New Urology Products & Services

Longer surgical shears offerefficiency while preserving safety

Cincinnati- Ethicon Endo-Surgery's Harmonic Focus Long Curved Shears are designed for use in open procedures that require deep access. They enable surgeons to dissect, cut, coagulate, and grasp using precise ultrasonic energy that minimizes thermal damage to patients while providing surgical efficiency, according to the manufacturer.

Horsham, PA-My Prostate Cancer Roadmap ( http://www.myprostatecancerroadmap.com/) is an online educational program that provides resources and information specific to advanced prostate cancer patients and their loved ones. A collaboration among golf champion and prostate cancer survivor Arnold Palmer, Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc., and Us TOO International Prostate Cancer Education and Support Network, the site's information is presented visually as a road map on which visitors can navigate "stops," each of which provides current information on topics such as health and wellness, work, relationships, and sex and intimacy.

For more information, visit http://www.centocororthobiotech.com/.

FDA approves increase in length of therapy for transplant agent

South San Francisco, CA-The FDA recently approved increasing the length of therapy with valganciclovir hydrochloride (Valcyte) in adult kidney transplant patients at high risk for cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease. The supplemental approval is based on data that showed longer prophylactic treatment with the drug reduced the incidence of CMV disease from 36.8% (for patients receiving 100 days of treatment) to 16.8% (for patients receiving 200 days of treatment) at 1 year after receiving a transplanted kidney, according to Genentech, Inc., the drug's maker.

For more information, visit http://www.gene.com/.

Online resource provides educational tools on incontinence, prolapse

Raynham, MA-Mpathy Medical's Mpathy Xchange On Call is an online educational resource that provides 24-hour access to features such as instructional didactics, skills courses, and surgery videos covering the company's Restorelle, Omnisure, and Minitape products. The program is powered by interactive software that provides online training, and currently features a review of procedures used to treat female stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.

For more information, visit http://www.mpathymedical.com/.

Web-based software images, stores, and retrieves medical documents

Tampa, FL-eBridge Solutions is a Web-based document management system that provides imaging, storing, and retrieval services for health care providers. Many providers use the system to scan patient charts. Once digitized, documents can be accessed from any computer connected to the Internet and shared with other offices or providers, among other uses.

For more information, visit http://www.eBridgeSolutions.com/.

Laparoscopic sealing device has improved grasping capability

Mansfield, MA-Covidien's Ligasure 5-mm Instrument is a new laparoscopic sealing device that features atraumatic grasping and textured jaws, combined with a more parallel jaw closure, for improved grasping capabilities. The instrument has a cutting length of 17.8 mm as well as a contour tip that facilitates dissection through tissue planes, according to the manufacturer.

Internet urology resource now available as smartphone application

Seattle- http://UrologyMatch.com/, an Internet resource and online community designed to assist medical students, educators, and professionals in all aspects of studying and practicing urology, has launched a smartphone application that gives users access to the most highly utilized ares of the Web site. The application includes complete access to the Urology Match discussion board, a comprehensive video library of urologic procedures, and regularly updated urologic journal highlights with access to the abstract and links to the full text. The application is available for Apple's iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch products.

For more information, visit http://www.urologymatch.com/.

Book by PCa survivor provides advice on treatment, rehabilitation

Colleyville, TX-The book Dead Men Don't Have Sex: A Guy's Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer is a first-person account of prostate cancer diagnosis to rehabilitation. After being diagnosed with prostate cancer, author Robert "Bob" Hill kept a journal of his experiences through surgery, recovery, and rehabilitation, with the intent of pinpointing important facts and figures about the disease.

For more information, visit http://www.boomerbrief.com/.