ORANGEBURG, N.Y., Sept. 19, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vision-Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq:VSCI) announced today that its unique, advanced Transnasal EndoSheath® Esophagoscopy system will be featured on the September 20th episode of "The Doctor Oz Show" during a segment addressing esophageal cancer, the fastest growing cancer in America and Europe.
As part of a health initiative to bring awareness of the risk of esophageal cancer, and ways to prevent esophageal cancer, Dr. Jonathan Aviv, of ENT and Allergy Associates, LLP ® will perform a Transnasal Esophagoscopy on a patient to demonstrate the simplicity and efficacy of the emerging medical procedure.
Cynthia Ansari, CEO of Vision-Sciences, stated "Transnasal Esophagoscopy, or TNE, is a tremendously important procedure in fighting the growth of esophageal cancer by allowing early diagnosis. We believe Vision-Sciences' TNE system is the perfect solution." Ms. Ansari added, "With Vision-Sciences' TNE system, patients benefit by avoiding the risks of conscious (intravenous) sedation. Further, the procedure significantly reduces overall health care costs by avoiding the expensive sedation and monitoring required when performing traditional sedated esophagoscopy."
Transnasal Esophagoscopy, or TNE, allows for immediate and efficient diagnosis of the esophageal anatomy. TNE involves inserting a small, thin endoscope through the nose of the patient to view the larynx, esophagus, and stomach, without having to sedate the patient, as is common with larger endoscopes. Vision-Sciences' Transnasal Esophagoscope provides physicians with high performance endoscopic technology and uses the company's proprietary EndoSheath technology, a sterile, disposable barrier that ensures a sterile device for the patient and offers physicians greater practice efficiency.
"Transnasal Esophagoscopy is an optimal diagnostic method in the fight against esophageal cancer," stated Dr. Aviv, a leading otolaryngologist and Clinical Director of the Voice and Swallowing Center©, a division of ENT & Allergy Associates. "This procedure can greatly enhance our ability to detect this disease at an early stage, which is the key to patient treatment and survival."
According to the National Cancer Institute, there were 16,640 estimated new cases and 14,500 deaths from esophageal cancer in the United States in 2010, making it one of the fastest growing cancers in the nation. Esophageal cancer forms in tissues lining the esophagus, the tube that passes food from the throat to the stomach.
Currently there are approximately 10 million sedated upper endoscopies performed annually in the U.S., requiring facility fees of approximately $1,000 per procedure, or $10 billion per year in health care dollars, almost 70% of which could be performed unsedated in a physician's office.
Forward Looking Statements
Except for the historical information provided, the matters discussed in this release include forward-looking statements for the purposes of the safe harbor protections under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as Vision-Sciences or its management "believes," "expects," "allows," "anticipates," or other words or phrases of similar import. Similarly, statements in this release that describe our business strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions, or goals are also forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Other risk factors are detailed in our most recent annual report and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events or developments.
Vision-Sciences, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures and markets unique flexible endoscopic products utilizing sterile disposable sheaths, the Slide-On® EndoSheath® Technology, which provide the users quick, efficient product turnover while ensuring the patient a contaminant-free product.
ENT and Allergy Associates (ENTA) LLP is one of the largest and most comprehensive ear, nose, throat, allergy and audiology practices in the United States, with 125 physicians in 37 offices throughout New York and New Jersey. The physicians of the Voice and Swallowing Center of ENTA, who have expertise in TNE, are Drs Aviv, David Godin, Jared Wasserman and Farhad Chowdhury.
Vision‑Sciences owns the registered trademarks Vision Sciences®, Slide-On®, EndoSheath®, EndoWipe® and The Vision System®. Information about Vision-Sciences' products is available at www.visionsciences.com.
The Vision-Sciences, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=3876