BOCA RATON, Fla., Oct. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- The FDA approved this month a new medical device that - for the first time in nearly a century - gives new hope to the disabled, elderly, hospital patients and others with limited mobility who suffer from urge or functional incontinence. “UrAssist” is a new non-invasive, portable and pump-assisted urine collection and containment system that can prevent embarrassing accidents, while also potentially reducing the risks of sores, rashes, urinary tract infections and slip-and- fall accidents.
“We are thrilled that the FDA has now cleared the way for millions of Americans with limited mobility to improve their quality of life,” said Jim Miller, CEO of Preferred Medical Devices. “UrAssist will not only give patients more freedom, privacy and dignity when going to the bathroom, it may also benefit the bottom-line of many healthcare facilities.”
UrAssist may reduce costs at hospitals and long-term care facilities by potentially lowering the risk of patient urinary tract infections and reducing staff workloads.
UrAssist is about the size of a laptop computer and weighs less than five pounds when empty. It can be attached to most wheelchairs, scooters and bedsides.
The device is battery-operated and uses a patented pump-assisted technology to quietly draw urine from a collection cup through a plastic tube into a collection bag that stores a day’s amount of urine. This bag is securely stored within the unit - and audio and visual alarms alert users once the bag is full. UrAssist requires only periodic rinsing and replacement of the collection cup, tube and containment bag. The rechargeable battery lasts up to two weeks.
In addition to being easy to use, UrAssist may also make patients safer: - Slip-and-fall accidents: UrAssist can be attached to the bed, which means elderly patients don’t have to get up at night to go the bathroom, reducing their risk of slip-and-fall accidents. - Urinary Tract Infections: Because UrAssist is a non-invasive system, it may lower the risk for UTIs. - Sores, rashes: UrAssist’s design prevents spills and moisture build-up, potentially reducing the risk of sores and rashes that can occur with other incontinence aides. UrAssist was developed and brought to market by Preferred Medical Devices, a specialty medical products company based in Boca Raton, Florida (www.urassist.com). It was approved for use in Canada in August, 2006.
Source: Preferred Medical Devices
