Organization
Verathon Medical^® (Canada) ULC is the lifeblood of Verathon's GlideScope^® Video Laryngoscope brand. This organization, located near Vancouver, Canada, handles essential product development, production, and warehousing for GlideScope^® products. Verathon^® Canada with approximately 30 employees is continuing to expand its rapidly growing operations.

Careers
Directions and map

4224 Manor Street
Burnaby, British Columbia V5G 1B2 Canada
Ph: 604.439.3009

History
Dr. John A. Pacey, MD FRCS(C) and Mr. Awni Ayoubi, P. Eng. founded Saturn Biomedical Systems Inc. in 1998 to specialize in the practical research, development and supply of new and improved medical devices and instruments to be used in association with surgical procedures.

Saturn commenced operations in January 1999 and was acquired by Diagnostic Ultrasound in January 2006. Both firms, acknowledging this new combined business and wider product portfolio, changed their names to Verathon^® in October 2006.

Dr. Jack Pacey
Inventor of the GlideScope
Bio

New Product Development

Video Laryngoscopy:
In his capacity as a vascular surgeon, Dr. J. Pacey, inventor and researcher recognized a clear need for improvement in anesthesia intubations. The outcome of this was a new product development program in Canada to integrate imaging technology with laryngoscopy to provide appropriate access space and reliable visualization to aid in intubation of difficult airways.

This pioneering work resulted in the introduction of the innovative GlideScope^® Video Laryngoscope in 2001.

As background, an estimated 40-50 million anesthetics are administered each year in North America and as many again worldwide. In up to fifty percent of cases, it is necessary for anesthesia and emergency specialists to place an endotracheal tube for purposes of controlling respiration. This can be a challenging and dangerous activity and assistive devices are sometimes necessary.

Traditional laryngoscopes have been used for placement of endotracheal tubes in the practice of anesthesia for about one hundred years. However, their requirement for "Line Of Sight" maneuvers induces neck flexion, head extension, laryngeal depression and other stress related movements.

Numerous accessories have since been introduced to facilitate intubation. While they have offered advantages, they also created disadvantages in certain situations complicated by blind techniques, skill requirements, aspiration and blood and secretion.

The GlideScope® Video Laryngoscope (GVL^®) incorporates micro-video technology to effectively deal with standard and difficult intubation cases. GlideScope^® enables visual control of the endotracheal tube in its trajectory toward the airway and permits a 50 to 60 degree viewing range. It includes an integrated camera with anti-fogging mechanism and has been designed and developed to make the passage of a breathing tube into the airway during anesthesia safe, reliable and easy.

The GlideScope^® micro-video technology gives a clear picture on a display monitor of the larynx and vocal cords, and a real-time view of endotracheal tube placement. This is a significant improvement over the traditional laryngoscope widely used for this purpose. GlideScope^® has rapidly advanced the new product category of "video laryngoscopy" and has set the stage for obsolescence of blind procedures in anesthesiology.

The GlideScope® Ranger:
In 2006, the GlideScope^® product line expanded further to include the GlideScope^® Ranger. Designed especially for the military and EMS settings, the Ranger is compact, portable, rugged and operational in seconds. Like the GVL^® it offers a clear view of the airway and real-time view of endotracheal tube placement for quick intubation. An essential crash cart device, it enables on-site treatment and helps eliminate "blind" procedures. It also offers a 60 degree blade angle, a high resolution camera with patented anti-fogging mechanism and a special non-glare monitor to work in a variety of field conditions.

GlideScope^® Ranger

The GlideScope® Cobalt:
With the growing need and desire for single use products in medical facilities, the GlideScope^® line grew once again in 2007 with the addition of the GlideScope^® Cobalt. Cobalt consists of a main camera housing called a "video baton" and a "translucent" sterile blade called a GVL^® Stat. The two combine to provide a single use airway solution. With it's distinctive blue light, the Cobalt offers Anesthesiologists a practical airway option for peak times in operating rooms and an excellent alternative to sterilizing equipment.

GlideScope^® Cobalt

GlideScope® Accessories:
To further facilitate intubation with the GlideScope^®;

GlideRite™ Tracheal Tubes were introduced in October 2006. The patented GlideScopes^® GlideRite™ Tracheal Tube has a soft, curved, distal tip designed to prevent trauma to airway structures.

The tip, created by Parker Medical, flexes as it contacts airway anatomy. Flanked by dual Murphy eyes, the centered tip is designed to move along the midline of the airway and the glottic opening.

Clinical studies^1,2 have demonstrated a superiority of Parker Flex-Tip™ technology compared to rigid, chisel-shaped tip of standard endotracheal tubes.

GlideRite™ Tracheal Tubes

A Rigid Stylet that complements the distinctive shape of the GVL^® was introduced in May 2006, and updated in April 2007.

GlideScope^® products are now used in Anesthesiology, Critical Care, Emergency, Outpatient Surgery, EMS and by the Military. They are in use in over 31 countries worldwide.

GlideScope^® Rigid Stylet

Other Product Development - Gasless Laparoscopy
In his initial work at the company, Dr. J. Pacey, developed a new approach to hydrostatic cuffs for lymphedema treatment (abnormal swelling of the extremities). This early research was followed by an experimental program to investigate Gasless Laparoscopy; the pursuit of surgical operation in the abdomen without gas inflation.