Intravaginal Sensor Feedback for Sacral Nerve Stimulation Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for treating urinary and fecal incontinence, such as electrical stimulation therapy, face challenges in device positioning and identifying responsive individuals, particularly in women with pelvic floor disorders.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising an intravaginal device with sensors and an implantable lead for sacral nerve stimulation, combined with a medical device for electrical stimulation, allows for real-time monitoring of pelvic floor movements to optimize treatment efficacy and identify responsive subjects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrical stimulation therapy is used to treat urinary and fecal incontinence, then treatment can be provided, but device positioning is difficult and identifying responsive individuals is challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs sensors within the intravaginal device to detect pelvic floor muscle contractions and provides real-time feedback to both the patient and clinician. This feedback mechanism enables verification of proper device positioning and confirms effective nerve stimulation, thereby resolving the positioning difficulty and responsiveness identification challenges while maintaining treatment effectiveness.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are included in the intravaginal device, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sensing function into multiple discrete sensors positioned at specific locations within the intravaginal device. Each sensor independently measures pelvic floor movement at its location, and the combined data provides comprehensive measurement precision. This segmentation approach achieves high measurement accuracy while keeping individual sensor components simple and manageable.
Data Source
AI summary
Featured are intravaginal devices and electrical stimulation devices, systems, thereof, and methods of using the devices and systems thereof to observe pelvic floor movements in order to diagnose, treat, or prevent urinary and fecal incontinence disorders (e.g., urge incontinence) and their accompanying symptoms or to diagnose and/or improve the efficacy of neuromodulation therapy.