In the News
ProPep Surgical®, LLC begins clinical study of its ProPep® Nerve Monitoring System at Indiana University Medical Center.
ProPep Surgical®, LLC. (www.propepsurgical.com), a privately-held, Austin-based medical device company, announced today it has initiated a clinical study of its ProPep® Nerve Monitoring System with Dr. Michael Koch, Chairman, Department of Urology, Indiana University School of Medicine. The purpose of this study is to determine the impact intraoperative nerve monitoring (IONM) using the ProPep® Nerve Monitoring System has on post-operative urinary continence and erectile function following robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) surgery.
The ProPep® Nerve Monitoring System is the first, FDA-cleared, real-time nerve identification system specifically designed for use during robotic-assisted surgery. Fast, accurate and easy to use, the System aids surgeons in identifying otherwise invisible pelvic nerves during minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgery. According to Dr. Koch “The quality of life outcomes particularly with respect to sexual function, remain variable even with very well performed procedures due to our inability to reliably identify important nerves in the peri-prostatic area. This device offers the potential to accurately identify nerve location and improve upon the best results available today.”
“We are very excited to be working with Dr. Koch and his team at Indiana University Medical Center. Dr. Koch, one of the leading urologic surgeons in the country, is a previous trustee and past-president of the American Board of Urology, past-Chairman of the Examination Committee for the American Board of Urology and past-President of the Society of Urology Chairpersons, and has authored over 250 peer reviewed publications in his field,” stated Tom Stone, Chief Executive Officer. “Over the past three decades, IONM has become Standard of Care in multiple open surgical procedures because it helps surgeons reduce post-operative complications associated with neurologic damage by helping them identity and avoid inadvertent damage to otherwise non-visible nerves during the procedure. The purpose of this study is to determine if IONM can be similarly beneficial in robotic-assisted prostatectomy surgery by reducing the incidence of post-surgery urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction, both complications often attributed to inadvertent nerve injury during surgery.”
About ProPep Surgical®, LLC: Established in 2010, ProPep Surgical® is a privately-held, Austin-based medical device company developing a system of products (ProPep® Nerve Monitoring System) to aid surgeons in identifying otherwise non-visible nerves during minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgery. Real time identification of these nerves allow surgeons to make a more informed decision about which tissue to selectively preserve or remove during robotic surgery and as a result, potentially reduce the complications typically attributed to inadvertent nerve damage during these procedures.
Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas Awards ProPep Surgical® $4.4M Product Development Grant
The ProPep® Nerve Monitoring System is the first, real-time nerve monitoring system specifically designed for use during laparoscopic and robotic surgery.Austin, Texas (PRWEB) March 18, 2014
ProPep Surgical®, a privately-held, Austin-based medical device company developing intraoperative nerve monitoring technologies for laparoscopic and robotic-assisted cancer surgery, announced today it was awarded a $4,435,857 product development grant from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. ProPep® will use the grant to conduct additional clinical studies, specifically, two multi-center clinical studies exploring how the use of their ProPep® Nerve Monitoring System can help reduce nerve damage related side-effects such as erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence in robotic-assisted prostate cancer surgery and urinary and fecal incontinence in robotic-assisted radical hysterectomy surgery.
The ProPep® Nerve Monitoring System is the first, real-time nerve identification system specifically designed for use during robotic-assisted surgery. Fast, accurate and easy to use, the System aids a surgeon in identifying otherwise invisible nerves during minimally invasive robotic-assisted pelvic surgery. The product is currently FDA cleared for use during laparoscopic and robotic-assisted prostate cancer surgery.
“We are honored to be chosen for the CPRIT grant,” stated Tom Stone, Chief Executive Officer of ProPep Surgical®. “This grant will allow ProPep® to accelerate its clinical initiatives toward its goal of improving post-surgery quality of life for cancer patients. Nerve injury is widely recognized as one of the primary causes of erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence following prostate cancer surgery. Literature reports up to 38% of patients have erectile dysfunction and 10% are incontinent following “successful” robotic-assisted prostate cancer surgery. ProPep®’s focus is to help surgeon’s improve these results by providing them real time information about the location of these critical nerves so they can be avoided during surgery.”
