Let's be real, dealing with bladder leaks, especially the kind that happen when you exert yourself (stress incontinence), can really mess with a guy's daily routine and his self-esteem. A lot of times, this starts after surgery in the pelvic area, like prostate removal, which can sometimes injure the muscle that controls urine flow (the sphincter). For guys whose sphincter was damaged in surgery, options like pills or special exercises often don't cut it. That's why man-made devices (urological prosthetics) usually offer the best chance for long-term success.

Rigicon® has developed the ContiClassic® artificial urinary sphincter (AUS). It's a device implanted during surgery that's designed to help men struggling with bladder control issues get that control back. This system is quite an improvement; it's dependable and designed with the patient's needs in mind for managing leakage.

So, what's the deal with this Artificial Urinary Sphincter (AUS)? Think of an AUS as a stand-in for a healthy urinary sphincter – it does the same job. It works well for stress incontinence – you know, when you leak a bit because of pressure from coughing, sneezing, or even lifting something. The ContiClassic® system is composed of three key components:

  • An occluding cuff that encircles the urethra.
  • An implanted pressure-regulating balloon in the abdominal cavity.
  • A control pump in the scrotum.

Most of the time, the cuff is shut tight, keeping urine from escaping. When you need to go, you just give the pump in your scrotum a squeeze. That squeeze opens up the cuff, letting your bladder empty out. Then, after a couple of minutes, the cuff closes back up all by itself, keeping you dry again.

Find out more about the artificial urinary sphincter and see how it works.

Introducing the ContiClassic® Artificial Urinary Sphincter

Let's be real, dealing with bladder leaks, especially the kind that happen when you exert yourself (stress incontinence), can really mess with a guy's daily routine and his self-esteem. A lot of times, this starts after surgery in the pelvic area, like prostate removal, which can sometimes injure the muscle that controls urine flow (the sphincter). For guys whose sphincter was damaged in surgery, options like pills or special exercises often don't cut it. That's why man-made devices (urological prosthetics) usually offer the best chance for long-term success.

Rigicon® has developed the ContiClassic® artificial urinary sphincter (AUS). It's a device implanted during surgery that's designed to help men struggling with bladder control issues get that control back. This system is quite an improvement; it's dependable and designed with the patient's needs in mind for managing leakage.

So, what's the deal with this Artificial Urinary Sphincter (AUS)? Think of an AUS as a stand-in for a healthy urinary sphincter – it does the same job. It works well for stress incontinence – you know, when you leak a bit because of pressure from coughing, sneezing, or even lifting something. The ContiClassic® system is composed of three key components:

  • An occluding cuff that encircles the urethra.
  • An implanted pressure-regulating balloon in the abdominal cavity.
  • A control pump in the scrotum.

Most of the time, the cuff is shut tight, keeping urine from escaping. When you need to go, you just give the pump in your scrotum a squeeze. That squeeze opens up the cuff, letting your bladder empty out. Then, after a couple of minutes, the cuff closes back up all by itself, keeping you dry again.

Find out more about the artificial urinary sphincter and see how it works.

Introducing the ContiClassic® Artificial Urinary Sphincter

The Rigicon® ContiClassic® AUS is made with much urological experience, with effectiveness and patient safety given the highest priority. It is notable for having some significant features that are made to enhance patient outcomes and user comfort.

Key Benefits Are:

  • Range of Cuff Sizes: ContiClassic® also offers a broader range of cuff sizes, 3.75 cm, 4.25 cm, and 4.75 cm, that offers a more personalized, customized fit to the patient's urethral anatomy. This is critical to device performance and comfort.
  • Optimized Pressure Regulation: Optimized pressure-regulating balloons include five different options of pressure regulation (40-49 cm H2O to 80-89 cm H2O) that enable the system to be used at optimally pre-established, predetermined pressures suitable to the patient.
  • Easy-to-Use Control Pump: The ContiClassic® pump has a simple, effortless mechanism for activating and deactivating the pump. In contrast to some other options, this pump is made to be user-friendly.
  • Simple Night-Time Deactivation: The ease of deactivation may allow patients to potentially deactivate the device at night, giving the urethra a respite from constant pressure. The option is expected to remove the potential for urethral tissue modification in the long term, especially for naturally continent patients at night.
  • HydroShield™ Coating: Hydrophilic coating of all surface components. This provides surgeons the flexibility to choose appropriate antibiotic solution intra-operatively to facilitate adsorption on to the device's surface and to reduce potential risk of infection.
  • EasyClick™ Connectors: These connectors simplify surgery with secure tubing connections without the need for additional assembly devices.

Discover ContiClassic®'s comprehensive range of features here: rigicon.com.

Who Can Be Treated with the ContiClassic® AUS?

The ContiClassic® AUS is primarily indicated in men with ISD-induced urinary incontinence. The condition most often develops following prostate surgery, such as radical prostatectomy for cancer, that inadvertently damages the sphincter muscle. Good applicants typically are males who:

  • Experience recurring stress urinary incontinence (leaking with activity) during 6-12 months following prostate surgery.
  • Have not been alleviated by non-surgical treatments.
  • Are seeking a safe, long-term fix to regain bladder control and improve their overall quality of life.
  • Have received proper treatment or resolution of conditions such as urgency incontinence before AUS implantation.

A proper evaluation by a urologist experienced in the treatment of male incontinence is needed to determine if the ContiClassic® AUS is the appropriate treatment.

