Wireless and Catheter-Free Bladder Pressure and Volume Sensor.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Urology
• Wearable Technology

Background:

• Continuous bladder monitoring is crucial for diagnostics and understanding bladder function.
• Existing methods are often invasive or limited in scope.
• Neuromodulation strategies require effective methods for validation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel implantable device for continuous, real-time monitoring of bladder activity.
• To assess the device's impact on bladder function and its ability to capture physiological data during normal behavior.
• To validate the device's performance against established methods.

Main Methods:

• Development of the Urological Monitor of Conscious Activity (UroMOCA) with integrated pressure and impedance sensors.
• Wireless data transmission and battery recharging capabilities.
• In vitro calibration and in vivo implantation in 11 animals for 28-day monitoring.

Main Results:

• The UroMOCA successfully transmitted data continuously for up to 44 hours between wireless recharges.
• In vivo testing confirmed no adverse impact on bladder function after a two-week healing period.
• Pressure data showed high correlation with a reference catheter, and volume sensors reliably detected voiding events.

Conclusions:

• The UroMOCA is a viable tool for long-term, continuous bladder monitoring in conscious subjects.
• This technology can significantly advance research in bladder function and neuromodulation.
• The device offers a promising approach for improved urological diagnostics and therapeutic validation.