Urovalve Receives Funding From NJEDA To Advance Its Surinate(R) Urinary Catheter

Main Category: Urology / Nephrology
Also Included In: Medical Devices / Diagnostics
Article Date: 14 Jan 2009 - 8:00 PST

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Urovalve, a medical device company focused on creating products for urinary flow and control, announced today that it has received funding from the New Jersey Economic Development Agency (NJEDA) to advance development of its Surinate® Bladder Management System-designed to improve the quality of life of men who suffer from acute or chronic urinary retention, an inability to empty the bladder.

"Surinate® is a state-of-the-art alternative to the repeated insertion and removal of conventional urinary catheter devices, some of which must be put in and taken out of a patient four to six times a day," said Harvey D. Homan, Ph.D., President and CEO of Urovalve. "The Surinate® system provides for one single insertion over a 28-day cycle, and requires no tubes or other materials outside the body, such as a urine-collection bag, while enabling the individual to void urine from his bladder simply by using a magnetized valve control.

"Besides greatly reducing the chances of urinary infection, the Surinate® system also provides lifestyle normalcy," added Dr. Homan. "The ability to avoid infection, especially of the hospital-related type, could offer huge savings for the healthcare system."

A pilot study of the Surinate® Bladder Management System is underway at four medical institutions: VA Boston Healthcare System; VA New Jersey (East Orange) Healthcare System; Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Department of Urologic Surgery; and, The Virginia Urology Center. The pilot study is expected to conclude in the first quarter of 2009. The Company intends to commence a pivotal clinical study in the first half of the new year.

Urovalve, Inc. is a privately held company located in the Enterprise Development Center at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) in Newark, New Jersey. The company develops superior medical device to address problems associated with urinary flow and control.

Urovalve, Inc.