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Updated: Jun 5, 2025
Implantation and Control of Wireless, Battery-free Systems for Peripheral Nerve Interfacing
Published on: October 20, 2021
A potential therapeutic strategy using a miniature, implantable, wireless nerve stimulation device for treating
Bohong Long1,2, Chen Li2, Han Deng2
1Department of Rehabilitation, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Purpose:
The present study examined the effects of a miniature, implantable, wireless stimulation device for treating stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in rats.
Methods:
Twenty-four female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to three groups: Group 1 (Control), Group 2 (Sham), and Group 3 (Stimulation). All animals underwent vaginal distension (VD) to mimic postpartum SUI. Groups 2 and 3 were implanted with a stimulator in the pelvic floor muscle, but only Group 3 received continuous stimulation for two weeks. Multiple cystometrograms (CMGs) were performed to determine the leak point pressure (LPP) and maximal bladder capacity (MBC).
Results:
In the rat model, LPP in Group 1 after VD and after two weeks decreased significantly from baseline (21.1 ± 2.5 and 30.8 ± 5.2 vs. 52.5 ± 6.3 cmH2O, P < 0.001). LPP improved after two weeks compared to after VD (P < 0.01), but did not return to baseline. In Group 2, LPP at baseline, after VD, and after two weeks were 50.8 ± 4.9, 23.1 ± 6.3, and 31.5 ± 6.9 cmH2O, respectively, showing similar changes to Group 1. In Group 3, LPP values were 48.4 ± 4.8, 17.8 ± 3.9, and 48.4 ± 8.5 cmH2O, with significant improvement after two weeks compared to after VD (P < 0.001), returning to baseline. MBC showed no significant differences across conditions.
Conclusions:
The current study demonstrated the effectiveness of the implantable stimulation device for treating SUI in a rat model. Further studies are needed to determine its long-term safety and action mechanism.
