Multi4 - the first surgical instrument for bladder cancer treatment through a 20-minute outpatient procedure

Introduction

Bladder Cancer (BC) is the most overlooked cancer type in terms of the development of new surgical tools aimed at achieving efficient cancer treatment. The instruments used in the operating room have remained unchanged since the 1960s.

Current Standard of Care

The standard of care involves a rigid metal cystoscope and surgery under anaesthesia. The inherent risks to the patient are manifold, encompassing:

• Damage to the urethra
• Frictions
• Infections
• Potential reseeding of cancer cells elsewhere in the bladder

The lack of progress in this field is evident in the statistics: this cancer type has the highest recurrence rate of all cancers—up to 75%. In BC, approximately 60% of healthcare costs are attributed to patient surveillance and treatment of recurrences. BC remains one of the most expensive cancers to manage and treat globally.

Innovation by Multi4

Multi4, established by the experienced surgeon and women innovator Miden Melle-Hannah, is developing a ground-breaking surgical instrument that allows for effective treatment of BC in outpatient settings. This innovation transforms the patient's healthcare journey.

Instead of the waiting period for difficult and hazardous surgeries, patients can now have their tumours removed directly in the urologist's office. This advancement is made possible through cutting-edge deep tech innovations in instrument engineering design.

Features of the Multi4 Instrument

These innovations result in a surgical tool that integrates four functionalities (thus we call it “Multi4”):

1. Inject local anaesthesia through a thin needle
2. Remove cancerous tissue using specially coated forceps
3. Transport the cancer tissue out through the instrument itself
4. Burn the area where the cancer was located to ensure the elimination of all cancer cells

Project Goals

This project will close the gap to market for Multi4 through:

• Clinical studies
• Transfer to production
• Certification according to MDR

The technology we propose is the first attempt since the 1960s to develop a new type of instrumentation for the treatment of BC.