Adjustable Urethral Implant for BPH Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing urinary tract implants for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are limited by a predetermined shape, making it difficult to adapt expansion to individual patient anatomy and requiring a one-size-fits-all approach, which hinders efficient treatment and easy implant removal.
Innovation Solution
A removable implant with a pressure means structure composed of rod-like pressure elements secured by a common distal and proximal connecting body, allowing adjustable distance between the connecting bodies to vary the expansion, enabling personalized expansion and easy retrieval by varying the distance between the connecting bodies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the implant uses a predetermined shape from shape memory material, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the expansion cannot be adapted to individual patient anatomy
Solution Approach 1:
The implant transitions from a static predetermined shape to a dynamic adjustable structure. The wire structure can be expanded to different degrees by adjusting the position of the distal end relative to the proximal end, allowing adaptation to individual patient anatomy while maintaining a relatively simple basic structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The expansion degree of the implant is changed by varying the distance between the proximal and distal ends of the wire structure. This parameter adjustment allows the same implant to be adapted to different patient anatomies without requiring multiple predetermined shapes.
2Reliability
If the implant is expanded against tissue, then treatment effectiveness is achieved, but correct positioning becomes difficult or impossible after anchoring
Solution Approach 1:
The implant maintains dynamic adjustability even after expansion. The distal end can be repositioned relative to the proximal end to adjust the expansion degree and correct positioning, allowing both effective treatment and ease of positioning adjustment.
3Productivity
If the implant is limited to predetermined shape, then manufacturing is simple, but enlargement during treatment is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The expansion degree of the wire structure can be increased during treatment by adjusting the distance between the proximal and distal ends. This allows enlargement capability while maintaining the simplicity of the basic implant structure.
4Ease of operation
If the implant is folded for removal, then retrieval is possible, but the process is difficult after treatment completion
Solution Approach 1:
The implant maintains its dynamic nature throughout the treatment process and removal phase. The wire structure can be easily folded and collapsed by adjusting the distance between ends, facilitating quick and easy removal without difficult manipulation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution allows for efficient tissue treatment by adapting the implant's expansion to the patient's anatomy, facilitating easier implant placement, adjustment during treatment, and gentle removal after completion.
Implementation Method 1
the pressure means are of rod-like design and exert a local ischemic pressure on the tissue of the urethra... the ischemic pressure of the individual wires on the cells of the tissue, leading to reduced or completely absent blood flow
Implementation Method 2
a removable implant is temporarily placed in the urethra or in the prostatic portion of the urethra of the patient. Such an implant is a wire structure made of a shape memory alloy, such as, for example, Nitinol. In a folded state, the wire structure is pushed into the correct position by a catheter in order to unfold there into its predetermined basic structure.
Data Source
AI summary
An implant for efficient and gentle treatment of the urinary tract. This is achieved in that an implant has a pressure means structure, which is constructed from at least two pressure means. These pressure means are of rod-like design and exert a local ischemic pressure on the tissue of the urethra. In addition, the pressure means are secured with their distal ends on a common distal connecting body and with their proximal ends on a common proximal connecting body, wherein the distal connecting body is secured in a fixed manner to a tightening means and the proximal connecting body is movably mounted on the tightening means.