Urethral Catheter Nerve Stimulation for Sphincter Relaxation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Long-term placement of urethral drainage catheters leads to biofilm obstruction and repeated trauma to the urinary sphincter during replacement, causing pain and infection due to the need to physically open the sphincter each time.
Innovation Solution
A urethral drainage catheter with integrated nerve stimulation electrodes that deliver high-frequency electrical current to relax the urinary sphincter, allowing the catheter to be advanced with reduced resistance and trauma, using a controller to manage energy delivery and prevent tissue damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional mechanical advancement of catheter through closed urinary sphincter is used, then catheter placement is achieved, but trauma and pain to patient's urethra increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the purely mechanical force-based catheter advancement with an energy-based system. High-frequency electrical current is delivered through electrodes on the catheter to stimulate the pudendal nerve, causing sphincter relaxation. This substitutes mechanical force with electrical energy to achieve sphincter opening, thereby reducing urethral trauma while facilitating catheter placement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the urinary sphincter from a closed, tense state to a relaxed, open state through electrical stimulation. By delivering high-frequency electrical current to the pudendal nerve, the sphincter's muscular tension is reduced, transforming its mechanical properties to allow easier catheter passage with minimal trauma
2Reliability
If repeated catheter replacements are performed to address biofilm obstruction, then drainage function is restored, but sphincter damage and infection risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies electrical energy delivery through the catheter electrodes to stimulate pudendal nerve relaxation during each replacement procedure. This energy-based approach reduces the mechanical trauma associated with repeatedly forcing catheters through the sphincter, thereby maintaining drainage reliability while minimizing cumulative sphincter damage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary relaxation of the urinary sphincter through electrical stimulation before advancing the replacement catheter. By delivering high-frequency current to the pudendal nerve in advance, the sphincter is pre-relaxed to minimize resistance and trauma during the subsequent catheter insertion, reducing cumulative damage from repeated replacements
3Force
If high-frequency electrical current is delivered to relax urinary sphincter, then catheter advancement resistance is reduced, but risk of tissue damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes high-frequency electrical current parameters to achieve nerve stimulation and sphincter relaxation. By operating at high frequencies, the energy delivery is optimized to affect neural tissue selectively while minimizing thermal damage to surrounding structures. The frequency parameter is specifically chosen to stimulate the pudendal nerve without causing excessive heating
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the pudendal nerve as an intermediary target between the electrical energy delivery and the urinary sphincter. Rather than directly energizing the sphincter muscle, the electrical current stimulates the pudendal nerve, which then mediates the relaxation response. This indirect approach allows precise control of sphincter relaxation while minimizing direct energy exposure to sensitive urethral tissues
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
Facilitates faster and less painful catheter placement with reduced trauma and infection risk by relaxing the sphincter, enabling the catheter to be advanced with minimal force and maintained in place without frequent replacements.
Implementation Method 1
energy is delivered by the catheter or other means so as to relax the patient's urinary sphincter... typically high frequency electrical current energy source, and the current is typically delivered by electrodes present on the drainage catheter itself
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the invention provide apparatus, systems and methods for facilitating introduction of a urinary drainage catheter (UDC) into the urinary tract (UT). One embodiment provides a UDC including electrodes for delivering high frequency current to a patient's pudendal nerves to relax the urinary sphincter (US) before passing the UDC therethrough so as reduce the resistance force on the UDC and discomfort to the patient. The electrodes can comprise at least one pair of bipolar electrodes and may be flexible so as to bend and flex within the urethra. The UDC includes one or more lumens including a drainage lumen and an inflation lumen for inflating an anchoring device on the UDC. The UDC can include a pressure sensor to assess relaxation of the US. The UDC may include a second set of electrodes and irrigation lumen for relaxing the US and flushing the urethra with the UDC in place.