Targeted Bladder Ablation for Overactive Detrusor Contractions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for bladder dysfunction, such as overactive bladder and urinary incontinence, are inadequate in addressing the root cause of coordinated contractions in the detrusor muscle, often resulting in incomplete symptom relief and potential tissue damage from non-targeted ablation therapies.
Innovation Solution
The method involves identifying focal points within the bladder tissue using imaging techniques that initiate coordinated contractions of the detrusor muscle and selectively ablating these specific areas to reduce muscle contractions, thereby alleviating symptoms while minimizing damage to surrounding tissue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If non-targeted ablation therapy is applied to treat bladder dysfunction, then treatment coverage is improved, but tissue damage increases and treatment precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary mapping of the detrusor muscle structure and contraction patterns before ablation therapy. This pre-mapping identifies the focal points of coordinated contractions and plans the ablation paths, ensuring that subsequent treatment is both comprehensive and precise without redundant tissue damage
Solution Approach 2:
The ablation therapy is applied with spatially varying parameters: high-energy focused ablation at identified focal points of coordinated contractions, and reduced or no ablation in surrounding healthy tissue. This local differentiation maximizes therapeutic effect while minimizing collateral damage
2Reliability
If comprehensive ablation therapy is applied to address all bladder tissue, then symptom relief is improved, but tissue damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detrusor muscle is segmented into functional regions based on contraction mapping data. Only the specific segments or focal points that initiate coordinated contractions are targeted for ablation, rather than treating the entire muscle uniformly. This segmentation approach ensures symptom relief while preserving healthy tissue function
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates real-time feedback from imaging and contraction monitoring during the ablation procedure. This feedback allows dynamic adjustment of ablation parameters and targeting, ensuring that therapeutic effect is achieved while preventing excessive tissue damage
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This targeted approach effectively reduces coordinated contractions and alleviates symptoms of overactive bladder and urinary incontinence by precisely ablation of focal points, improving treatment efficacy and minimizing tissue damage.
Implementation Method 1
imaging propagation of contractions in a detrusor muscle in a bladder of the patient
Implementation Method 2
ablating, for each of the one or more focal points, a respective portion of the bladder tissue at the respective location of the focal point
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure describes devices, systems, and techniques for identifying and treating bladder dysfunction. In one example, a method includes identifying one or more focal points at respective locations of bladder tissue of a bladder of a patient, the one or more focal points initiating coordinated contractions of a detrusor muscle. The method may also, or alternatively, include ablating, for each of the one or more focal points, a respective portion of the bladder tissue at the respective location of the focal point. Ablation of these targeted portions of the bladder tissue may reduce the coordinated contractions of the detrusor muscle and alleviate overactive bladder symptoms.