BusinessMedical DevicesTechnology

Devices Relieve Symptoms, Ignore Disease

PatrickDriscoll
4 Min Read
The UroLift System, discussed below, is really a perfect example of how medical device technology frequently addresses a specific clinical need without regard to the actual disease that caused it. In so doing, it is entirely representative of the way medical technologies often address and pursue opportunities in the marketplace with a singlemindedness. Here, the fundamental problem is the enlarged prostate’s constriction of the urethra, limiting its diameter and impeding normal urinary flow. TheUroLift System solves the immediate problem without addresing the hypertrophy in the prostate or its potential to evolve into prostate cancer.
This is succinctly why medical device technologies succeed while not being necessarily tied to long-term outcome. This is, in some ways, analogous to coronary angioplasty, which obviated the need for coronary bypass, until restenosis tended to reocclude vessels, requiring angioplasty to be combined with stenting; that is, until post-stent restenosis led to the development of drug-eluting stents, which, in some cases, led to late-stage restenosis. Medtech whack-a-mole. Devices succeed at solving limited functional problems, but do so at the expense of the long-term view. They satisfy demand for symptomatic solution. Before making a leap of judgment that medical technologies should only focus on long-term outcomes, be prepared to tell the man with BPH that solving his urinary flow problem is not an outcome sufficient in and of itself. Therein lies a big challenge in healthcare. _________________________ No Ablation, No Resection: Minimally Invasive UroLift System Goes on Trial in US The trial of UroLift System, a device being developed by a Pleasanton, California based NeoTract, Inc., has now been initiated in the US, according to the company. The minimally invasive technology is designed to treat lower urinary symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) by opening the urinary pathway by retracting hyperplastic urethral tissue without applying incisions, surgical resection or thermal injury to the prostate. From the product page: 1. The UroLift delivery device is inserted transurethrally through a rigid sheath (not shown) under cystoscopic visualization to reach the targeted area of obstruction. 2. UroLift sutures are deployed through a needle that comes out of the delivery device to retract the obstructing lobes. 3. The UroLift delivery device and sheath are removed, leaving an expanded urethral lumen. UroLift System Treatment Highlights: •Endoscopic results can be immediately confirmed post-procedure. •The procedure may be performed under local anesthesia. •Some patients can avoid any catheterization •Patients may experience symptom relief as early as 2 weeks post-procedure. •There have been no reports of new onset of sexual dysfunction, retrograde ejaculation or permanent erectile dysfunction. • UroLift system treatment does not preclude the option for future TURP should one be indicated Press release: NeoTract Announces First U.S. Patients Enrolled in Study of New Minimally Invasive Device for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia … Product page: UroLift® System …
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By PatrickDriscoll
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I serve the interests of medical technology company decision-makers, venture-capitalists, and others with interests in medtech producing worldwide analyses of medical technology markets for my audience of mostly medical technology companies (but also rapidly growing audience of biotech, VC, and other healthcare decision-makers). I have a small staff and go to my industry insiders (or find new ones as needed) to produce detailed, reality-grounded analyses of current and potential markets and opportunities. I am principally interested in those core clinical applications served by medical devices, which are expanding to include biomaterials, drug-device hybrids and other non-device technologies either competing head-on with devices or being integrated with devices in product development. The effort and pain of making every analysis global in scope is rewarded by my audience's loyalty, since in the vast majority of cases they too have global scope in their businesses. Specialties: Business analysis through syndicated reports, and select custom engagements, on medical technology applications and markets in general/abdominal/thoracic surgery, interventional cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, patient monitoring/management, wound management, cell therapy, tissue engineering, gene therapy, nanotechnology, and others.
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