IMPLANT

Abstract

An implant in which the Lobus medius (median lobe) can be treated in a simple and reliable manner. This is achieved by virtue of the fact that an implant for the treatment of a urinary tract has a wire structure. The wire structure has a loop wire, which can be expanded to form a loop, wherein at least two net wires can be stretched in this loop and the wire structure can be placed around the median lobe.

Claims

1. An implant, for the treatment of a urinary tract of a person by applying a local ischemic pressure to the tissue of a median lobe by means of a wire structure, wherein the implant can be introduced into the urethra in a folded state with a distal end in the lead and unfolds in the urethra to form the wire structure in order to treat the tissue, wherein the wire structure has a loop, wire, which can be expanded to form a loop, wherein at least two net wires can be stretched in this loop and the wire structure can be placed around the median lobe.

2. The implant as claimed in claim 1, wherein a multiplicity of net wires can be stretched within the loop, wherein the net wires are oriented parallel and/or transversely, to one another.

3. The implant as claimed in claim 1, wherein one end of the net wires and of the loop is firmly fastened to the wire structure and another end is guided loosely and in a tensionable manner to the proximal end of the implant and is connected there, in particular releasably, to a handling device.

4. The implant as claimed in claim 3, wherein the handling device can be a shaft, a wire, a thread or the like.

5. The implant as claimed in claim 1, wherein the length of the loop and of the net wires can be varied in order in this way to exert a pressure on the tissue and to release the tissue again.

6. The implant as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or more connecting springs are drawn onto the loop wire, at least in some section or sections, and the net wires are threaded through the connecting springs in order to fix the position.

7. The implant as claimed in claim 1, wherein the loop is designed as a connecting spring.

8. The implant as claimed in claim 1, wherein all the wires are brought together at a proximal end of the implant, and the loose wires can be fixed there or can be led out to the outside through the urethra.

Description

[0011] A preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to the drawing. In this drawing:

[0012] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of an implant, and

[0013] FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1.

[0014] One possible exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated schematically in the figures. It should be expressly pointed out that there is no intention to restrict the invention to this exemplary embodiment. Rather, it is envisaged that the invention can also be implemented by other embodiments.

[0015] According to the exemplary embodiment of the implant 10 according to the invention illustrated schematically in FIGS. 1 and 2, it is formed by an encircling loop wire 11, which forms a loop. At least two net wires 12 are stretched in this loop or loop wire 11. These net wires 12 are arranged within the loop like the strings of a tennis racket, Ideally, the two net wires 12 are oriented transversely or perpendicularly to one another within the bent loop wire 11.

[0016] In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, a net wire 12 crosses the loop formed by the loop wire 11, two further net wires 12 being positioned perpendicularly thereto. It is also conceivable for further net wires 12 to be arranged parallel to these net wires 12 within the loop wire 11.

[0017] The implant 10 is inserted into the urinary tract through a catheter 13, which is illustrated only schematically. During this process, the loop wire 11 and the net wires 12 are initially folded together within the catheter 13. By being pushed out of the catheter 13, the loop wire 11 unfolds to form the loop, and the net wires 12 are stretched within the loop. This unfolding is achieved through the choice of the material of the loop wire 11. This is because the loop wire 11 is preferably produced from a shape memory material, for example Nitinol. Both the loop wire 11 and net wires 12 can be fastened or releasably fastened by at least one of their ends to a handling device 16. This handling device 16 may be a rod, a shaft, a wire or a thread. By means of this handling device 16, the implant 10 can be introduced into the body and pulled out again. It is conceivable here for the handling device 16 to be capable of being releasably coupled to the implant 10. Thus, during treatment, the handling device 16 can be detached from the implant 14. Particularly for recovery of the implant 10, said implant can be recoupled to the handling device 16.

[0018] In each case one end of the loop wire 11 and of the net wires 12 is fixed to a proximal end 14 of the implant 10, in particular to the handling device 16. The second ends are guided back loosely to the proximal end 14 of the implant 10. There, they can be moved back and forth by pulling and can preferably be fixed or fixed to the handling device 16. By exerting the pull, it is possible, for example, to reduce the circumference of the loop wire 11. The mechanical tension of the net wires 12 can furthermore be maintained by simultaneously pulling on the free ends of the net wires 12. For adequate mechanical stability, the net wires 12 are produced, in particular, from titanium or a spring steel.

[0019] In order to fix the net wires 12 within the loop of the loop wire 11, the net wires 12 are guided along an inner side of the loop wire 11 and are held in position there by fastening means. This ensures that the net wires 12 retain their position relative to one another as the loop diameter is reduced and increased. An advantageous exemplary embodiment of the invention envisages that the loop wire 11 is surrounded by a connecting spring 15. This connecting spring 15 can either extend over the entire length of the loop wire 11 or only over a section or sections.

[0020] In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the connecting spring 15 extends over the entire length of the loop wire 11. The individual turns of the connecting spring 15 enable the net wires 12 to be threaded through. This is a simple and reliable way of ensuring that the net wires 12 retain their position relative to one another. Owing to the multiplicity of turns in the connecting springs 15, it is also possible to stretch a multiplicity of net wires 12 in almost any orientations and combinations in the loop. However, it has been found that, for reasons of space, two to four net wires 12 within the loop achieve a particularly advantageous effect on the tissue.

[0021] For the treatment of the median lobe, the loop formed by the loop wire 11 is guided over the median lobe. During this process, the loose end of the net wires 12 is initially not fixed. As a result, the net wires 12 and also the loop wire 11 come to lie around the median lobe. In the next step, both the loop wire 11 and the net wires 12 are then tightened. This changes both the circumference of the loop and the mechanical load exerted by the net wires 12 on the surrounded tissue. During the next few days, the already described denaturation of the tissue of the median lobe takes place. After completion of the treatment, the loose end of the loop wire 11 and of the net wires 12 is released and lifted off from the median lobe. When the implant 10 or the net wires 12 are pulled back, the loose ends of said wires hang out of the plane of the loop, as illustrated in FIG. 2. In this state, the implant 10 can be removed from the urinary tract in a simple and gentle manner.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0022] 10 implant

[0023] 11 loop wire

[0024] 12 net wire

[0025] 13 catheter

[0026] 14 proximal end

[0027] 15 connecting spring

[0028] 16 handling device