Erbium: YAG Laser Incision of Urethral Structures for Treatment of Urinary Incontinence After Prostate Cancer Spray
Abstract
Urethral strictures and bladder neck contractures occur in 5-20% of prostate cancer surgeries, causing incontinence. Conventional stricture treatments have widely variable success rates with sub-optimal results. Treatment failure is presumably due to mechanical and/or thermal damage to the urethra during the procedure. The objective of this research project was to test a novel Erbium:YAG laser for precise incision of the urethral stricture with minimal damage to adjacent healthy tissue. We hypothesized that minimal side-effects caused during Erbium laser incision should translate into limited scarring and improved procedural success rates. Year#1 of this project was devoted to optimization of the laser and optical fiber delivery system for rapid and precise cutting of urethral tissue, ex vivo. We accomplished these tasks, and published our findings in the form of four manuscripts and two abstracts. Year #2 was devoted to in vivo animal studies comparing the wound healing after Erbium and Holmium laser incision of the urethra and bladder neck. Further improvement of the optical fiber delivery system was also accomplished. We published our findings in the form of five manuscripts and two abstracts. Year #3 was devoted to preparing for clinical studies and obtaining further funding for commercialization of the fiber optic delivery system. One manuscript was published and one is in review.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA453351
Entities
People
- Nathaniel Fried
Organizations
- Johns Hopkins University