Symptoms include frequent and urgent need to urinate and many nighttime trips to the bathroom. There may be difficulty beginning urination, a slow urinary stream and dribbling. The symptoms develop because the prostate, a donut-shaped gland below the bladder, enlarges and pinches the urethra, the duct that empties urine from the bladder. According to the National Institutes of Health, about 7.5 million men have BPH, and about 250,000 need prostate surgery every year. The Prostatron includes a treatment table, a computer to plan and control microwave energy and an ultrasound machine to determine the size and shape of the prostate and to guide treatment.
Treatment involves inserting a catheter in the urethra.
The catheter contains an antenna that delivers a dose of microwave energy to the prostate. Microwaves heat the prostate tissue to about 115 degrees Fahrenheit, damaging the cells. A self-contained cooling system flushes water around the tip and sides of the antenna, protecting sensitive urethral tissue. Over a few weeks, the injured cells are absorbed by healthy prostate tissue, relieving pressure on the urethra. The Prostatron treatment lasts about an hour.