About ProPep Surgical®, LLC
Established in 2010, ProPep Surgical® is a privately-held, Austin-based medical device company developing a system of products (ProPep® Nerve Monitoring System) to aid laparoscopic and robotic surgeons in identifying the location of and monitoring the integrity of otherwise nonvisible nerves during minimally invasive pelvic surgery. Real time identification of these nerves allows surgeons to make more informed decisions about which tissue to selectively preserve or remove during surgery and as a result, potentially reduces the common side effects typically attributed to inadvertent nerve damage during these procedures. Learn more at propepsurgical.com.
About the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas
Beginning operations in 2009, CPRIT has to date awarded more than $850 million in grants to Texas researchers, institutions, non-profits and private enterprises. Besides scientific research funding, CPRIT also provides funding for product development and prevention programs. Programs made possible with CPRIT funding have reached every corner of the state, brought more than 50 distinguished researchers to Texas, advanced scientific and clinical knowledge, and made life-saving education, training, prevention and early detection services accessible to more than 1.3 million Texans at risk of cancer. In 2013, CPRIT worked with the Texas Legislature and its stakeholders on restructuring measures that have strengthened agency governance and improved transparency and accountability. Learn more at cprit.state.tx.us
ProPep Surgical® Announces Dr. Ronald Kuhn surpasses 300 RALP cases utilizing the ProPep® Nerve Monitoring System
The ProPep® Nerve Monitoring System is the first, real-time nerve monitoring system specifically designed for use during robotic surgery.
Austin, Texas (PRWEB) December 1, 2014
Dr. Ronald Kuhn, Arkansas Urology, recently completed his 300th robotic prostatectomy procedure utilizing the ProPep® Nerve Monitoring System. The ProPep® Nerve Monitoring System is the first, real-time nerve monitoring system specifically designed for use during robotic surgery. The System is a fast, accurate, and easy to use technology that aids surgeons in identifying otherwise invisible nerves during minimally invasive robotic prostate cancer surgery. “The ProPep® Nerve Monitoring System shows me the exact location of otherwise invisible nerves that are important for urinary control and sexual function. Even with my level of experience I can’t predict exact nerve locations and I know they can be highly variable. This system provides critical information to better preserve the somatic nerves during robotic assisted prostate cancer surgery.” according to Dr. Kuhn. “It is a remarkable tool for me as a surgeon, but my patients are the true benefactors."
Dr. Kuhn is the most experienced robotic prostatectomy surgeon in Arkansas having performed over 2500 procedures. He is a surgeon at Baptist Health Hospital in North Little Rock and is certified by the American Board of Urology. He is also a member of the American Medical Association, American Urological Association, Endourological Society, Arkansas Urologic Society, Pulaski County Medical Society.
About ProPep Surgical®, LLC: Established in 2010, ProPep Surgical® is a privately-held, Austin-based medical device company developing a system of products (ProPep® Nerve Monitoring System) to aid robotic surgeons in identifying otherwise invisible nerves during minimally invasive robotic surgery. Real time identification of these nerves will allow the surgeons to make a more informed decision about which tissue to selectively preserve or remove during robotic surgery and as a result, potentially reduce the common side effects typically attributed to inadvertent nerve damage during these procedures.
ProPep Surgical® announces Dr. Naveen Kella completes his 200th robot-assisted prostatectomy procedure using the ProPep® Nerve Monitoring System
The ProPep® Nerve Monitoring System is the first, real-time nerve monitoring system specifically designed for use during robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery.
