Verathon Enters Single Use Bronchoscopy Market With Introduction of Glidescope Bflex
January 9, 2019 (Bothell, WA) — Verathon, a global leader in airway management devices, is reinforcing its commitment to innovation with the introduction of the GlideScope® BFlex™, a single-use flexible bronchoscope that delivers optimal visibility and maneuverability for routine airway and bronchoscopy procedures. BFlex is compatible with recent GlideScope video monitors, including the new GlideScope® Core™. In addition to excellent image quality and clarity, clinicians also have the ability to use GlideScope BFlex and GlideScope laryngoscopes interchangeably or simultaneously in “dual mode” with the GlideScope Core™ video monitor.
The single-use design of GlideScope BFlex ensures the system is ready to use as needed, without the downtime associated with reprocessing or repair, all while minimizing the risk of infection. According to Tim Shauf, Vice President and General Manager of the Respiratory Business at Verathon, the single-use feature benefits both patients and healthcare providers. “The benefits of this are two-fold,” he says. “Healthcare facilities can treat patients without waiting for reprocessing, enabling them to treat more individuals throughout the day. Additionally, the risk of cross-contamination to patients is greatly reduced.”
GlideScope BFlex also offers excellent visibility, providing consistently sharp, bright image quality from 50 mm to 5 mm away. Users will experience optimal maneuverability and excellent visibility, even around sharp corners, with a wide range of articulation. In addition, the system’s Dynamic Light Control™ automatically adjusts image brightness and improves visibility as needed. The first GlideScope BFlex will have a 5.0mm insertion tube and 2.2mm working channel. Going forward, Verathon will expand the BFlex portfolio with additional sizes.
The ability to maintain control during every procedure is essential, which is why Verathon sought to make control a key feature of the GlideScope BFlex. Earl Thompson, President for Verathon, states, “The key is having flexibility, but with control—not only in the design of the tool, but also in how it impacts our customers’ ability to manage their workflow more effectively. The ability to adapt quickly as individual cases present themselves is essential. GlideScope BFlex is poised to fill a necessary role in healthcare facilities everywhere.”
The GlideScope BFlex received premarket notification ((510(k)) clearance by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on January 4, 2019. The GlideScope BFlex is now available for commercial sale in the USA. The company anticipates introducing the product in additional geographies during the first half of this year.
More information about the GlideScope BFlex and other Verathon products can be found at www.verathon.com.
About Verathon
Verathon is a global medical device company focused on supporting customers by being their trusted partner, delivering high-quality products that endure over time and ensure clinical and economic utility. Two areas where Verathon has significantly impacted patient care, and become the market leader in each, are bladder volume measurement and airway management. The company’s BladderScan portable ultrasound and GlideScope® video laryngoscopy systems effectively address unmet needs for healthcare providers and meaningfully raise the standard of care for patients. Verathon, a subsidiary of Roper Technologies, is headquartered in Bothell, Washington, and has international subsidiaries in Canada, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit verathon.com.
For More Information Contact:
Brenda Kuhns
Director, Marketing
425-629-5512
brenda.kuhns@verathon.com