In silico tools for mechanical analysis of extra- and intra-luminal artificial urinary sphincters

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Computational Mechanics
• Urology

Background:

• Artificial urinary sphincters (AUSs) are crucial for managing urinary incontinence.
• Current design and reliability assessments rely on clinical approaches, lacking detailed mechanical stimulation data.
• Mechanical stress from AUS can lead to urethral tissue degeneration, a primary cause of device failure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define and apply an in silico procedure for analyzing and comparing extraluminal and intraluminal AUS functionality.
• To quantitatively assess the mechanical stimulation of urethral tissues by different AUS configurations.
• To establish a computational framework for improving AUS design and reliability.

Main Methods:

• Developed and utilized computational models of the lower urinary tract and key AUS components (AMS 800, Relief).
• Coupled urethra and AUS models to simulate interactions and quantify mechanical forces.
• Performed in silico simulations to analyze stress, strain, and pressure on urethral tissues.

Main Results:

• In silico simulations provided quantitative data on mechanical stimulation, including compressive strain, stress, and hydrostatic pressure.
• The computational approach enabled a direct comparison of the mechanical reliability between extraluminal and intraluminal AUS designs.
• Identified key mechanical interactions between AUS devices and urethral tissues.

Conclusions:

• The novel in silico approach effectively assesses AUS design and reliability.
• This computational method enhances investigative capabilities while reducing time, ethical, and economic costs.
• The findings support the optimization of AUS devices to minimize urethral tissue damage and improve patient outcomes.