New Products: Handheld bladder scanner, T nasal gel, and more

Medical device company cleared to launch hand-held bladder scanner

Adelaide, Australia-The SignosRT Bladder Scanner is a portable device designed to use ultrasound technology to automatically and noninvasively calculate bladder volume and has the potential to assist in reducing health care costs in hospitals and home-care support services, according to manufacturer Signostics Limited. The product was granted FDA 510(k) clearance in January 2015 and is being sold in Australia and New Zealand with applications across a number of medical sectors including urology, aged care, home nursing, midwifery, and palliative care. The device was scheduled to launch in Europe in March 2015.

AUA Booth #2736

For more information, visit www.signostics.com.au.

(Image via www.carecredit.com, © 2015 Synchrony Bank)

‘Digital card’ enables mobile payment functionality

Costa Mesa, CA-Synchrony Financial’s CareCredit recently launched an innovative digital card that enables mobile payment functionality for all CareCredit cardholders and providers. The digital card is device agnostic and does not require any new hardware or mobile application download, providing flexibility and ease of payment through any accepted mobile wallet or existing point of sale method. The card establishes a secure customer enrollment and authentication process and offers a unique mobile device provisioning through the “add to home screen” feature. After the initial set-up, the digital card is accessible by entering a PIN chosen during the enrollment process.

AUA Booth #2308

For more information, visit www.carecredit.com.

(Image via www.natesto.com, © 2015 Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc.)

Testosterone nasal gel now commercially available in U.S.

Dublin, Ireland-Endo International plc announced that its testosterone nasal gel (Natesto) is now available commercialy. The gel is indicated for replacement therapy in adult males with deficiency or absence of endogenous testosterone, including primary hypogonadism (congenital or acquired) or hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (congenital or acquired). In 2014, Endo acquired the rights to the gel in the U.S. and Mexico from Trimel BioPharma SRL, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Trimel Pharmaceuticals Corp., for $25 million plus additional payments upon the achievement of certain regulatory and sales milestones. Endo will collaborate with Trimel on all regulatory and clinical development activities regarding the gel, Endo said in a news release.

AUA Booth #117, 937

Fore more information, visit www.endo.com.

Snare removes ureteral stents without need for cystoscopy

Lansdowne, PA-Uramix’s Stent Removing Snare allows for the non-visual removal of indwelling ureteral stents without the need for cystoscopy. It’s designed to be passed over a guide wire if clinically needed. The Stent Removing Snare has a conical, smooth appearance with the largest dimension being 18F. The design allows for non-traumatic travel through the urethra, and it can hook the string attached to the stent, according to Uramix. The procedure has its own CPT code.

For more information, visit www.uramix.com. 

Imaging method enables effective targeting of bladder biopsies

Center Valley, PA-The FDA granted 510(k) clearance of narrow band imaging (NBI) as enabling effective targeting of biopsies not seen under white light and improved visualization of tumor boundaries in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) patients. Based on a weighted average, the aggregated FDA-reviewed studies show NBI has visualized NMIBC lesions in 17% additional patients when compared with white light, 24% additional tumors, and 28% additional carcinoma in situ. This finding provides new treatment opportunities for urologists both in-office and in the OR, Olympus says.

AUA Booth #101

For more information, visit www.medical.olympusamerica.com.

(mage via www.avycaz.com, © 2015 Actavis)
 

FDA approves Tx for complicated intra-abdominal infections

Dublin, Ireland-The FDA recently approved ceftazidime-avibactam (AVYCAZ), indicated for the treatment of adult patients with complicated intra-abdominal infections (in combination with metronidazole) and complicated urinary tract infections, including pyelonephritis caused by designated susceptible bacteria, including certain Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Ceftazidime-avibactam received a priority review based on phase II data from developer Actavis plc’s clinical development program and supporting in vitro data, and as such should be reserved for use in patients who have limited or no alternative treatment options, the company says.

AUA Booth #1917

For more information, visit www.AVYCAZ.com.

Electrosurgical pencil includes 360-degree swivel, compact design

Lancaster, NY-Buffalo Filter’s PlumePen Pro surgical plume evacuation pencil provides surgeons a cost-effective option for surgeries that do not require an adjustable capture port and full blade reveal. It also includes 360-degree swivel, transparent capture port, compact design, and can be used as a replacement option for surgical smoke pencil attachments.

For more information, visit www.buffalofilter.com.

Speak Up: Preparing for Surgery video

Video helps patients prepare for surgical procedures

Oakbrook Terrace, IL-Health care organizations and providers now have access to a new Joint Commission public service video, “Speak Up: When You’re Having Surgery,” to share with patients. The animated video is presented in language that is easy to understand and outlines ways for patients to prepare for surgery. The video is part of the Joint Commission’s “Speak Up” series and is viewable on the commission’s website and YouTube channel.

For more information, visit www.jointcommission.org.

                  (Yearbook of Urology 2014 © 2015 Elsevier Inc.)

2014 ‘Year Book of Urology’ now available

St. Louis-The 2014 “Year Book of Urology” offers articles on the year’s breakthrough developments in urology, carefully selected from more than 500 journals worldwide. Expert commentaries evaluate the clinical importance of each article and discuss its application to clinical practice. Chapters cover a range of topics, including BPH, genitourinary trauma, urologic transplantation, pediatric malignancy, and urothelial and prostate cancer.

AUA Booth #1801

For more information, visit www.elsevier.com.