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Verathon(R) Introduces BladderScan(R) BVI 9600 Bladder Volume Instrument with AortaScan(TM) Mode to Help Physicians Identify the Presence of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

Posted on: Wednesday, 4 March 2009, 12:04 CST

BOTHELL, Wash., March 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Verathon(R) is pleased to announce the new BladderScan(R) BVI 9600 bladder volume instrument, with AortaScan(TM) Mode to help physicians identify the presence of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). This new addition to the BladderScan(R) BVI 9000 series will make its official debut at the PriMed MidWest 2009 conference in Rosemont, IL on March 5. (Verathon Booth # 319).

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20061011/SFW044LOGO)

Designed with Internists and Family Practitioners in mind, the new BladderScan(R) BVI 9600 with AortaScan(TM) Mode, uses patented VMODE(R) technology to noninvasively measure the diameter of the abdominal aorta. This crucial diameter measurement helps physicians identify the presence of AAA.

Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs), a localized dilation of the abdominal aorta that exceeds normal diameter by more than 50%, occur most frequently in men over the age of 60 (1,2). In the US, AAA occurs in 2-4% of the adult population (3). In addition to age, other patient risk factors include a family history of AAA, a history of smoking, high blood pressure and obesity (1,3). An estimated 40,000 surgical procedures are performed every year in the U.S. to repair AAAs, and approximately 15,000 Americans die annually from ruptured AAAs (3).

The new BVI 9600 with AortaScan(TM) Mode offers health care providers a quick, accurate, and reliable instrument for their practice. The device, which does not require a sonographer, is easy for staff to learn and use.

"As part of a patient's annual physical or as part of a preventative health care benefit, the BladderScan(R) BVI 9600 AortaScan(TM) exam can provide a critical measurement to help doctors quickly identify the presence of AAA and refer for further treatment," said Gerald McMorrow, CEO, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Verathon, Inc. "With mortality rates approaching 95% for ruptured AAA, the ability to identify this life-threatening and often asymptomatic condition early is essential for delivering timely and effective patient care and improving patient outcomes."

The BladderScan(R) BVI 9600 portable ultrasound instrument also noninvasively measures bladder volume to help diagnose urinary retention, evaluate common urological conditions and prevent unnecessary catheterization. The BVI 9600 provides the capability to measure adult bladder volumes using patent-pending NeuralHarmonics(TM) Technology, 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) BVI 9600, the instrument measures ultrasonic reflections on multiple planes inside the body and produces a three dimensional image. Based on this image, the BVI 9600 calculates and displays the bladder volume or diameter of the abdominal aorta on the color console, and offers aiming assistance to the user, on both the probe and the console.

Unlike other ultrasound machines the portable BVI 9600 is quick and exam results can be provided in a matter of minutes during an office exam. The BVI 9600 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 aortic diameter measurement reports as well as to quickly and easily calibrate BladderScan(R) instruments online. To facilitate training, brief video tutorials for bladder volume mode and AortaScan(TM) mode are provided.

For more information, please visit http://www.verathon.com.

About Verathon Inc.

Verathon, formerly Diagnostic Ultrasound Corp., 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 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 300 employees worldwide. For more information, please visit www.verathon.com.

Media Contact: Rick Goetter, Brand Director - BladderScan(R), Verathon Medical, 425.867.1348, Ext. 5608. Alternate Contacts: Jane Mueller, VP of Marketing, Verathon Medical, 425.867.1348, Ext. 5600 and

Nansea Carmichael, Executive Assistant - Marketing, 425.867.1348, Ext. 5607;

AortaScan, BladderScan, NeuralHarmonics, ScanPoint, GlideScope, GVL, and Verathon are trademarks of Verathon Inc. Copyright (C) 2009 Verathon Inc.

References:

1. eMedicine: Vascular Surgery - Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/463354-overview 2. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000162.htm. 3. eMedicine: Emergency Medicine - Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/756735-overview.

SOURCE Verathon Inc.

Source: PR Newswire

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