Method and Device of Identifying and Evaluating Neurovascular Structure
- Summary
- OSU researchers have developed a non-invasivemethod and device for locating the NVB during a prostatectomy which also may beused to evaluate the integrity of the nerve after surgery. The technology has the potential to decreasethe prevalence of erectile dysfunction in prostatectomy patients. The methodand device will also be useful to identifying and evaluating neurovascularstructures in other surgical applications.
- Technology Benefits
- Non-invasiveEvaluatesthe integrity of the nervePreventsinjury to the cavernous nerves during prostatectomy
- Technology Application
- LocatingNVB for prostatectomy
- Detailed Technology Description
- None
- *Abstract
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None
- *Background
- A radical prostatectomy is an operation toremove the prostate gland and some of the tissue around it. The cavernous nerves, which are responsiblefor erection and are a part of the prostaticneurovascular bundle (NVB), travel very close to the prostate gland and,because the nerves are difficult to identify visually and current locating devicesare inadequate, may be injured during the prostatectomy. Injury of the NVB is found in over half of prostatectomy patients experiencing erectile dysfunction18 or more months after surgery. Therefore,identifying and avoiding damage to the NVB is essential to preventing erectiledysfunction in prostatectomy patients. Currentmethods of locating the nerve include an electro-stimulation based techniquethat is very invasive, and an optical coherence imaging technique that ischallenging to apply during surgery because of the strong light absorption bythe blood.
- *Stage of Development
- Conceptual stage.
- Country/Region
- USA
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