Involuntary Cough Reflex Diagnostic System for Urinary Incontinence
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for diagnosing urinary stress incontinence are inadequate, as some patients are unable or unwilling to perform physical tests like coughing or jumping, leading to incomplete or inaccurate diagnoses.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes an esophageal airway protection device with an inflatable cuff, electromyogram (EMG) pads, and a processing device to analyze EMG signals from involuntary coughs, allowing for the measurement of intra-abdominal pressure and pH levels, enabling a reflex cough test that does not require voluntary muscle contractions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If voluntary cough stress test is used to diagnose urinary stress incontinence, then diagnostic capability is improved, but patient compliance deteriorates because some patients are unable or unwilling to perform the test
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the patient's own physiological reflex (involuntary cough) to perform the diagnostic test automatically, eliminating the need for voluntary cooperation. The device detects and measures the cough reflex and associated pressure changes without requiring patient effort or compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical voluntary cough action with an automated sensory-detection system that identifies involuntary cough reflexes through physiological signals, substituting human voluntary mechanical action with instrument-based detection.
2Measurement precision
If physical tests like coughing or jumping are required for diagnosis, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but patient comfort deteriorates due to embarrassment and social stigma
Solution Approach 1:
The device introduces an intermediary measurement approach by detecting physiological parameters (pressure changes, EMG signals) rather than directly observing urine leakage, creating a buffer that reduces patient embarrassment while maintaining diagnostic accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct observation of embarrassing physical manifestations (urine leakage during voluntary coughing) with indirect physiological measurement through pressure sensors and EMG detection of involuntary reflexes.
3Reliability
If voluntary muscle contractions are required for testing, then test reliability is improved through patient control, but applicability deteriorates for patients with neurological or physical limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes the patient's own involuntary physiological reflexes (cough reflex, pressure changes) to perform the test automatically, making it self-executing and eliminating the need for voluntary muscle control or physical capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring voluntary muscle contraction to generate the test stimulus, the system inverts the approach by detecting involuntary physiological responses (reflex coughes, pressure changes) that occur naturally without patient effort.
Data Source
AI summary
A system permits diagnosis of a patient for a physiological abnormality while protecting their airway. An esophageal airway protection device comprises an elongate device body having a distal end for insertion into the stomach through the esophagus and a proximal end. The device includes a main lumen extending the length of the device and an inflatable esophageal cuff carried by the device body mid-esophagus. Emesis and/or reflux is blocked from passing out of the stomach past the esophageal cuff positioned mid-esophagus when it is inflated to protect a patient's airway during an involuntary cough event. At least one electromyogram (EMG) pad is configured to obtain an EMG from an involuntary cough activated paraspinal muscles. A processing device is configured to receive the EMG and process the EMG to determine a physiological abnormality.