New products: Holmium laser increases stone ablation volume

Holmium laser increases stone ablation volume

Lumenis, Ltd. has launched its Moses Holmium technology for stone fragmentation and dusting. Moses optimizes laser energy transmission to increase stone ablation volume while reducing dependency on the working distance between the fiber and stone, Lumenis says. Additionally, the pulse modulation of the device reduces stone retropulsion and migration. Moses has a fiber range of 200, 365, and 550 D/F/L. The 200 D/F/L fiber allows surgeons to treat stones in difficult-to-reach locations, and enables smooth initial fiber insertion through a deflected scope, according to Lumenis. The product launch was announced during the AUA annual meeting in Boston.

For more information, visit www.lumenis.com.

Molecular test assesses bladder Ca risk in patients with hematuria

MDxHealth SA has launched the AssureMDx for Bladder Cancer test in the United States as a laboratory developed test. The noninvasive, urine-based test combines methylation and mutation biomarkers to assess the risk of bladder cancer in patients diagnosed with hematuria. The test has been validated to improve the standard of care by helping to rule out the risk of bladder cancer with a negative predictive value of 99%. Researchers found that the high negative predictive value could help as many as 77% of hematuria patients avoid undergoing a cystoscopy. Additionally, the test’s 93% sensitivity and 85% specificity can help physicians identify patients at an increased risk for bladder cancer who might benefit from cystoscopy. Testing will be performed at the MDxHealth CAP and CLIA-accredited laboratory facilities in Irvine, CA.

For more information, visit www.mdxhealth.com.

Advanced tests for hereditary cancers helps ID patients’ risk

Phosphorus has released advanced tests for hereditary cancers, including prostate and kidney cancer. The tests include a high-risk panel for common cancers, a comprehensive panel spanning multiple cancer types, and fully customizable panels by specialty area covering up to 114 genes associated with inherited cancers. The high-risk panel includes 32 genes and examines the most actionable and recognized genes across cancer types to provide prophylactic and treatment options. The comprehensive panel includes 114 genes and gives broader insight into a patient’s cancer risk. Disease-specific panels include 11 total specialties including colorectal, ovarian/uterine, renal, prostate, and pediatric cancers. Validation of the inherited cancer test yielded 99.8% analytical sensitivity for single nucleotide variants (SNVs) and 99.6% for indels, Phosphorus reported. Additionally, analytical specificity is 100% for SNVs and indels alike, while positive predictive value is 99.9% for SNVs and 100% for indels.

For more information, visit www.phosphorus.com.

Uber-like app connects patients to specialist without referral

UBERDOC has launched its patient-to-specialist (P2S) web app, which connects patients who need urgent care to specialists without requiring a referral, insurance paperwork, or the need for an appointment. Patients are immediately given direct access to top specialists in their fields, the company says. The patient pays an upfront transparent cash fee of $300 to visit a specialist; if additional appointments are required, insurance coverage can be invoked. UBERDOC says specialists benefit from the immediate revenue sources that the company generates outside the traditional referral system along with the removal of administrative hassles. The cashless transaction is processed immediately following the patient's visit and there is no third-party payer submission. All specialists receive their first 90 days on the platform free of charge. UBERDOC was founded by Paula Muto, MD, a surgeon in solo private practice.

For more information, visit www.uber-docs.com.

Revenue management system launched for urology practices

Integra Connect has made available a new turnkey revenue cycle management (RCM) service optimized for specialty practices operating under both fee-for-service and value-based payment models. The company says the service is designed to maximize revenue through the transition to value-based reimbursement by augmenting its payment and denial management capabilities with Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) measurement, Alternative Payment Model (APM) quality measurement, analysis, and contract oversight, enabling a holistic and actionable view of practice finances. The service is cloud based and has been initially focused on large urology and oncology practices who see a larger percentage of Medicare patients and face significant disruption as Medicare continues its goal of converting reimbursements to MIPS. Features of the service include an implementation and operations team with urology-domain experience, strategy review and evaluation, and analytics with real-time capabilities. The RCM service can be complemented by Integra Connect’s population health capabilities and APM development and management services.

For more information, visit www.integraconnect.com.

Fertility test measures sperm capacitation

A fertility test from Androvia, called the Cap-Score Sperm Function Test (Cap-Score SFT), allows patients and physicians to measure the sperm’s ability to capacitate. The laboratory-developed test helps physicians inform their patients when making decisions about fertility solutions. Using traditional semen analysis, the Cap-Score SFT is designed to complement clinical evaluation of male and female partners and provides information specific to sperm function and fertilization potential. The test is designed to be complementary and should not be the only test administered or used to evaluate fertility, Adrovia says. Ideally, the test should be evaluated in conjunction with a semen analysis and a complete medical workup for both the male and female partner. The test can also be used to determine the success of vasectomy reversals and varicocele procedures.

For more information, visit www.androvialifesciences.com.

AUA, Urology Care Foundation collaborate on decision platform for patients

The AUA and the Urology Care Foundation will collaborate on Outcome Health, a health care decision platform designed to enable patient decisions and positive health outcomes. Outcome Health will serve as Group Discount Associate of the AUA and will distribute digital content from Urology Care Foundation’s patient education library to the waiting and exam rooms of AUA members. Outcome Health’s platform includes digital anatomy boards, patient education tablets, and mobile connectivity in outpatient waiting rooms. The digital anatomy wallboard is a 32-inch touchscreen device that allows urologists to annotate and better explain condition states through 3D anatomical renderings. Outcome Health will also work with Urology Care Foundation to produce original video content.

For more information, visit www.outcomehealth.com and https://www.auanet.org/myaua/group-discount-programs/outcome-health.