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There's new help for men who suffer from incontinence resulting from pelvic cancer treatment. A Duke Health surgical team has performed the first U.S. implantation of a new remote-controlled artificial urinary sphincter.
The Food and Drug Administration granted it an investigational device exemption last year, allowing researchers to study it in a clinical trial that will enroll up to 140 men at several sites in the U.S. and France.
The new electronic device packs a pump, reservoir and battery into a small metal casing and is implanted in a patient's abdomen just under the skin. It's operated by a remote control the size of a car key fob.
"Our trial will follow patients for up to five years because the goal isn't just effectiveness - it's safety, durability, and a real improvement in quality of life," says Dr. Andrew Peterson , a professor in the department of urology.
To learn more about the study, visit Duke Health .
