2007-04-11 15:34:13 -
ANAHEIM, Calif., April 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Urinary incontinence affects more than three million men in the United States, most of whom underwent surgery for prostate cancer that resulted in damage to the urinary sphincter and stress urinary incontinence. For this reason, American Medical Systems (AMS), manufacturer and world leader of innovative devices for the diagnosis and treatment of incontinence, will showcase the leading surgical solutions for male incontinence along with other treatment options at the Anaheim Convention Center May 19-24 during the American Urological Association's (AUA) Annual Meeting. AMS
currently offers the only artificial urinary sphincter on the market, as well as "male slings" that support the muscles around the urethra. Included in the exhibit will be the revolutionary AdVance(TM) Male Sling System, the first device designed to address the needs of men with mild stress urinary incontinence. It works by repositioning the urethra to the original anatomical state it was in prior to prostate surgery. The device's mechanism capitalizes on the remaining sphincteric ability to achieve continence, eliminating or reducing the possibility of urine leaking, even during strenuous activities such as lifting, exercising, sneezing and coughing. The new AdVance(TM) Male Sling System is placed completely inside the patient's body and is fixated by the pelvic tissue. There is no longer a need for bone screws to anchor the sling, allowing for a painless and speedy recovery.
AMS will also feature the InVance(R) Male Sling System and the Gold Standard AMS 800(TM) Urinary Control System at the AUA meeting. The InVance(R) Male Sling System has been proven effective for mild to moderate stress incontinence in men and is an alternate solution for those who are not good candidates for an artificial urinary sphincter or who prefer other options. The AMS 800(TM) Urinary Control System, or the "artificial urinary sphincter," has been proven to be effective in treating moderate to severe male stress incontinence following prostate surgery for 35 years.
Male urinary incontinence is a symptom with many causes and simply means that urine may leak or flow freely from the bladder. It does not refer to any specific disease. Men who are unsure about the type of incontinence they have can take a nine-question Male Incontinence Quiz by visiting http://www.malecontinence.com/. Types of male incontinence include: Stress Incontinence, Urge Incontinence, Mixed Incontinence, Overflow Incontinence and Functional Incontinence.
The outpatient procedure necessary to implant the Advance(TM) Male Sling System uses three small surgical incisions and can be performed in less than half an hour. The majority of patients return to non-strenuous activities within days. Courses are required in order to become trained to implant the AdVance(TM) Male Sling System. Physicians should visit the AMS Booth during the AUA Annual Meeting or http://www.amsadvance.com/ for additional information on the device and training opportunities in their local area.
About American Medical Systems
Headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota, American Medical Systems is a diversified supplier of medical devices and procedures to cure erectile dysfunction, benign prostatic hyperplasia, incontinence, menorrhagia, prolapse and other pelvic disorders in men and women. These disorders can significantly diminish quality of life and profoundly affect social relationships. In recent years, the number of people seeking treatment has increased markedly as a result of longer lives, higher quality of life expectations and greater awareness of new treatment alternatives. American Medical Systems' products reduce or eliminate the incapacitating effects of these diseases, often through minimally invasive therapies. The Company's products were used to provide approximately 170,000 patient cures in 56 countries during 2005.
http://www.americanmedicalsystems.com/
Source: American Medical Systems