(PRWEB) April 15, 2015
Dr. Naveen Kella, Director Robotic Laparoscopic Surgery at St. Luke’s Baptist Hospital, San Antonio, Texas, recently completed his 200th robotic prostatectomy procedure utilizing the ProPep® Nerve Monitoring System. The ProPep® Nerve Monitoring System is the first, real-time nerve monitoring system specifically designed for use during robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery. The System is a fast, accurate, and easy to use technology that aids surgeons in identifying otherwise invisible nerves during minimally invasive robotic prostate cancer surgery. “The ProPep® Nerve Monitoring System pinpoints the location of nerves which are directly related to urinary continence control and sexual function. Knowing exactly where they are helps me to better preserve them during robot-assisted prostate cancer surgery.” according to Dr. Kella “It is a remarkable tool which I believe should be standard of care for robotic prostatectomy procedures. It clearly provides a value to the surgeon which translates into better outcomes for the patient.” Dr. Kella is one of the most experienced robotic prostatectomy surgeons in Texas having performed over 2,000 procedures. Dr. Kella is fellowship-trained in robotic surgery and urologic oncology, certified by the American Board of Urology, a member of the American Medical Association, American Urological Association, and Endourological Society.
About ProPep Surgical®, LLC: Established in 2010, ProPep Surgical® is a privately-held, Austin-based medical device company developing a system of products (ProPep® Nerve Monitoring System) to aid robotic surgeons in identifying otherwise invisible nerves during minimally invasive robotic surgery. Real time identification of these nerves will allow the surgeons to make a more informed decision about which tissue to selectively preserve or remove during robotic surgery and as a result, potentially reduce the common side effects typically attributed to inadvertent nerve damage during these procedures.
ProPep Surgical, LLC and HealthTronics, Inc. announce collaboration to market the ProPep® Nerve Monitoring System within the United States
ProPep Surgical®, LLC (www.propepsurgical.com), a privately-held, Austin-based medical device company developing intraoperative nerve monitoring technologies for laparoscopic and robotic-assisted prostate cancer surgery, announced today it signed an agreement with a subsidiary of HealthTronics, Inc., a leading national provider of urological products and services, to sell the ProPep® Nerve Monitoring System within the United States.
“We are very pleased to collaborate with HealthTronics,” stated Jim Schneider, Chief Operating Officer of ProPep Surgical®. “HealthTronics is an industry leader in supplying urologists with the specialized technologies needed to provide high quality care to patients. We look forward to working with the HealthTronics team to help urologic surgeons improve sexual function and urinary continence outcomes following prostatectomy by reducing the inadvertent nerve damage commonly recognized as one of the primary causes of these side effects.”
Kelly Huang, President of HealthTronics also commented, “HealthTronics is pleased to be able to add the ProPep® technology alongside our other urologic offerings including our Endocare ® Cryotherapy product line. We’ve worked together with urologists for more than 20 years to find products and services that are designed to improve patient care and we believe that through our collaboration with ProPep® we will enhance our portfolio of offerings for our Urology customers.
Indications for Use
The ProPep® Nerve Monitoring System is an electroneurodiagnostic device that measures and displays muscle activity for electromyography (EMG) applications during robotic and laparoscopic prostatectomies.
This device is designed as an adjunct to the current open or laparoscopic prostatectomy in which a nerve location technique is used. It is not designed to replace the surgeon's expertise in the location of nerves of the pelvic region. Each surgeon's skill determines whether these nerves are spared regardless of any aid.
The Pep Electrode Introducer is indicated for use to provide temporary percutaneous placement of EMG monopolar needle electrodes during minimally invasive laparoscopic procedures.
About ProPep Surgical®, LLC
Established in 2010, ProPep Surgical® is a privately-held, Austin-based medical device company developing a system of products (ProPep® Nerve Monitoring System) to aid laparoscopic and robotic surgeons in identifying the location of and monitoring the integrity of otherwise invisible nerves during minimally invasive pelvic surgery. Real time identification of these nerves allows surgeons to make more informed decisions about which tissue to selectively preserve or remove during surgery and as a result, potentially reduces the common side effects typically attributed to inadvertent nerve damage during these procedures.
About HealthTronics
HealthTronics has been a national provider of urological and interventional oncology services and products for more than 20 years. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, the company provides the most advanced technology and premiere support systems to urologists, interventional radiologists, hospitals, surgery centers and clinics across the United States. HealthTronics is an operating company of Endo Health Solutions Inc. (NASDAQ: ENDP), a specialty healthcare company with four distinct business segments focused on branded and generic pharmaceuticals, devices and services, each providing quality products to customers intended to improve the lives of patients. Learn more at www.endo.com.