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Adjustable nonimplantable electrical stimulators for correction of urinary incontinence
Urologia Internationalis
|January 1, 1976
Summary
Non-implantable functional electrical stimulation (FES) devices offer effective treatment for urinary incontinence. These systems provide adjustable electrical pulses to stimulate closing muscles, yielding satisfactory clinical results for various incontinence types.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Urinary incontinence affects millions globally, necessitating innovative treatment options.
- Current treatments for urinary incontinence have limitations, driving research into novel therapeutic modalities.
- Functional electrical stimulation (FES) presents a promising avenue for restoring urinary continence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate non-implantable electrical stimulators for functional electrical stimulation (FES) of the lower urinary tract closing muscles.
- To investigate the efficacy of FES in treating stress incontinence, post-operative incontinence, enuresis, and incontinence in paraplegic patients.
- To optimize FES parameters based on neurophysiological and urodynamic data for improved treatment outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Development of two electronic FES systems: an adjustable system with vaginal/anal plugs and an automatic integrated system within a vaginal plug.
- Utilizing square-wave pulses with individually adjustable frequency and duration.
- Neurophysiological studies of the urinary tract and urodynamic measurements to determine optimal stimulation parameters.
- Clinical evaluation of the developed FES systems in patients with various forms of urinary incontinence.
Main Results:
- Both FES systems demonstrated satisfactory clinical results in treating stress incontinence, post-operative incontinence, enuresis, and incontinence in paraplegic patients.
- The adjustable and automatic integrated FES systems were found to be simple to use.
- Permanent or intermittent application of the FES devices is possible, offering flexibility for patients.
Conclusions:
- Non-implantable FES systems are effective and well-tolerated for managing various types of urinary incontinence.
- The developed FES devices provide a viable, non-invasive therapeutic option for patients suffering from lower urinary tract dysfunction.
- Further research and widespread adoption of FES technology can significantly improve the quality of life for individuals with incontinence.