Rectal Probe Helps Visualize Prostate Elasticity

An innovative rectal probe employs mechanical sensors that detect the stiffness of the prostate while it is being palpated.

The ProUroScan prostate mechanical imaging (PMI) system provides an image of the pressures that are generated from palpation of the posterior surface of the prostate, by creating a stress pattern when a rectal probe is pressed against the prostate through the rectal wall. Temporal and spatial changes in the stress pattern provide information on the elastic structure of the gland, and allow two-dimensional reconstruction of prostate anatomy and visualization of prostate mechanical properties. The image is displayed on a screen that allows physicians to visualize tissue abnormalities in the prostate gland, and the results can be stored electronically as a digital record.

The ProUroScan System probe is specially designed for the rectal anatomy, minimizing patient discomfort. A unique positioning system ensures that the person administering the scan examines the entire surface of the prostate, and assists prostate image construction. When the results are consistent with a digital rectal exam (DRE) finding, they can be permanently stored in electronic medical records (EMRs) for future analysis and comparison. The ProUroScan device is a product of ProUroCare Medical (Eden Prairie, MN, USA), and has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“A color image can go a long way in documenting a person's prostate condition, and this development puts us one step closer to supplementing other screening measures with a helpful, high quality visual aid that can be referred and compared to over time,” said Rick Carlson, CEO of ProUroCare Medical.

“Having a visual aid of irregularities can be so helpful to physicians and patients, particularly in the area of prostate care where decision-making is often difficult,” added Robert Weiss, MD, a urologic oncologist with the Cancer Institute of New Jersey (New Brunswick, USA). “The quality and resolution of the images are excellent, providing an immensely valuable supplement to the DRE, where physicians must rely on a gloved finger to feel for changes in the size and shape of the gland.”

Related Links:
ProUroCare Medical
Cancer Institute of New Jersey