OMER, Israel, May 6, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Medigus Ltd. (TASE:MDGS), a medical device company developing minimally invasive endosurgical tools and a leader in direct visualization technology, announced today the third MUSE™ procedure in a three-month period was completed in Germany. Renowned gastroenterologist, Professor Doctor Karel Caca at the Clinic for Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, Haemato-Oncology, Diabetes and Infectious Disease, recently adopted this new technology to offer his patients the most innovative care. The Medigus Ultrasonic Surgical Endostapler, or MUSE, is an incisionless procedure for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
"By offering the MUSE procedure, my patients now have a less invasive option for the long-term treatment of GERD," said Dr. Caca. "The reduced recovery time and reported improvement in symptoms makes it a favorable treatment option."
Medigus has merged recent technological breakthroughs into a single platform with MUSE. The device is fully integrated with leading microvisual, ultrasonic and stapling technology, and therefore allows a single physician or surgeon to perform fundoplication (stapling of the upper part of the stomach, or fundus, to the lower esophageal sphincter), thereby offering a long-term, potentially permanent solution for GERD.
"We're happy to announce that MUSE is now available in Germany and pleased to be working with Dr. Caca," said Chris Rowland, CEO of Medigus. "MUSE is not only a revolutionary new interventional therapy option that is less-invasive for patients, it may also be a more cost-effective option since shorter hospital stays are expected."
Researchers estimate that about 30% of adults in Germany suffer from GERD, and one in ten suffers persistent symptoms several times a weeki. MUSE has the potential to improve GERD-related quality of life for many of them by addressing the root cause of the disorder, not just offering symptom relief, which many drug therapies do.
Medigus' MUSE is FDA cleared and CE marked for the treatment of GERD, and is currently being introduced in key markets across Europe and the U.S. Plans are also in development for distribution in Asia in the next few years.
About GERD
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter spontaneously opens or does not properly close after use, thereby allowing for stomach contents to rise into the esophagus, causing heartburn, irritation and potentially other discomforts. It affects approximately 24M Americans each year; 14.5M adults experience GERD symptoms at least twice a week, and 2.4M adults experience severe symptoms. While some patients can attain symptom relief through the use of proton pump inhibiters, or PPIs, (acid reducing medications), there is, however, growing concern around the prolonged chronic use of PPIs, including increased risk of bone fracture, infectious complications, and interference with anti-platelet medication and the adsorption of essential vitamins and minerals. A persistent state of untreatable GERD could potentially lead to Barrett's esophagus, a precancerous state which can lead to esophageal cancer. Patients who suffer from daily GERD are more likely to develop esophageal cancer.
About MUSE
The MUSE system is a leading technology in Natural Orifice Endoscopic Surgery procedures. The single operator system performs anterior partial fundoplication with standard surgical staples in a less invasive way, compared to other surgical procedures. Its intuitive endosurgical platform consists of a single use flexible surgical endostapler, equipped with a proprietary miniature camera, an ultrasonic sight and a range finder. The endostapler, which resembles an endoscope, is designed to be operated by a single user, includes a handle with controls, an 80cm flexible shaft, a 5cm rigid section holding a cartridge with 5 standard 4.8mm titanium surgical staples, a ratchet controlled one-way articulating section, and a distal tip. The MUSE system is FDA cleared and CE marked.
About Medigus
Medigus is a medical device company specializing in developing minimally invasive endosurgical tools and highly innovative imaging solutions. Medigus is a pioneer developer of a unique proprietary endoscopic device, the MUSE™ system, to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), one of the most common chronic diseases in the western world. As an expert in micro-endoscopic devices, Medigus has developed a range of micro CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) and CCD (charge-coupled device) video cameras, including micro ScoutCam™ 1.2, which to the best of the company's knowledge, is the smallest in the world. These innovative cameras are suitable for both medical and industrial applications. The MUSE system incorporates Medigus' revolutionary micro ScoutCam technology. Based on its proprietary technologies, Medigus designs and manufactures endoscopy and micro camera systems for partner companies, including major players in the medical and industrial fields. The company is committed to providing integrated solutions to meet all of its customer's imaging needs. Medigus is traded on the TASE (Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange). To learn more about the company's advanced technology, please visit www.medigus.com or www.microscoutcam.com.
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i Koop, H., et al. (2005). Z Gastroenterol. Gastroosophageale Refluxkrankheit - Ergebnisse einer evidenzbarsierten Konsensuskonferenz der Deutschen Gesellschaft fur Verdauungs- und Stoffwechselkrankheiten. New York. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart - New York.
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