Olympus Corporation of Asia Pacific (Olympus APAC) is launching its iTind device for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in South Korea.
Also known as enlarged prostate, BPH affects men and can make it harder for individuals to urinate or fully empty their bladder. Due to this, the condition can significantly increase individuals’ risk of developing urinary tract infections (UTI).
Go deeper with GlobalData
The iTind system is a temporarily implantable nitinol device that is intended to support the relief of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) secondary to BPH, representing an alternative to treatment with medications, permanent implants, or tissue removal.
In September 2023, iTind was included in the American Urological Association (AUA) clinical practice guideline for the management of LUTS.
The device will launch in South Korea next month and is already marketed in Thailand, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and India, along with the US and Europe.
As Olympus rolls out iTind across more markets, the company has designed a training programme to support physicians.
Daisuke Goto, head of Olympus APAC’s surgical business, commented: “We’re excited to provide increased access to a minimally invasive outpatient BPH procedure for suitable patients, addressing a common health problem for men over 50 with the risk of BPH increasing with age.
“The iTind procedure provides a rapid and effective patient-focused treatment option, with the added benefit of the procedure being able to be performed in a clinic room under local anaesthesia, helping ease pressure on hospital capacity.”
Elsewhere in the field of LUTS, Laborie Medical Technologies made an unspecified investment in I-O Urology in April 2024. I-O Urology is the developer of the CarePath uroflow device, an FDA-approved diagnostic that aims to reduce LUTS.
