COVER STORY

Many medical conditions affect women and men differently. Because of this, specialized treatment is necessary to ensure that the healthcare requirements of each sex are met. Traditional healthcare techniques do not take into account the gender-specific aspects of male and female anatomy and physiology and, therefore, are not as effective in treating certain conditions as approaches specialized for women or men can be.

"Cook Medical recognized the need for healthcare instruments designed specifically with a woman's anatomy and physiology in mind," says Christina Anné, global leader for Cook Women's Health. "When it launched its specialized women's health business unit, the company became a pioneer in addressing the needs of female patients."

Cook Women's Health delivers innovative diagnostic and treatment options intended to maximize the quality of patient care and thus improve patient quality of life. This business unit focuses on today's most pressing women's health issues, offering advanced solutions for pelvic floor repair, high-risk obstetrics, assisted reproductive technology (ART), and gynecologic imaging.

Pelvic Floor Repair. Cook Women's Health is at the cutting edge of pelvic floor repair with its unique Surgisis Biodesign technology. Surgisis Biodesign is neither a new type of mesh nor a graft, but constitutes a new category of tissue repair product that combines the attributes of synthetic mesh and biologic grafts. It is a pelvic floor repair solution that is resistant to infection, encapsulation, and erosion. A collagen matrix derived from pig intestines, the material has been particularly useful in treating pelvic organ prolapse, a condition caused by weakening of the tissue in a woman's pelvic region.

High-Risk Obstetrics. Many complications can arise in obstetrical patients, some of which can be life threatening or life changing. For example, postpartum hemorrhage is one of the leading causes of childbirth-related maternal mortality. While various management measures are available to treat the hemorrhage, many of these options may still result in hysterectomy or require a separate surgical procedure that can be difficult for patients, both physically and emotionally.

To serve these patients, Cook introduced the Bakri postpartum balloon. This latex-free balloon is positioned in the patient's uterus and inflated with sterile liquid. It conforms to the shape of the uterus and provides immediate management of the hemorrhage. Once the bleeding has stopped, the balloon is easily deflated and removed. No surgery is necessary.

Assisted Reproductive Technology. Recognized globally as a leader in the ART market, Cook Women's Health has worked vigorously in the past year to further develop the expertise it can deliver to the North American market. The business unit has dedicated a significant portion of its North American sales force to ART. With last year's launch of the MINC benchtop incubator, Cook has acted to improve the success of assisted reproduction procedures. The MINC creates a stable environment for stored embryos involved in the in vitro fertilization process, significantly increasing the likelihood of an embryo's surviving to be implanted.

Gynecologic Imaging. Gynecologic imaging is one of the best methods available for physicians to determine the cause of ailments specific to the female anatomy and choose among treatment options. Cook has brought to this market a breakthrough device, the Transcervical Pelvic Venogram Set (TPV), which enables diagnosis of pelvic congestion, a leading cause of chronic pelvic pain in women. In a matter of minutes and at a fraction of the cost of other techniques, the TPV provides physicians with a clear view of the pelvic anatomy. This information allows physicians to refine their diagnosis and determine the best treatment options for each patient based on the severity of her congestion.

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