ACMI Expands Urology Line

In a move that will expand the company's urology offerings, ACMI (Southborough, MA, USA; www.circoncorp.com) has been granted exclusive worldwide distribution rights to market the Coblation technology of ArthroCare (Sunnyvale, CA, USA). ACMI (formerly called Circon) is a provider of endoscopy systems for diagnosis and minimally invasive surgery.

Under the agreement, ArthroCare will develop and manufacture products for endoscopic, urologic, and transuretheral resection of the prostate (TURP). ACMI will license ArthroCare's intellectual property and market the Coblation-based system worldwide in conjunction with ACMI's resectoscope technology. The system will be marketed under the ACMI brand.

ArthroCare's Coblation–based soft-tissue surgery systems consist of a controller unit and an assortment of single-use disposable devices that are specialized for specific types of surgery. ArthroCare believes this technology can replace multiple surgical tools traditionally used in soft-tissue surgery with one multipurpose surgical system. The company's products operate at lower temperatures than traditional electrosurgical or laser surgery tools, enabling surgeons to remove, thermally treat, or sculpt soft tissue and seal bleeding vessels.

"I have used Coblation-based TURP products in animal models,” said Harcharan Gill, M.D., associate professor of urology at Stanford University Hospital (CA, USA). "I believe they not only allow the physician to use a conductive irrigant within the urethra, but they have the potential to reduce bleeding and operative time compared to the gold standard, monopolar loop electrodes.”




Related Links:
ACMI
ArthroCare