CHICAGO, IL USA (UroToday.com) - The poster presented data on the use of a device that is inserted into the bladder to release medication for OAB. Daniel Yachia, Innovations Limited, Australia, developed a device called PharmaSphere, a novel, proprietary, intravesical floating system for sustained delivery of single or several drugs. The device could be used to treat many bladder diseases (e.g., bladder pain syndrome or superficial bladder cancer). With design modifications, it can be used in different drug-dose regimens and lengths of various treatment cycles, as needed. It has an advantage over oral medications as it bypasses first-pass metabolism as the drug is instilled directly into the bladder. The authors feel the advantage of such a device is that the drug is retained in the bladder or can be combined with other drugs. They can directly affect the bladder urothelium without risking systemic toxicity and may have a greater therapeutic advantage.
The PharmaSphere is a double-balloon design with a generic carrier. Some have a fenestrated balloon reservoir that can be loaded with a drug, or a drug combination-containing matrix, after it is inserted into the bladder. The one with the non-fenestrated outer balloon reservoir can release the drug directly into the silicone wall of the balloon by “sweating.” Also, drug or drug containing matrix is loaded after its insertion into the bladder. These designs are intended for longer treatment cycles. The buoyancy of the device is obtained by filling either the hermetically closed outer or inner balloon with a material having a density lower than urine (e.g. light mineral oil). Filling of the dry and/or liquid drug and the oil is done by using a special syringe.
Preliminary results are from bench trial but have not moved into clinical trials.
Presented by D. Yachia at the Simon Foundation for Continence's Innovating for Continence Conference Series - April 12 - 13, 2013 - Chicago, Illinois USA
Reported for UroToday.com by Diane K. Newman, DNP, ANP-BC, FAAN
About the Conference Series
The Innovating for Continence Conference Series is a unique, international, biennial conference for engineers, physicians, nurses, people with incontinence and their caregivers, academics, industry executives, and those with a passion for increased development of creative and efficacious products for the management of incontinence.
The multi-disciplinary meetings attract speakers from a wide range of disciplines and is organized and hosted by The Simon Foundation for Continence (Chicago, IL USA). It is made possible through generous support from individual and industry sponsors.
Professor Alan Cottenden is the ongoing chair for the conference series. He is Professor of Incontinence Technology at University College London, England. Professor Cottenden is the Chair of the Organizing Committee for the biennial conference "Incontinence: The Engineering Challenge" hosted by the UK Institution of Mechanical Engineers along with the committee on Management Using Continence Products of the International Consultation on Incontinence (ICI). He has been involved in continence technology for almost 30 years, working on clinical and basic science aspects as well as product development and international standards work (ISO).
