-inch longitudinal travel, 12-inch to 16-inch vertical travel, 8-inchlateral travel, ±15-degree Trendelenberg tilt, and optional ±15-degreelateral tilt.

ProstaScint (In-111 capromab pendetide) from Cytogen Corp. is a radiolabeledmonoclonal antibody specific to prostate-specific membrane antigen. Theproduct aids in the staging of prostate cancer, allowing physicians to makecritical distinctions between localized and metastasized disease.

Lab-quality PSA and testosterone test results are now available on demandwith the FastPack System from Qualigen, Inc. The system includes a fullyautomated analyzer designed to perform quantitative immunoassay tests within15 minutes in physician offices and small laboratories, according to thecompany.

Cytogen Corp. and Matritech, Inc., offer the NMP22 BladderChek point-of-caretest for bladder cancer, which is now approved for detecting the disease.The product had been previously approved for monitoring patients who hadalready been diagnosed with bladder cancer.

The Targis System from Urologix, designed to treat BPH symptoms, consistsof a control unit, a catheter-based microwave delivery system (MDS), a coolingbag, and a rectal thermo-sensing unit. The control unit supplies microwaveenergy and coolant and collects and processes data from other parts of thesystem.

Urologix introduces the shorter-length Targis catheter to allow morepatients to be treated with the company's Cooled ThermoTherapy treatmentfor BPH. The catheter was designed to treat the estimated 15% to 20% ofpatients who have smaller prostates, according to the company.

April 27 &#8212 Chicago, IL &#8212 Welcome to the inaugural issue of Urology Times E-news, featuring dailynews reports from the AUA annual meeting on your desktop. And, if you'reattending this year's meeting, welcome to Chicago!

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Urologix, Inc., offers the Prostatron System, which is designed to reducethe symptoms and obstruction due to BPH by delivering a controlled doseof microwave energy to the prostate without damaging the urethra or surroundingstructures. The system delivers microwave energy to the prostate transurethrallythrough a specially designed treatment catheter that encases a tiny microwaveantenna.

Karl Storz Endoscopy-America, Inc., offers the new 7.5F Flex-X Uretero-Reno-Fiberscope,which offers ease of entry to the lower pole calyces and navigation of theentire renal collecting system. The product delivers larger, higher-resolutionimages for improved tissue differentiation. The single-lever control ofthe bending section provides surgeons with intuitive navigation and operationcontrol, according to the company.

Watson Pharma, Inc., has received FDA approval to market oxybutynin transdermal system (Oxytrol) for the treatment of overactive bladder, with symptoms of urge urinary incontinence, urgency, and frequency. A thin patch applied to the abdomen, hip, or buttock twice weekly, it delivers 3.9 mg per day of oxybutynin consistently and continuously through the skin into the bloodstream, according to the company.

Nearly one in 10 men who walk into the outpatient office of a urologist leave with a coded diagnosis of prostatitis. Urologists have described the traditional approach to the diagnosis and management of the chronic prostatitis syndromes as one of the most frustrating areas of urologic practice.

Bethesda, MD-A combination of low-dose bacille Calmette-Guin and interferon-alpha (IFN-a) has shown promise in the treatment of bladder cancer patients who have failed initial treatment with BCG.

Seattle-A retrospective review of patients with secondary azoospermia has uncovered an alarming tumor rate and a high sperm recovery rate, reiterating the importance of urologic evaluation in this population.

House approves national liability insurance bill; CMS outlines changesin Medicare

Reason for meeting attendance is just as important as keeping receiptsand records