Sanovas Inc. and the World Association of Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology Launch Global Survey

SAUSALITO, Calif., Dec. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Sanovas, Inc., a life science technology company focused on developing and commercializing the next-generation of micro-invasive diagnostics, devices and drug delivery technologies, and the World Association of Bronchology & Interventional Pulmonology (WABIP) today announced that they have launched a joint research project entitled "The Breathing Innovation Survey - We Are Listening."  The global initiative, being conducted via multiple surveys over the next year, will gauge the needs, opinions, preferences and insights of more than 15,000 thoracic surgeons, interventional pulmonologists and broncho-esophageal specialists.

"Providing truly innovative patient care requires that we, in the medical community, work together across specialties to prevent and treat disease particularly in the area of chronic pulmonary diseases, which affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide," said Dr. Henri Colt, M.D, Chairman of WABIP.

The one-year study will acquire and aggregate a host of data sets about the causes, distribution, and control of chronic pulmonary diseases, and is expected to provide vital physician preference and human factors data. The data will be made publicly available to researchers throughout the next few years for the purpose of advancing best practices and innovating treatment solutions that may serve to stem the global epidemic of chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension and lung cancer.

According to the World Health Organization, hundreds of millions of people worldwide suffer daily from the effects of chronic respiratory disease, including 235 million people who have asthma and 64 million who have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Lung cancer alone kills more than one million people annually.

"This survey will be the first to gather extensive data across specialties about physician practice, demographic trends and treatment protocols. We expect to gain valuable insights that will directly impact treatment innovation and patient care, " said Sanovas President and CEO Larry Gerrans.

Limitations in technology and high levels of procedural risk have stymied early detection and treatment of respiratory diseases. Clinical improvements in diagnosis and intervention have long been critically needed to improve all aspects of the pulmonary science. A focus of the Breathing Innovation Survey is to advance the development of effective, economically viable solutions that may serve to improve patient care, at the local level and globally.

"As a company committed to creating highly capable, inexpensive and easy-to-use technologies for treating pulmonary disease at the bedside, whether it be in a remote village or an urban hub, Sanovas believes that these treatment limitations can be overcome," Gerrans said. "We are entering a new era where miniaturization, personalized medicine and cost efficient technologies are making what was impossible yesterday a reality today."  

About WABIP

The World Association of Bronchology & Interventional Pulmonology (WABIP) is a not-for-profit medical association with central offices registered in Japan. Its role is to serve as an umbrella organization that unites national and regional bronchology associations and groups with a common purpose of enhancing patient care, research and education in bronchology and related fields.

About Sanovas

Sanovas, Inc., based in Sausalito, Calif., is a life science technology company focused on developing and commercializing next-generation micro-invasive diagnostics, devices and drug delivery technologies for unmet clinical needs.

Sanovas' microsurgical technology platform is designed to give surgeons the ability to access and visualize previously inaccessible areas of the body, enabling them to diagnose, treat and deliver drug and immune therapies to small diameter anatomy in entirely new ways. Privately held, Sanovas was founded by the pioneers in minimally invasive surgery. The company has more than 45 multi-national patents and patents pending.

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SOURCE Sanovas, Inc.