Olympus announces physician-led webinar series exploring minimally invasive BPH treatment

Urologists will discuss experiences and best practices using the iTind procedure

CENTER VALLEY, Pa., (May 17, 2020) – Olympus, a global technology leader in designing and delivering innovative solutions for medical and surgical procedures, announced today a webinar series that offers a physician’s look at the minimally invasive iTind™ procedure for treatment of symptoms due to an enlarged prostate.

The series will include three live webinars with a group of experienced urologists, who will discuss their firsthand experiences in treating an enlarged prostate or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) using the iTind device. The sessions will include a discussion of how the physicians offered the iTind procedure to patients, best practices for the minimally invasive treatment and a review of published studies.

Each of the physicians was an early adopter of the procedure that does not remove tissue, use energy or leave a permanent implant. The sessions will feature:

  • Dr. Ken Kernen, Beaumont Hospital, Michigan Institute of Urology, 7 p.m. ET, May 17;
  • Dr. John Kaspar, Associated Urologists of North Carolina, 6 p.m. ET, May 24.

This webinar series is for informational purposes only and not a professional educational event. The urologists participating in the webinar series are paid consultants of Olympus America Inc.

Click here to register for the webinars. Recordings of the individual sessions will be available through the same site, including an earlier session featuring Dr. Kalpesh Patel, Arizona Institute of Urology.

About half of all men will develop BPH by age 60 and up to 90% of men over age 80 will develop BPH. Some of the symptoms that can affect a patient’s quality of life include the need to urinate frequently, the feeling that they haven’t emptied their bladder, the urgent need to go and waking up several times a night to urinate.1

The iTind device features three flexible nitinol (nickel titanium super alloy) struts that gently expand during the 5-7 days the temporary implant is in place. It reshapes the prostate by exerting slight pressure, creating channels that allow urine to flow and relieve lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Once the device is removed, most men go home without the need of a catheter, and the procedure does not limit patients to any future treatment options.

The iTind procedure is indicated for men age 50 and above. Possible side effects include pelvic discomfort, blood in urine, painful or urgent urination. In rare cases, it can cause urinary tract infection or a sudden difficulty to urinate.

Visit the Olympus website for more information about iTind or the complete urology portfolio.

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About Olympus
As a leading medical technology company, our medical business delivers innovative medical technology, therapeutic intervention, and precision manufacturing used in diagnostic, therapeutic, and minimally invasive procedures. For more information, visit medical.olympusamerica.com.

1 American Urological Association, Urologyhealth.org, “Urology A-Z: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.” Updated Sept. 2021, Accessed April 13, 2022