Verathon® Introduces BladderScan® BVM 9500 Bladder Volume Instrument To Help Urologists Diagnose Bladder Dysfunction

Bothell, WA /PRNewswire/ -- Verathon(R) is pleased to announce the new BladderScan(R) BVM 9500 bladder volume instrument. Designed with Urologists in mind, the BVM 9500 measures both UEBW (ultrasound-estimated bladder weight) and bladder volume quickly and noninvasively to help diagnose bladder dysfunction, including BPH (benign prostatic hypertrophy) and BOO (bladder outlet obstruction). This new addition to the BladderScan(R) BVI 9000 series made its official debut at the AUA 2009 conference in Chicago, IL on April 25. (Verathon Booth # 4623).

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Bladder Outlet Obstruction (BOO) is reported to be one of the most common urologic problems among elderly male patients.(1) To date, definitive diagnosis of BOO has been achieved through invasive, time-consuming urodynamics testing.(2) Clinical studies indicate that the mass of the bladder wall may correlate with BOO.(3) The BladderScan(R) BVM 9500 provides Ultrasound-Estimated Bladder Weight (UEBW), a noninvasive measurement of bladder wall mass, in addition to urinary bladder volume (PVR, or post-void residual).

Like all BladderScan(R) bladder volume instruments, the BVM 9500 does not require a sonographer and is easy for staff to learn and use.

"The BladderScan(R) BVM 9500 provides urologists with a quick, accurate, easy to use instrument for measuring bladder volume and UEBW," said Gerald McMorrow, CEO, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Verathon, Inc. "This means Urologists can efficiently task staff to take the measurements, while allowing them to spend their time on diagnosis, treatment plans and communicating with their patients."

The portable BladderScan(R) BVM 9500 uses noninvasive ultrasound to measure bladder volume and UEBW to help diagnose urinary retention, evaluate common urological conditions and prevent unnecessary catheterization. The BVM 9500 also uses patent-pending NeuralHarmonics(TM) Technology to measure bladder volume. NeuralHarmonics(TM) Technology helps achieve previously unattainable differentiation of the bladder, urine and hypo-echogenic regions such as the uterus.

When the scan button is pressed on the BladderScan(R) BVM 9500, the instrument measures ultrasonic reflections on multiple planes inside the body and produces a three dimensional image. Based on this image, the BVM 9500 calculates and displays the bladder volume and UEBW on the color console. The instrument offers aiming assistance to the user, on both the probe and the console. To facilitate training, there is a brief 6 minute video tutorial on measuring bladder volume and UEBW on the device.

Unlike other ultrasound machines the portable BVM 9500 is quick and exam results can be provided in a matter of minutes during an office visit. The BVM 9500 instrument can save exam data to HIPAA-compliant ScanPoint(R) online imaging technology from Verathon(R). ScanPoint(R) technology provides the ability to view, save and print bladder volume or UEBW measurement reports as well as to quickly and easily calibrate BladderScan(R) instruments online.

For more information, please visit www.verathon.com.

About Verathon Inc.

Verathon designs and manufactures reliable, state-of-the-art medical devices and services that offer a meaningful improvement in patient care to the health care community. The company's noninvasive BladderScan(R) instrument is the standard of care for noninvasive bladder volume measurement. The brand is found in over 80 countries in Urology and Primary Care practices, as well as Acute and Extended Care facilities. With the January 2006 acquisition of Saturn Biomedical Systems in Vancouver, Canada, Verathon(R) entered Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Emergency markets with the GlideScope(R) Video Laryngoscope (GVL(R)) brand. Verathon(R) is headquartered in Bothell, Washington and has over 400 employees worldwide. For more information, please visit www.verathon.com.

References:

1. Kelly, Christopher E. "The Relationship Between Pressure Flow Studies and Ultrasound-Estimated Bladder Wall Mass." Rev Urol. 2005; 7 (suppl 6): S29-S34.

2. Nitti, Victor W. "Introduction: Measurement of Bladder Mass Using Ultrasonography: A New Tool for Measuring Bladder Outlet Obstruction." Rev Urol. 2005; 7 (suppl 6): S1-S2; Nitti, Victor W. "Pressure Flow Urodynamic Studies: The Gold Standard for Diagnosing Bladder Outlet Obstruction." Rev Urol. 2005; 7 (suppl 6): S14-S21.

3. Tubaro, A., C. Manieri, et. al. "The Effect of Bladder Outlet Obstruction Treatment on Ultrasound-Determined Bladder Wall Thickness." Rev Urol. 2005; 7 (suppl 6): S35-S42.

SOURCE Verathon Inc.

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