The rete testis, responsible for mixing and transporting sperm as they leave the seminiferous tubules, is located in the center of the testis and contiguous with the seminiferous tubules where sperm are made, representing an opportunity to administer stem cells, gene therapy vectors, or other therapeutics to treat a variety of conditions. Current methods of reaching the rete testis involve surgery or blind procedures such as fine needle mapping, which requires several biopsies of each testis and can be very traumatic.
Description
A non-surgical, non-blind approach to accessing the human rete testis for injection or aspiration is now possible with a new device. The device includes two syringes; one loaded with cell suspension, gene therapy vector, or other therapeutics, and the other with saline or other media to chase the injection solution out of the device and into the rete testis. A stopcock allows the user to regulate the flow from the syringes, while flexible tubing gives the user free range of motion to accurately direct the injection needle into the testis. The needle has the tensile strength and appropriate length to enable through the soft tissue to the target. Critically, ultrasound is used to visualize the rete testis space and the injection needle, allowing a single non-invasive, non-blind procedure to replace multiple painful biopsies.
Applications
· Injecting and aspiration the rete testis
· Treating azoospermia
Advantages
· Non-blind procedure avoids the need for fine needle mapping, which includes multiple biopsies of each testis
· Non-surgical, non-invasive approach
· All parts can be gas-sterilized or purchased sterile
· Ability to control flow from syringes
Invention Readiness
In vivo data
IP Status
https://patents.google.com/patent/US20210369783A1
