New Devices and Technologies for the Management of Overactive Bladder

Overactive bladder (OAB) affects millions of people in the USA and has a significant impact on their quality of life. Despite having a number of safe and effective ways of managing refractory OAB patients, there are many promising new technologies actively being studied and developed for the treatment of this population. This review examines current new devices and technologies under study for the treatment of OAB.

Modifications to already established therapies such as sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) or tibial nerve stimulation (TNS) are currently being studied for refractory OAB. On the SNS front, a newly rechargeable, smaller neurostimulator has been developed and has shown promising results for the treatment of refractory OAB. There are two newly implantable TNS devices actively being studied for the treatment of refractory OAB. These implanted TNS systems will allow the patient to receive treatment from the comfort of their home without the need for frequent office visits. Most recently, radiofrequency ablation intravesical therapy has been proposed as a newer technology with the potential to reduce OAB symptoms. There are many new technologies actively being studied and developed for the management of refractory OAB patients. If shown to be safe and efficacious, these therapies may one day alter our current management of patients with OAB.