Mauna Kea Technologies has obtained CE mark for its UroFlex confocal miniprobe, designed for use in urological applications.
The optical biopsy probe, the first urological probe in the Cellvizio portfolio, provides physicians with an immediate view of cancerous cells within the bladder and ureter, thus providing more informed treatment decisions.
Several clinical studies have demonstrated that optical biopsies with Cellvizio helps urologists to determine if they have removed all cancerous cells during an initial minimally invasive surgery, transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (TURBT), to reduce repeat surgeries for the patient.
In addition, data also shows that optical biopsies can help physicians characterize lesions during long-term surveillance of bladder cancer patients.
Other studies demonstrated that having microscopic information at the bedside enables clinicians to allow some patients to go home and avoid unnecessary procedures and surgeries.
AUSL Modena urology professor and chairman and oncological urology EAU section chairman Maurizio Brausi said, "Bladder cancer has a very high recurrence rate, and because it requires life-long surveillance and multiple repeat cystoscopy procedures, it is one of the most expensive cancers to treat on a per patient basis."