Bladder Tissue Ablation for Overactive Bladder
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for overactive bladder, such as anticholinergics and surgical procedures, often come with undesirable side effects and complications, and existing ablation techniques are not effectively applied to non-cardiac tissues like the urinary bladder.
Innovation Solution
The application of controlled tissue ablation in the urinary bladder to create predetermined patterns of tissue regions with reduced electrical propagation, which modify the electrical and mechanical properties of the bladder to alleviate muscle spasms and treat overactive bladder symptoms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ablation techniques are applied to cardiac tissue to modify tissue conductivity, then arrhythmia can be treated, but the procedure is lengthy, demands visualization and imaging, and is performed in specialized labs at significant costs
Solution Approach 1:
The bladder muscle itself serves as the target for ablation, eliminating the need for complex external imaging and visualization systems. The procedure uses the body's own tissue properties to guide treatment, reducing dependence on specialized equipment and facilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the ablation technique from its traditional cardiac application context and adapts it for urological use. By removing the requirement for cardiac-specific imaging and visualization systems, the procedure becomes simpler and can be performed in less specialized settings.
2Reliability
If anticholinergics are used to block nerve signals and increase bladder capacity, then overactive bladder symptoms can be treated, but side effects such as dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, and increased heart beat occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the treatment effect from pharmacological action and transitions to a physical ablation mechanism. By directly modifying bladder tissue conductivity rather than using systemic drugs, the harmful side effects affecting other body systems are eliminated while maintaining local treatment effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the harmful overactive bladder muscle spasms into a treatable electrical conductivity problem. By targeting the electrical propagation in bladder tissue, the procedure addresses the root cause of symptoms without introducing the harmful side effects associated with pharmacological blockade.
3Reliability
If surgical procedures such as bladder augmentation or pacemaker implantation are performed, then extreme cases of overactive bladder can be treated, but the procedures are highly invasive and can involve permanent device implantation leading to complications
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces mechanical surgical interventions (bladder augmentation, pacemaker implantation) with an energy-based ablation approach. This substitution eliminates the need for permanent device implantation and extensive surgical manipulation, reducing invasiveness while maintaining treatment effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the essential treatment function from complex surgical procedures and permanent device implantation. By using ablation to directly modify tissue properties, the procedure achieves therapeutic results without the harmful invasiveness and long-term complications associated with surgical augmentation and device implantation.
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 approach effectively reduces bladder smooth muscle contraction and alleviates symptoms of overactive bladder by creating patterns of tissue regions that attenuate or block electrical activity, providing a minimally invasive solution with fewer side effects compared to traditional treatments.
Implementation Method 1
The one or more active elements are adapted to create the predetermined pattern of tissue regions having reduced electrical propagation by ablation
Implementation Method 2
The expandable member is expandable to press the tissue modification structure against the inner wall of the bladder
Data Source
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AI summary
Regions of tissue having reduced electrical propagation are created in a bladder to affect its electrical or mechanical properties. To create these tissue regions, a tubular device is advanced through the urethra leading to the interior of the bladder, a distal expandable structure of the device is expanded to contact the inner wall of the bladder, and electrodes or other active energy delivery elements of the device are activated to deliver ablation energy. The electrodes or other active energy delivery elements are disposed over the expandable structure which is shaped to conform to the interior of the bladder. The inner wall of the organ is ablated in a predetermined pattern. The same or other electrodes disposed over the expandable structure can used to electrically map the bladder. This map of electrical activity can be used to create the predetermined pattern.