Aesculap, Inc. Introduces the Miethke proSA™; A New Gravitational Shunt Valve Offering the Most Flexible Treatment Options Available

Center Valley, PA (March 1, 2013) – Aesculap, Inc. is pleased to announce the launch of the Miethke proSA™, an adjustable, gravitational shunt valve which offers surgeons treating Hydrocephalus the most flexible shunt system available, allowing the surgeon to provide the best treatment options to their patients.

Gravitational

Like other valves in the Aesculap-Miethke line, proSA is a gravitational valve, which means it provides resistance to cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) flow in the upright position. Implanted in combination with fixed or adjustable valves, proSA allows surgeons to provide their patients with distinctly different pressure settings for the lying and the upright positions, thereby reducing the symptoms that are experienced when intracranial pressures (ICP’s) are too low or too high.

Adjustable

proSA is adjustable, which allows the upright pressure to be managed independently from the lying pressure. This eliminates the need to find a “middle road” between optimal lying and standing pressures, reducing patient symptoms and allowing patients to lead as close to a symptom-free life as possible. 

Flexible

The wide adjustability range from 0-40 cmH2O enables surgeons to manage the needs of a wide selection of patient types or patient needs such as height or weight changes.  proSA’s resistance can be reduced to zero if a gravitational valve is not needed, or increased if more resistance is required.  With a maximum setting of 40 cmH2O, proSA, when combined with a fixed or adjustable valve, gives surgeons the highest opening pressure available for the upright positions.

Safe

proSA’s integrated Active-Lock MR brake helps prevent the valve from inadvertent pressure adjustments in 1.5 and 3T MRI scanners, and the need for re-adjustments after an MRI.

One very challenging aspect of managing a Hydrocephalus patient’s condition is effectively maintaining a patient’s CSF drainage to keep ICP within normal physiological ranges. CSF tends to drain faster when a patient is standing, causing a decrease in ICP, which results in headaches, nausea and other debilitating symptoms.  This necessitates the need for higher valve resistance in upright positions. The taller the patient, the higher the necessary resistance.

“When the pressure setting is increased in a conventional adjustable valve system”, stated Chuck DiNardo, President of Aesculap, Inc., “resistance is increased for all positions, not just the upright position. This results in increased ICP in the lying position causing headaches, nausea and other symptoms.  proSA finally allows these pressures to be managed independently, providing greater patient comfort”.

“More important than anything, is the need for us to understand our customer’s situation and the situation of the patient”, insists Christoph Miethke, President and Head of Research & Development at Christoph Miethke GMBH & Co. KG, in Potsdam, Germany. “proSA is a solution to the difficult situations faced by both the surgeon and the patient”.

About Aesculap, Inc.

Aesculap, Inc., a B. Braun company, founded in 1867 in Tuttlingen, Germany, is the world’s largest and one of the most respected manufacturers of surgical instruments and sterilization container systems. Aesculap is a leading privately-owned manufacturing company, passionately committed to providing high-quality, innovative products and services to all surgical disciplines, with particular focus in the fields of General, Neuro, Spine and Orthopaedics. For more information, contact Aesculap Customer Service at 1-800-282-9000 or visit www.aesculapusa.com

About B. Braun

B. Braun Medical Inc. (B.Braun), a leader in infusion therapy and pain management, develops, manufactures, and markets innovative medical products and services to the healthcare industry. The Company is committed to eliminating preventable treatment errors and enhancing patient, clinician and environmental safety. Guided by its “Sharing Expertise®” philosophy, B.Braun continuously exchanges knowledge with customers, partners and clinicians to address the critical issues of improving care and lowering costs.

The B.Braun group of companies includes B.Braun, Aesculap® and CAPS®. B.Braun’s U.S. headquarters is located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, with its global headquarters based in Melsungen, Germany. It employs more than 44,000 employees in more than 50 countries throughout the world. To learn more about B.Braun visit www.bbraunusa.com.

About Miethke

Christoph Miethke GmbH & Co. KG was founded in 1992 and is now situated in Potsdam, Germany. The company develops, produces and distributes neurosurgical products for the treatment of hydrocephalus. Because of the unique gravitational drainage systems and novel valve mechanisms that are integral to their products, Christoph Miethke GmbH & Co.KG is well regarded as an innovative organization by neurosurgical experts worldwide.  For more information, visit www.miethke.com.

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Contact:        

Amy Burkey

Project Manager – Corporate Communications
Aesculap, Inc.
610.984.9245

amy.burkey@aesculap.com

Amy Burkey
Project Manager – Corporate Communications
Aesculap, Inc.
610.984.9245
amy.burkey@aesculap.com

About Aesculap, Inc.
Aesculap, Inc., a B. Braun company, founded in 1867 in Tuttlingen, Germany, is the world’s largest and one of the most respected manufacturers of surgical instruments and sterilization container systems. Aesculap is a leading privately-owned manufacturing company, passionately committed to providing high-quality, innovative products and services to all surgical disciplines, with particular focus in the fields of General, Neuro, Spine and Orthopaedics. For more information, contact Aesculap Customer Service at 1-800-282-9000 or visit www.aesculapusa.com

About B. Braun
B. Braun Medical Inc. (B.Braun), a leader in infusion therapy and pain management, develops, manufactures, and markets innovative medical products and services to the healthcare industry. The Company is committed to eliminating preventable treatment errors and enhancing patient, clinician and environmental safety. Guided by its “Sharing Expertise®” philosophy, B.Braun continuously exchanges knowledge with customers, partners and clinicians to address the critical issues of improving care and lowering costs.

The B.Braun group of companies includes B.Braun, Aesculap® and CAPS®. B.Braun’s U.S. headquarters is located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, with its global headquarters based in Melsungen, Germany. It employs more than 44,000 employees in more than 50 countries throughout the world. To learn more about B.Braun visit www.bbraunusa.com.

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