Electrode Sling for Stress Urge Incontinence
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for stress and urge incontinence, such as pubovaginal sling procedures and implantable devices, often require invasive methods and may not effectively address the underlying muscle support issues, leading to inconsistent continence results and potential complications.
Innovation Solution
An implantable mechanical support, such as a sling, coupled with electrodes that apply electrical currents to stimulate pelvic muscles, inducing contraction or relaxation to enhance urethral support and prevent incontinence, is used to treat stress and urge incontinence through subthreshold stimulation and action potential propagation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If invasive surgical methods are used for incontinence treatment, then continence results may be improved, but patient trauma and recovery time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical surgical interventions with electrical stimulation therapy. Electrical pulses are delivered through electrodes to stimulate the pelvic floor muscles and sphincter, providing continence control without invasive mechanical surgery. This substitution reduces patient trauma while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an electrical stimulation device as an intermediary between the patient's nervous system and pelvic floor muscles. The device delivers controlled electrical impulses that mediate muscle contraction and relaxation, providing continence control without direct mechanical intervention on the pelvic structures.
2Strength
If traditional sling procedures are used, then urethral support may be improved, but underlying muscle support issues are not effectively addressed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces passive mechanical sling support with active electrical stimulation of the pelvic floor muscles. Instead of relying solely on external mechanical support structures, the system activates the patient's own muscle tissue through electrical impulses, addressing the root cause of support deficiency rather than providing external reinforcement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the patient's pelvic floor muscles to serve their own support function through electrical stimulation. The system activates the patient's intrinsic muscle tissue to provide urethral support, rather than requiring external mechanical structures. This self-service approach addresses underlying muscle weakness by activating the muscles' natural support capability.
3Strength
If electrical stimulation is applied to pelvic muscles, then muscle contraction and urethral support are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the electrical stimulation device to perform multiple functions: stimulating pelvic floor muscles, supporting the urethra, treating both stress and urge incontinence, and providing adjustable therapy levels. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate devices into a single integrated system, managing complexity through functional consolidation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the electrical stimulation electrodes, control circuitry, and therapeutic functions into a single integrated device. The system merges diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities, as well as multiple stimulation modes, into one unified apparatus, reducing the number of separate components and simplifying the overall treatment system.
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
The solution provides effective support for the urethra, reducing incontinence episodes by stimulating pelvic muscles and nerves, offering a minimally invasive approach with adjustable tension and potential for long-term relief from incontinence symptoms.
Implementation Method 1
One or more electrodes are coupled to the mechanical support, so as to contact tissue of the patient. A control unit drives the electrodes to apply a current to the tissue.
Implementation Method 2
the applied current is typically configured to treat urge incontinence by stimulating a pelvic muscle of the patient and inducing contraction of the muscle
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus is provided, including an implantable mechanical support comprising a mesh shaped to support a portion of a urethra of a patient. One or more electrodes, coupled to the mesh, so as to contact tissue of the patient when the mechanical support (26) is implanted in the patient. A control unit drives the electrodes to apply a current to the tissue. Other embodiments are also described.