Olympus, a leading global medtech company providing innovative solutions for medical and surgical procedures, announced a milestone for its iTind device with its availability and greater patient access through the largest healthcare group purchasing organization (GPO) contracts in the United States.
The iTind procedure is a minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or enlarged prostate. The iTind device is now available on 13 GPO contracts in the U.S.
GPOs exist to help healthcare providers, such as hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers and nursing homes, save money by aggregating their purchasing power and standardizing and streamlining purchasing. The Healthcare Supply Chain Association estimates nearly all hospitals and a majority of non-acute care centers in America belong to at least one GPO.
“The availability of the iTind device through major GPO contracts marks an important milestone for Olympus,” said Jay Sullivan, Group Vice President, Enterprise Solutions, Medical Systems Group, Olympus. “Most importantly, it means greater physician and patient access to a minimally invasive treatment option for a common urological condition that does not require medications, permanent implants or the removal of tissue.”
BPH is a common health problem for men over 50 as the risk increases with age. Symptoms of BPH include frequent urination with a sense of urgency and a weak urinary stream and excessive urination at night.
About the iTind procedure
Evidence shows the iTind procedure is an effective alternative to pharmaceutical therapy, as well as an alternative to surgeries and permanent implants, and is proven to relieve symptoms without affecting sexual and ejaculatory function or urinary continence.
The iTind procedure involves the placement of a temporarily implanted nitinol device that reshapes the prostatic urethra without burning or cutting out the prostate. The device can be placed in an outpatient setting or physician office. It remains in place for five to seven days while the patient is at home. Upon removal, patients experience rapid and effective relief of their symptoms.
Recently published data show that the iTind™ procedure provides long-lasting relief of more than four years. The long-term study data demonstrates that the iTind procedure leads to significant and durable reduction of BPH-related LUTS (lower urinary tract symptoms) and improved IPSS (International Prostate Symptom Score) and QoL (Quality of Life) for over 50 months and up to 79 months (6.6 years) following treatment.
SOURCE: PRNewswire