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B-K Medical Systems, Inc. Works With Veterans Affairs National Center for Patient Safety to Define New VA Protocol for Cleaning Transrectal Transducers

Posted on: Wednesday, 7 June 2006, 06:00 CDT

Michael Brock, Managing Director of B-K Medical ApS (B-K Medical) based in Copenhagen, Denmark, reported today that its U.S. subsidiary, B-K Medical Systems, Inc. (B-K), has been working with the United States Veterans Affairs (VA) National Center for Patient Safety to address concerns regarding the proper cleaning of B-K Medical transrectal ultrasound transducers used by the VA in a number of its medical facilities.

Brock said, "Earlier this year, the VA learned that at one of its medical facilities a B-K Medical transrectal ultrasound transducer used for viewing the prostate, and for performing biopsies of the prostate, had not been cleaned properly, though it had been washed and sterilized."

"All the necessary information and guidance regarding the proper cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization of B-K Medical endocavity probes are clearly stated in the system and probe manuals," said Brock. "Those manuals are always delivered together with the systems and probes."

The VA asked its 154 medical centers to report their disinfection procedures for the device. After gathering information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, B-K, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the VA issued letters to specific patients who had been examined with this equipment.

Brock added, "B-K has worked closely with the VA National Center for Patient Safety to clearly define a VA protocol for the cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization of transrectal and transperineal biopsy transducers to be used in VA facilities. This protocol includes step-by-step procedures and visual aids to be posted within each appropriate department to engender compliance with the prescribed procedures."

Facts about B-K Medical

B-K Medical, a wholly owned subsidiary of Analogic Corporation (NASDAQ: ALOG), specializes in the development and production of diagnostic ultrasound equipment. The company is recognized as a world leader in developing ultrasound scanners specially designed for surgery and for the investigation of urological disorders. The product line also includes scanners for other applications, such as gynecological examinations, fetal scanning, and radiology.

B-K Medical is represented in 60 countries, with subsidiary sales companies in the U.S., Belgium, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, the U.K., and Singapore. An extensive network of distributors connects B-K Medical with Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the rest of the world. The company has 330 employees, 230 of whom are located in Denmark.

Source: Business Wire

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