Special Advantages of ContiClassic®

  • ✅ Enhanced Cuff Sizing: Having extra cuff sizes available (like 3.75 cm, 4.25 cm, and 4.75 cm) means it's more likely to find one that fits the man's body just right. This can make the device work better and lower the chances of problems.
  • ✅ HydroShield™ Coating: This hydrophilic coating is special and covers all the external components, allowing the use of selected water-based solutions for dipping during surgery, facilitating the ease of carrying out absorption and infection prevention procedures.
  • ✅ Pressure Optimized Balloons: Five pressure options provide the surgeon with the option to select the balloon that will best address urethral health and continence for any given patient.
  • ✅ Simpler Pump Operation: The pump design focuses on ease of use both for activation and the new night-time deactivation function, which offers more control for patients.
  • ✅ Rigicon Duality: Implantation Option Simultaneous: In those men with erectile dysfunction (ED) and urinary incontinence, the ContiClassic® AUS is often implanted concurrently with a Rigicon Infla10® inflatable penile prosthesis. This is a concomitant treatment of both conditions with an all-inclusive solution for male prosthetic urology needs. The literature suggests that these procedures done concurrently do not, in themselves, increase the risk of complication compared to staged procedures. This is a consideration to have with a urologist experienced in dual implantation for appropriate patient selection.

Life After AUS Implantation

What to expect after the surgery? Insertion of an AUS is typically performed via a small cut, typically in the scrotum or perineum, and typically takes about an hour. It is typically possible to do on an outpatient basis or with a short hospital stay.

  • Recovery and Activation: Postoperative recovery entails a healing period, usually 6 weeks, during which the device is inactive in order to allow tissues to heal fully. Your surgeon will provide you with special postoperative instructions for this period. After the healing period, the device is activated, and you will be taught to use the pump.
  • Patients usually complain:
    • Marked reduction in or abolishment of urinary incontinence.
    • More confidence and independence to undertake day-to-day functions without the risk of accidents.
    • The gadget is concealed and hidden very well within the body.
    • The ability to turn off the ContiClassic® device at night provides a further comfort benefit and potential long-term urethral health benefits for the right patients.

Is the ContiClassic® AUS Effective?

Artificial urinary sphincters have been the standard of care for the management of male stress urinary incontinence, particularly post-prostatectomy, for decades with excellent success and patient satisfaction. The ContiClassic® builds on this tried technology and adds advancements in the areas of fit, simplicity of use, and hopefully long-term outcomes. Getting the cuff size just right, having better control over the pressure, and being able to easily deactivate it all help make this device effective at restoring bladder control.

Got Questions? Here are some common ones.

  1. Okay, break it down: what is stress urinary incontinence in men? It's pretty much when you spring a leak unexpectedly because something put pressure on your bladder – could be coughing, sneezing, laughing hard, or even lifting groceries. For guys, this often traces back to the sphincter muscle getting weak after having prostate surgery.
  2. How does a doctor diagnose urinary incontinence anyway? It usually starts with talking about your medical background and having a physical check-up. Sometimes, more tests might be needed to tell the difference between stress incontinence and urgency incontinence (that sudden, strong urge to go).
  3. Are there ways to treat this in men without surgery that actually work? When stress incontinence happens because the sphincter was damaged during surgery, non-surgical treatments like medicine or pelvic floor exercises usually aren't as helpful for men compared to women. More likely to be effective are surgery such as the AUS or male sling.
  4. How does the ContiClassic® AUS work? Picture a small cuff gently squeezing the urethra closed to stop leaks. Need to go? Just squeeze a tiny pump tucked away in the scrotum – that opens the cuff. A balloon keeps the right pressure in the system, and the cuff closes itself back up automatically after a bit.
  5. What makes the ContiClassic® special? Some of the primary distinctions are the larger range of cuff sizes for better fitting, multiple pressure balloons, HydroShield™ coating, tool-free coupling systems, and an extremely user-friendly pump with a quick deactivation for sleeping at night.
  6. Is the procedure complex? Putting in an AUS is a fairly straightforward surgery that experienced urologists often perform. The surgery itself is usually done in about an hour, and getting back on your feet generally goes smoothly with only minor discomfort.

Take Back Control and Confidence with ContiClassic

Male urinary incontinence may be hard to control, but fortunately, treatments are effective. The ContiClassic® Artificial Urinary Sphincter is a highly advanced, patient-focused solution to the restoration of bladder control and quality-of-life improvement. Features like the different sizing options and the easy-to-handle pump (which you can even deactivate) make it a dependable way to achieve long-term bladder control and feel good about it.

If leaks have become an issue for you after prostate surgery, or if you're dealing with other sphincter problems, definitely have a conversation with your urologist. They can help you figure out if the ContiClassic® AUS is a good path forward.

Wrapping Up

The bottom line? Male stress urinary incontinence can be treated. Advances like the Rigicon® ContiClassic® Artificial Urinary Sphincter give men a reliable option to manage leaks, get their confidence back, and live life more fully. Designed with modern materials and ease of use in mind, the ContiClassic® is definitely something to consider.

Are you ready to proceed? Learn more about the ContiClassic® Artificial Urinary Sphincter and discuss your possibilities with an expert. To get more in-depth information about Rigicon's innovative urological products, visit rigicon.com.