Verathon issues urology 'challenge'

Verathon (Bothell, Washington) (formerly Diagnostic Ultrasound) reported issuing a "Urology Challenge," offering $10,000 for "the most practical and scientifically valid protocol" to study the relationship between bladder wall mass and overactive bladder (OAB) or benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) in men. The goal is to determine how bladder wall mass (also known as UEBW or ultrasound-estimated bladder weight) measurements can best be used in clinical practice.

The clinical significance of bladder wall mass in bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) and OAB has been noted, but to date it has not been well defined. Measurement of bladder wall mass (UEBW) has the potential to provide physicians with useful information for determining patient care plans.

Verathon recently developed a handheld ultrasound device, the BladderScan BVM 6500 that measures both bladder volume and bladder wall mass (UEBW) non-invasively. The device was designed to assist in diagnosis of bladder hypertrophy secondary to obstruction, predicated on a correlation between UEBW and BOO. The goal of the challenge is to maximize the BladderScan BVM 6500's clinical utility and significance as a diagnostic and treatment tool.

Abstracts must be submitted to Verathon no later than March 31, with the winning abstract announced at the annual meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA; Linthicum, Maryland) in May in Anaheim, California.

ND Systems now NDS Surgical Imaging

ND Systems (NDS; San Jose, California), a developer of surgical and medical visualization equipment, has changed its name to NDS Surgical Imaging. The company also has moved from Morgan Hill, California to a 73,000-square-foot facility in San Jose, California, tripling its size.

"After 10 years of operating as ND Systems," said Carmen Piucci, president/CEO, "we are sending a strong message to the worldwide healthcare industry that our product suite touches all aspects of surgical imaging solutions. This includes high-definition visualization systems, operating room digital imaging control systems, digital signal processors and routers, digital image capture systems, integration technologies, as well as infection control products.”