METHOD AND APPARATUS, INCLUDING A FLEXIBLE ELECTRODE, FOR THE ELECTRIC NEUROSTIMULATION OF THE NEUROGENIC BLADDER

• US 3,650,276 A
• Filed: 03/25/1969
• Issued: 03/21/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mihai Demetrescw, Theodor Burghele, Vasile Ichim
• Original Assignee: Mihai Demetrescw, Theodor Burghele, Vasile Ichim
• Inventors: Burghele, Theodor, Ichim, Vasile, Demetrescw, Mihai
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US04/810,167
• Time in Patent Office: 1,092 Days
• Field of Search: 128/418,419,421,422
• US Class Current: 607/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0036 implantable A61F2/0018 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

A method for artificial voiding of the bladder involves the introduction of electrodes onto the motor nerves of the bladder, and placing on the anterior wall of the sacrum a receiver means for producing an electric current within such electrodes when excited by an electromagnetic field, and periodically applying an electric and an electromagnetic field from the exterior of the body to said receiver means to induce voiding of the bladder.

Claims

1. A method for artificial voiding of the bladder comprising (a) surgically introducing electrodes onto the motor nerves for the bladder, (b) surgically placing on the anterior wall of the sacrum receiver means for the producing of an electric current in the electrodes when excited by an electromagnetic field and attaching said receiver means to the electrode to apply the current thereto, (c) generating an electromagnetic field, and (d) periodically applying the electromagnetic field to the receiver means to excite the same and induce voiding of the bladder.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein in said step of attaching, electric current is applied to said electrodes in rectangular pulses of 5 to 10 milliamperes lasting for up to approximately 7 milliseconds at a rate of approximately 15 - 20 pulses per second.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein in said step of applying, the electromagnetic field is applied at a frequency of 300 kHz. and of an intensity to penetrate the body to a depth of approximately 15 cm.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of introducing electrodes includes the step of folding over a bladder motor nerve the foil of an electrode having two platinum wires attached to a foil of insulating material tolerated by the body and covered with a similar insulating foil on two ends of each wire to leave a central area of each wire uncovered, the foil being folded over the nerve to bring the uncovered region of the wires into contact with the nerve.

5. An electrode for applying electrical stimulation to nerves, comprising, in combination:

a. a foil of flexible insulating material tolerated by the human body, b. a pair of wires attached to one surface of said foil, c. a first piece of similar insulating material attached to the foil to cover the two wires at one end of the foil, and d. a second piece of insulating material attached to the other end of the foil to cover the two wires at the other end of the foil and leave the central region of both wires uncovered.

6. The combination defined in claim 5 in which said insulating material is polyethylene.

7. The combination defined in claim 6 in which said wires are platinum.

8. Apparatus for inducing artificial voiding of the bladder comprising, in combination:

a. means for emitting outside of a human body an electRomagnetic field having a high power of penetration into the human body, and having an oscillator supplying oscillations with a frequency of 300 kHz., a generator producing rectangular impulses in the range of 5 to 10 milliamperes, at a frequency in the range of 15 to 20 Hz., and having a duration of 7 milliseconds, modulator means for modulating the signal supplied by said oscillator as a function of the rectangular impulses produced by said generator, a power amplifier that receives and amplifies a signal from said modulator, and inductor which receives a signal from said modulator, and antenna means inductively coupled to said inductor for producing the electromagnetic field;

b. A pair of electrical wires of a material tolerated by the human body;

c. Receiver means for producing an electric current when stimulated by electromagnetic radiation, and being of a size to fit between the sacrum and the bladder of a human body and adapted to be mounted on the anterior wall of the sacrum, and being covered with a material tolerated by the human body, said resonant circuit having a coil with a tap;

a first capacitor connected across said coil, detector means connected to the tap of said coil and to one of said electrical wires, the other of said electrical wires being connected to said coil and a second capacitor connected between said electrical wires to form a filter circuit; and

d. electrodes mounted on said wires and adapted to be attached to pelvic nerves for applying electrical stimulation to the nerves, each electrode comprising, in combination;

i. a foil of flexible insulating material tolerated by the human body, ii. a pair of wires attached to one surface of said foil, iii. a first piece of similar insulating material attached to the foil to cover the two wires at one end of the foil, and iv. a second piece of insulating material attached to the other end of the foil to cover the two wires at the other end of the foil and leave the central region of both wires uncovered.

9. The combination defined in claim 8 in which said detector means has a germanium diode.

10. The combination defined in claim 8 in which said receiver means is covered with polyethylene and said electric wires are made of platinum material.