AbbeyMoor Medical, Inc., in Parkers Prairie has introduced the Spanner Prostatic Stent, a device that allows men to urinate more comfortably as they recover from an enlarged prostate. Randy Hansen, chief financial officer for AbbeyMoor, says the device was launched last year in Florida, South Carolina, Ohio, and Minnesota; the company plans to expand sales efforts in every state and overseas. Medicare will reimburse patients and hospitals in several states, though it’s currently not eligible for reimbursement in Minnesota.

The Spanner is a tube that is inserted into a man’s urethra to allow urine to flow through an area that the enlarged prostate is blocking. The device is advanced to the bladder, where a small balloon is inflated inside the bladder with water, to help hold the stent in place.

“This is an office-based procedure,” Hansen says. “It’s a blind procedure, so no other equipment is needed for the insertion, and [the Spanner] comes pre-mounted on an insertion tool. It’s very easy to insert and remove.” Hansen says the device is approved for use up to 30 days.