New Diaphragm-like implant to prevent urinary leakage after prostate cancer surgery
Official title: Novel Scaffold for Mitigating Post-Prostatectomy Urinary Incontinence
Funded at Levee Medical INC · NIH-11409594 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A resorbable implant placed at the time of prostate cancer surgery helps men regain bladder control faster and reduces the need for pads or secondary procedures.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Levee Medical INC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Raleigh, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $912,125 |
| NIH project number | 1R44CA314945-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11409594 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Men undergoing radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer who are candidates for urinary continence restoration at the time of surgery.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-surgical treatment plans or contraindications to implants may not benefit.
What this research studies
After surgery for prostate cancer, many men struggle with urinary incontinence. This grant supports developing a temporary, dissolving scaffold that expands around the urethra to support the bladder neck and restore continence right after prostatectomy. The approach aims to shorten recovery time and reduce reliance on absorbent pads by recreating a healthier urethral geometry. Research will test safety and initial performance, with a focus on how the device interacts with tissues as it dissolves. If successful, this could change standard care by offering a one-step solution at the time of surgery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could regain bladder control more quickly and avoid multiple procedures or long-term pad use.
How similar studies have gone: Previous implants for urinary incontinence have shown promise, but this approach is novel in offering a resorbable scaffold at the time of prostatectomy.
Where this research is happening
-
Levee Medical INC
Raleigh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Choi, Bruce — Levee Medical INC
- Study coordinator: Choi, Bruce
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Pelvic fascia-sparing radical prostatectomy: a better-path to fewer side effects
A large research project tests a new surgical approach for prostate cancer that may reduce urinary leakage and erectile problems after surgery.
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Preserving Erectile Function during Robotic Prostate Surgery by Measuring Nerve-Sparing Technique
Aims to create an objective way to measure how well surgeons perform the nerve-sparing part of robot-assisted prostate cancer surgery to help patients keep erectile function.
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This project develops cameras and safe fluorescent dyes to show prostate cancer margins and nearby nerves in real time during prostate removal surgery for men with prostate cancer.
-
PSMA-PET imaging to guide prostate removal and protect nerves
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.