Existing biopsy needles do not include any mechanism to prevent infections after TRUS procedures. As it has been mentioned, infection risk is minimized by prophylactically administering antibiotics but, even with this precautionary measure, the risk is not completely cancelledand from about 2% to 5% of the patients will suffer a clinically relevant infection and this situation is not likely to be ameliorated by novel antibiotics during the next years.

The implementation of the technology consists of a silver coated biopsy needle which is connected to an external low current generator which, in turn, is connected to the patient skin by means of a surface pad electrodes (electrocardiogram-like electrodes) acting as return electrodes. Once the tissue sample is harvested within the biopsy needle, and before retracting the needle, the physician will command the delivery of a short sequence (about 4 seconds) of low-current pulses that will massively release silver ions from the needle surface. These silver ions will then combine with the chlorine ions naturally present in tissues thereby creating a silver chloride precipitate (nanocrystals) which will slowly release silver ions for an antibacterial effect lasting a few days.

A long lasting antibacterial effect can be achieved by employing safe current magnitudes (< 20 mA) and short enough (< 5 seconds) delivery sequences adequate for clinical practice. It must be mentioned that practical aspects of the technology have been contrasted in multiple meetings with senior urologists at Hospital Clínic de Barcelona.

In summary, the DEVICE project will develop a silver coating process for needle biopsies, but also a device that copule to gun biopsies in order to control treatment and an electric generator specific for this use.