Many football fans would agree that the availability of high definition viewing — short of being at the big game in person — has changed the way Americans watch the Superbowl. Thus, it's not hard to imagine what "high def" might do for surgeons during complex minimally invasive surgical (MIS) procedures that depend a great deal on clarity.

"It's all about clarity and it's all about resolution. That's what the surgeons require and that's what they demand," Donald Tucker, CEO of Viking Systems (San Diego), told Medical Device Daily.

Viking, a maker of high-performance laparoscopic vision systems for use in MIS procedures, is launching its new High Definition (HD) 3D Vision System at the American Urological Association's (AUA; Linthicium, Maryland) annual meeting in Anaheim, California, this week. The meeting kicked off Saturday and runs through Thursday.

The new 3D-HD Vision System is designed to give surgeons the same high-quality 3D vision they have grown to expect with the company's current 3D system, the company said, but the new HD Personal Head Monitors now have 64% more pixels than previous units. This generates a much higher resolution image and an improved "look" at the procedure, according to Viking.

"By enhancing the Viking 3Di System with HD capabilities, Viking now provides surgeons in the operating room with even more critical information,'' Tucker said. "This high-definition platform takes our technology to the next level, increasing quality and clarity, while also allowing for a smaller, lighter and more ergonomic personal vision device for the surgeon."

Tucker said the 3D-HD system is the company's fourth generation 3D vision system.

Another improvement the company said it has made to its device — which is actually worn like a helmet during a procedure by the surgeon, surgeon assistant and head nurse — is that the latest version is now 30% lighter than the previous generation.

"The prior weight was comparable to a light-weight bicycle helmet, we're now 30% lighter so we're moving towards [making the device as light as] a baseball cap," Tucker said.

The smaller size delivers an improved high-definition image, while allowing greater peripheral vision, the company added in a statement.

Viking will be showcasing the 3D-HD system at booth No. 560 at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Viking also makes advanced two-dimensional 2Di Digital Vision Systems for targeted configurations and channels, as well as 2D cameras and components, sold through its partners and OEM programs.

Also at AUA this week:

• Verathon (formerly Diagnostic Ultrasound; Bothell, Washington) is introducing its portable BladderScan BVI 9400 bladder volume instrument with NeuralHarmonics Technology.

Designed for urologists, primary care physicians, acute and extended-care facilities, to help prevent unnecessary catheterization, diagnose urinary retention and help evaluate common urological conditions, the instrument offers sharpened accuracy and accelerated speed in bladder volume measurement, according to Verathon.

Verathon also will introduce its FloPoint Elite Uroflow System, which it calls "a convenient and easy way to measure and record a patient's pattern of urinary flow," at AUA. The measurements the FloPoint Elite provides, such as voided volume and peak flow, help physicians quickly assess and diagnose abnormalities in voiding patterns, the company said.

• Tri-anim (Sylmar, California) is launching its Remeex Male Adjustable Sling System, a minimally invasive adjustable product for male urinary incontinence.

According to the company, the Male Remeex System is unique in that it allows surgeons to adjust sling tension post-operatively in both the short- and long-term under local anesthesia. Sling adjustments are made with the patient awake in the standing position, rather than supine under general anesthesia, increasing the chances for success while avoiding urinary retention issues.

Steven Petrou, MD, associate professor of urology at Mayo Clinic (Jacksonville, Florida), said, "The ability to adjust the sling support level postoperatively on the same patient is both novel and invaluable in incontinence management. The male adjustable sling appears to be an attractive, minimally invasive option that should be useful in our armamentarium of treatments for male SUI."

• AllMeds (Oak Ridge, Tennessee) is introducing the AllMeds electronic medical record (EMR) for Urology.

AllMeds said its EMR and practice management solutions provide more accurate E&M coding and reimbursement levels; efficiency gains through workflow management and decision support tools; Greater audit protection due to improved encounter documentation

AllMeds says it has distinguished itself in the EMR sector by serving only targeted surgical specialties, such as otolaryngology, orthopedics and pain management.

According to the AUA, its annual meeting is the world's largest for urologic professionals, with more than 10,000 urologists and healthcare professionals and 5,000 exhibitors in attendance.