Interstitial low-power diode laser treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia

Summary form only given. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common medical problem in older men. Growth in prostatic tissue obstructs the outflow of urine, slowing urination and making it impossible to completely void the bladder. The existing approved treatments for BPH are not satisfactory in many sufferers of BPH. The device in this discussion is a novel laser device using a markedly different treatment from existing surgical or medical methods. In this treatment, prostatic tissue is heated from within the prostate to the point of irreversible necrosis. There is no necessity for destruction of the urethral epithelium. Healing processes then reduce the volume of the affected tissue. This report presents results from the initial series of patients treated in a multicenter registry. The device used was a diode laser operating at a nominal 830 nm wavelength. The device uses solid state design, requires no special maintenance, and can operate from standard wall currents and voltages. The laser device is approximately 16.5 cm by 40.0 cm by 34.3 cm and weighs 11 kg. The device delivers energy to the prostate via a fiber with a 1 cm diffusing tip. Energy is delivered at programmed power settings designed to produce a large volume of coagulation in the absence of tissue char. Current treatment modes involve a carefully selected delivery of power over a 4 minute interval