for Stress Urinary Incontinence in Women
The Impressa device was invented by a urogynecologist in order to bridge the large gap between non-invasive and invasive treatments for Stress Urinary Incontinence in women. The device was designed to be a user friendly, disposable, vaginal support, available to many women, including those who do not wish to disclose their intimate problem.
The Impressa Device is intended for the temporary management of Stress Urinary Incontinence in females. It is a disposable, single-use device, provided ready for use within an applicator. The insertion and removal methods are very similar to that of a vaginal menstrual tampon.
Within the applicator, the device is compressed into a compact configuration. When the device is deployed, its arms expand against vaginal walls. The arms of the anchoring pole prevent the device from moving deeper inside the vagina, rotating within the vagina, or falling out of the vagina once inserted. The support pole is situated underneath the urethra and provides tension-free sub-urethral support whenever pressure is transferred from the abdominal cavity to the pelvic floor area (e.g., during activities such as coughing, laughing, sneezing, running, etc.). When the device is deployed, the cover stretches between the arms of the supporting pole, acting as an artificial sling.
The device can be used for up to twelve hours in a 24 hour period and does not obstruct urinary flow or vaginal secretions. At the end of use, when the removal string is pulled by the user, the cover straightens and lengthens, thereby compressing the arms of the device medially and diminishing friction and direct contact between the device and the vaginal mucosa. This compression of the device size enables the device to be easily and comfortably removed.
Results of various clinical studies were favorable and demonstrated that the users experienced a significant decrease in Pad Weight Gain (PWG) during use compared to baseline without use of the device, elevated quality of life, and high level of user satisfaction. There was no increase in the rate of vaginal and urinary infections.
The device and research around it were awarded twice – as a leading project, by the Office of the Israeli Chief Scientist in 2006, and as a leading poster presentation during the international Continence Society meeting in Rotterdam in 2007.
The device was acquired by Kimberly Clark Worldwide Inc. and is marketed under its Poise® brand (https://www.impressapro.com).