Prostatic Urethra Implant with Incising and Anchoring Wires
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing treatments for prostate enlargement, particularly when both lateral and median lobes enlarge, often require invasive surgery to address both Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) and Bladder Neck Obstruction (BNO), while there is a need for a minimally invasive solution that can relieve urethral constriction and prevent median lobe obstruction.
Innovation Solution
A prostatic urethra implant with incising wires that create longitudinal incisions and apply radial force to relieve constriction, combined with anchoring wires to stabilize the implant and prevent the median lobe from obstructing the bladder neck, using shape memory materials for deployment and retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional surgical methods are used to treat prostate enlargement with both lateral and median lobe involvement, then both BPH and BNO can be addressed, but the treatment becomes highly invasive and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment is divided into two distinct functional components: incising wires for treating BPH (lateral lobe enlargement) and anchoring wires for treating BNO (median lobe obstruction). This segmentation allows each component to address specific pathology independently, simplifying the overall treatment approach while maintaining comprehensive effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The implant device serves multiple functions simultaneously: it creates longitudinal incisions to relieve urethral constriction from lateral lobes, anchors the median lobe to prevent bladder neck obstruction, and provides structural support to the prostatic urethra. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate surgical procedures
2Reliability
If invasive surgery is performed to address both BPH and BNO, then comprehensive treatment is achieved, but patient recovery time and discomfort increase
Solution Approach 1:
Traditional mechanical surgical intervention (cutting, removing tissue) is replaced by a passive implant-based system that uses radial force application and anchoring mechanisms. The incising wires create controlled incisions through radial expansion, and the anchoring wires stabilize the median lobe without requiring complex surgical manipulation, thereby reducing trauma and accelerating recovery
Solution Approach 2:
The implant utilizes shape memory alloy wires that change their physical state from compressed (during insertion) to expanded (after deployment). This parameter change enables minimally invasive insertion followed by effective treatment, avoiding the need for large incisions and extensive surgical exposure
3Adaptability or versatility
If an implant is designed to treat both lateral and median lobe enlargement, then a single device addresses all issues, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The incising wires and anchoring wires are merged into a single integrated implant structure that can be deployed together. The wires are positioned at specific intervals around the prostatic urethra, with incising wires targeting lateral lobe pressure points and anchoring wires securing the median lobe, creating a unified treatment system
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
The implant effectively relieves urethral constriction and prevents BNO by creating infarctions in the prostatic urethra tissues and anchoring the median lobe, providing a minimally invasive solution that maintains functionality and comfort for the patient.
Implementation Method 1
The wires are made from shape memory materials and are therefore capable of withstanding the compression required for insertion into the prostatic urethra as well as the expansion required for applying the outward radial pressure
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A~2C
AI summary
The disclosed technique relates to systems and methods for relieving a prostate enlargement (e.g., as a result of benign prostatic hyperplasia), in general, and to systems and methods for enlarging the prostatic urethra and for anchoring the median lobe of the prostate.