Transmembrane sensing device for sensing bladder condition

• US 20070027494A1
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Gerber, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 7,769,460 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/204 Determining bladder volume
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/686 Permanently implanted devices, e.g. pacemakers, other stimulators, biochips A61B5/6861 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control

Abstract

The disclosure describes a sensing device that is implantable to sense bladder conditions, as well as a neurostimulation system and method that make use of such a sensor for alleviation of urinary incontinence. The sensing device is implantable outside the bladder, but includes a lead that penetrates the bladder wall to deployed a sensor within the bladder. Using the sensor on the lead, the sensing device outside the bladder is able to detect a condition within the interior of the bladder. In this sense, the sensing device provides transmembrane sensing of internal bladder conditions. The condition may be indicative of bladder filling or bladder contraction, and may be used to control electrical stimulation applied to the patient to alleviate urinary incontinence.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

sensing a bladder condition via an implanted sensor disposed within the bladder and deployed by a lead; and

providing the sensed bladder condition to a device disposed outside of the bladder via the lead.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating information based on the sensed bladder condition.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the sensed bladder condition includes one of bladder size and bladder pressure.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the information indicates at least one of a bladder fill level or bladder contraction.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising transmitting the information to an implanted electrical stimulator that delivers stimulation therapy for urinary incontinence based on the information.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising transmitting the information to an external programmer that controls an implanted electrical stimulator to deliver stimulation therapy for urinary incontinence based on the information.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising storing the information within the device.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the implanted sensor includes one of an impedance sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, and a pressure sensor.

9. The method of claim 2, further comprising controlling delivery of electrical stimulation therapy to a patient in response to the information to alleviate urinary incontinence.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising attaching the device to the exterior surface of the bladder.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the device includes an implantable stimulator.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the device includes a power supply and wireless telemetry circuit to transmit the information.

13. An implantable electrical stimulation system comprising:

a sensing device;

a lead extending from the sensing device for introduction into an interior of a bladder;

a sensor, carried at a distal end of the lead, that senses a condition within the interior of the bladder;

a processor within the sensing device that generates information based on the sensed bladder activity; and

an implantable stimulator that delivers stimulation therapy based on the information.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising an external programmer that controls the delivery of stimulation therapy to a patient in response to at least one of the information and patient input.

15. The system of claim 13, further comprising a memory to store the information within the device.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the sensed bladder condition includes one of bladder size and bladder pressure.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the information indicates at least one of bladder fill level or bladder contraction.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the sensor includes one of an impedance sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, and a pressure sensor.

19. The system of claim 13, further comprising a fixation structure to attach the sensing device to the exterior surface of the bladder.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the sensing device includes a power supply and wireless telemetry circuit to transmit the information.