Endovasc-TissueGen Blumberg Research Spon

The ureter is the tubular tract originating at the renal pelvis that transmits urine from the kidney to the bladder. It is also the place that blocks stones that leave the kidney and pass into the bladder.

Kidney stones account for much of the urinary tract morbidity and because of this, ureteroscopies (procedures to visualize the ureter and extract stones) and lithotripsies (external ultrasonic destruction of stones) account for over a million and one half procedures in the U.S alone.

Most of these procedures require the insertion of a non-disposable plastic or rubber stent to prevent the small stone fragments from coalescing and obstructing the ureter after the procedure. By inserting a biodegradable stent at the time of the first procedure, one could eliminate the pain and expense of the second procedure.

Prostatic Stents:

An enlarged prostate – known as benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH – is caused by an overgrowth of prostate cells. As the prostate enlarges, which happens to almost all men as they get older, it can press on the urethra (the tube that empties urine from the bladder). This causes problems making it increasingly difficult to empty the bladder.

The choice of a specific surgical procedure is usually based on the severity of your symptoms and the size and shape of your prostate gland. Surgically invasive procedures include Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP), Transurethral Incision of the Prostate (TUIP), and Open Prostatectomy.

Biodegradable prostatic stents would be used in conjunction with minimally invasive procedures as:

TUMT, a microwave antenna is inserted into the prostatic urethra and the energy is turned up and the heat produced destroys portion of the prostate tissue.

Indigo laser is a method of inserting needles into the prostate and laser energy destroys some of the prostatic tissue.

TUNA, a method whereby ablation of the prostate is performed with needles that have an electric current.

All minimally invasive methods to treat BPH require the use of a special catheter for 1 to 5 days. A Foley catheter is inserted to drain urine from the bladder into an external collection bag. Sometimes, the catheter causes recurring painful bladder spasms in the days following surgery.

The use of a biodegradable prostatic stent would maintain an open urinary tract enabling the patient to void more easily. In addition, a biodegradable prostatic stent would eliminate the need of a Foley catheter, which would be considerably more comfortable for the patient and does not require a second procedure to be removed.

Endovasc and TissueGen have retained Nathan Blumberg, MD, who is a Board Certified Urologist, to collaborate on the development of biodegradable stents for ureteral and prostate applications. Dr. Kevin D. Nelson, President and Chief Scientific Officer of TissueGen and Dr. Nathan Blumberg are currently managing the study to fabricate the biodegradable stent prototype.