Method and apparatus for the treatment of urinary tract dysfunction
First Claim
1. An apparatus for exciting proximal urethral afferents to induce micturition comprising:
- a first injectable microstimulator comprising;
a chamber separating a plurality of exposed electrodes for delivering controllable electrical current in the area of the proximal urethral afferents;
an electronic circuit within said chamber in communication with said electrodes for generating the controllable electrical current in response to a control signal;
a receiving antenna within said chamber in communication with said electronic circuit for receiving a control signal;
a controller for generating the control signals;
a transmitting antenna in communication with said controller for transmitting a control signal to said receiving antenna, wherein the control signal includes instructions to generate an electrical pulse having a frequency in the range of 2 to 20 pulses per second until the bladder is emptied.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The subject invention teaches the use of electrical stimulation of specific sensory nerves, such as the proximal urethral afferents to control urination. A wireless, injectable microstimulator may implanted into the soft tissues through which the sensory nerves pass. The sensory nerves supplying the proximal urethra are stimulated by a microstimulator implanted adjacent to the prostatic urethra within the substance of the prostate gland in males, and distal to the bladder neck in females. The activity induced in these nerves causes the spinal cord to generate reflex responses that result in contractions of the detrusor muscle and relaxation of the sphincter, emptying the bladder. The invention also includes methods of implanting and/or testing microstimulators at a target location. The invention also includes the use of sensory devices to effect the microstimulators or alert the user as to the status of the bladder.
131 Citations
43 Claims
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1. An apparatus for exciting proximal urethral afferents to induce micturition comprising:
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a first injectable microstimulator comprising;
a chamber separating a plurality of exposed electrodes for delivering controllable electrical current in the area of the proximal urethral afferents;
an electronic circuit within said chamber in communication with said electrodes for generating the controllable electrical current in response to a control signal;
a receiving antenna within said chamber in communication with said electronic circuit for receiving a control signal;
a controller for generating the control signals;
a transmitting antenna in communication with said controller for transmitting a control signal to said receiving antenna, wherein the control signal includes instructions to generate an electrical pulse having a frequency in the range of 2 to 20 pulses per second until the bladder is emptied. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 24)
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- 12. An apparatus for exciting proximal urethral afferents to induce micturition comprising an injectable microstimulator having a plurality of exposed electrodes for delivering controllable electrical current having a frequency in the range of 2 to 20 pulses per second until the bladder is emptied in the area of the proximal urethral afferents which cause the urethral afferents to induce micturition by inducing at least one of contraction of the detrusor, relaxation of the internal urethral sphincter or relaxation of the external urethral sphincter.
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13. An apparatus for exciting proximal urethral afferents to induce micturition comprising:
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a first microstimulator implanted in proximity to proximal urethral afferents having a chamber separating a plurality of exposed electrodes for delivering controllable electrical current in the area of the proximal urethral afferents in response to at least one control signal and a receiving antenna within said chamber for receiving at least one control signals;
a control unit for generating at least one control signal; and
a transmitting antenna in communication with said control unit for transmitting the at least one control signals to said receiving antenna, wherein the control signal includes instructions to generate an electrical pulse having a frequency from about 2 to 20 pulses per second until the bladder is emptied. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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18. A method for inducing micturition comprising:
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positioning a leadless microstimulator proximate the proximal urethra; and
electrically stimulating a proximal urethral afferent to induce at least one of contraction of the detrusor, relaxation of the internal urethral sphincter or relaxation of the external urethral sphincter.
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19. A method for exciting proximal urethral afferents to induce micturition comprising:
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generating an electrical signal by a control unit;
delivering the signal to a transmitting antenna;
receiving the signal by a receiving antenna within a first microstimulator in the area of urethral proximal afferents;
generating an electrical signal in the first microstimulator in the area of urethral afferents having a frequency in the range of 2 to 20 pulses per second until the bladder is emptied and inducing micturition. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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- 25. A method for creating an electronic interface to proximate urethral afferents to induce micturition comprising injecting a first microstimulator in the area of the proximal urethral afferents.
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29. A method of implanting a microstimulator proximate to a proximal urethral afferent nerve in a male patient comprising:
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inserting an injection device having a cannula through the perineum;
positioning the microstimulator in the injection device cannula proximate to an urethral afferent in the prostate; and
releasing the microstimulator from the injection device cannula proximate to the urethral afferent in the prostate. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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31. A method of implanting a microstimulator proximate to a proximal urethral afferent nerve in a female patient comprising:
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inserting an injection device having a cannula through the vagina;
positioning the microstimulator in the injection device cannula proximate to an urethral afferent proximate to the internal urethral sphincter; and
releasing the microstimulator from the injection device cannula proximate to the urethral afferent proximate to the internal urethral sphincter. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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33. A method for positioning a microstimulator proximate to the proximal urethral afferents to induce micturition comprising:
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inserting a distal tip of a cannula having the microstimulator retained within a cannula lumen through the perinueum until the implant reaches a testing position proximate to the proximal urethral afferents;
testing the microstimulator while within the cannula lumen at the testing position to determine whether the implant is functioning effectively to induce micturition; and
discharging the microstimulator from the lumen of the cannula at the testing location if the testing reveals that the implant is functioning effectively at to induce micturition. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method for measuring bladder distention and controlling micturition comprising:
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implanting a first microstimulator proximate to the bladder wall;
implanting a second microstimulator proximate to a proximal urethral afferent;
emitting a electrical pulse from one of the first or second microstimulator;
detecting the strength of the electrical field at the other of the first or second microstimulator;
calculating the distension of the bladder from the strength of the electrical field detected to determine the presence of urine in the bladder; and
emitting an electrical pulse from the second microstimulator to excite the proximal urethral afferent to induce micturition if urine is present in the bladder. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification