Optilume (Drug-Coated Balloon)

Optilume is a minimally invasive treatment for urethral stricture, a narrowing of the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body. A stricture, usually caused by scar tissue, can make passing urine difficult and tends to come back after simple stretching procedures. Optilume combines two actions in one device: a balloon that gently widens the narrowed segment, and a medicine coating that is released into the wall of the urethra to discourage new scar tissue from forming. By tackling both the narrowing and the cause of recurrence, it aims to give longer-lasting relief than older methods, all through a single, no-incision procedure.