New Urology Products and Services April 2014

Radiotherapy systems offer versatile treatment for prostate cancer

Sunnyvale, CA-Accuray Inc.’s TomoTherapy H Series radiotherapy systems are versatile and efficient, enabling delivery of effective treatment for a wide range of disease types, including prostate cancer, the company says. The systems provide treatment planning, quality assurance, computed tomography imaging, data management, and treatment delivery-with a common database and a single-user interface. A CT scanner-based platform enables continuous delivery from 360 degrees around the patient using TomoHelical Mode. A clinician can also choose to deliver dose from specific angles via TomoDirect Mode. Regardless of delivery style, highly sculpted dose distributions are achievable for every case, helping to spare normal tissue and reduce treatment toxicities, according to Accuray.

For more information, visit www.accuray.com.

Extractors provide flexibility in securing, removing stones

Bloomington, IN-The Perc NGage Nitinol Stone Extractor (pictured) holds like a basket and releases like a grasper, enabling the physician to reposition stones for removal and secure them for extraction. The resilient qualities of the nitinol wire allow physicians to completely and consistently open the extractor to remove large stone fragments and disengage stones when necessary, according to Cook Medical. The multiwire design of the Perc NCompass Nitinol Stone Extractor creates a standard 4-wire basket at complete deployment and a 16-wire basket during closure. At full deployment, the distal portion provides a netting effect to help prevent stone migration. The tipless basket reduces trauma to surrounding tissue, Cook says.

For more information, visit www.cookmedical.com/web/urology.

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PCa test combines biomarkers with DRE status, other factors

Miami-OPKO Health, Inc.’s 4Kscore test for prostate cancer is now available through OPKO’s Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments-accredited lab in Nashville, TN. The 4Kscore test measures the blood plasma levels of four different prostate-derived kallikrein proteins: total PSA, free PSA, intact PSA, and human kallikrein 2. These biomarkers are combined with a patient’s age, digital rectal exam status (nodule/no nodule), and prior biopsy status (yes/no) using a proprietary algorithm to calculate the risk (probability) of finding a Gleason score 7 or higher prostate cancer.

For more information, visit www.opko.com.

Robot’s features facilitate anatomic access, boost range of motion

Sunnyvale, CA-The da Vinci Xi surgical robot system has broader capabilities than prior generations of the da Vinci system, according to manufacturer Intuitive Surgical, Inc. It can be used across a wide spectrum of minimally invasive surgical procedures and has been optimized for complex, multi-quadrant surgeries, Intiuitive says. Compared to prior da Vinci systems, the da Vinci Xi system’s key features include a new overhead instrument arm architecture designed to facilitate anatomic access from virtually any position; a new endoscope digital architecture that creates a simpler, more compact design with improved visual definition and clarity; an ability to attach the endoscope to any arm, providing flexibility for visualizing the surgical site; and smaller, thinner arms with newly designed joints that offer a greater range of motion.

For more information, visit www.intuitivesurgical.com.

Online urologist community fosters peer-to-peer collaboration, consults

Lancaster, PA-Urology Nation is an online community specifically designed for urologists to collaborate and consult with each other. Created by urologists in collaboration with medical specialist network developer Skipta, the site’s current features include Curbside Consult, where urologists can consult with each other and search by categories and keywords; the ability to perform PubMed and medication formulary searches directly through the site; and free-of-charge posting of job opportunities.

For more information, visit urologynation.skipta.com.

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Optical biopsy technology granted FDA clearance for urologic uses

Paris-Mauna Kea Technologies has obtained 510(k) regulatory clearance from the FDA for Cellvizio in the field of urology. The clearance covers the use of Cellvizio’s Uroflex B and CystoFlex F Confocal Miniprobes within anatomic tracts including but not limited to urethra, bladder, and ureter, accessed through an endoscope or endoscopic accessories. This new clearance positions Mauna Kea’s Cellvizio optical biopsy technology for use in a range of urology applications including bladder imaging during cystoscopy as well as the ureters, where traditional biopsies are very difficult to perform and have poor yield, Mauna Kea says.

For more information, visit www.maunakeatech.com.

NCCN’s prostate cancer guidelines for patients available online

Fort Washington, PA-The National Comprehensive Cancer Network’s Guidelines for Patients: Prostate Cancer, Version 1.2014, are now available online at www.NCCN.org/patients. The guidelines include the NCCN’s most recent treatment recommendations for each stage of the cancer, as well as descriptions of medical terms, tests, and treatments in order to improve health literacy, according to the NCCN.

For more information, visit www.nccn.org.

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New Urology Products and Services February 2014

New Urology Products and Services January 2014

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