Lactobacillus Neuromodulation for Bladder and Cramping Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, and menstrual cramping are inadequate, with a lack of effective long-term solutions and reliance on physical products or stimulations near the bladder, and existing options for menstrual cramping improvement are limited and not naturally based.
Innovation Solution
The use of strains of Lactobacillus bacteria or their ferments/metabolites as neuromodulation agents that up-regulate specific enzymes and genes, reducing muscle contractility by decreasing extracellular ATP levels, thereby preventing or treating incontinence, overactive bladder, and menstrual cramping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical products or stimulations near the bladder are used to manage incontinence symptoms, then the ability to lessen or manage symptoms is improved, but the complexity of the treatment and potential for invasive interventions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical/physical treatment systems (such as bladder stimulations or physical products) with a biochemical system using Lactobacillus bacteria and their metabolites. The bacteria and their fermentation products chemically modulate neuromodulation pathways to reduce bladder muscle contractility, thereby treating incontinence without mechanical intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces Lactobacillus bacteria and their fermentation products as intermediary substances that mediate between the administered composition and the target bladder tissue. These intermediaries up-regulate specific enzymes and genes that reduce muscle contractility, providing a natural bridge for treatment without direct mechanical stimulation.
2Reliability
If existing treatment options for menstrual cramping are used, then some relief may be achieved, but the solutions are limited and not naturally based
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of treatment origin from synthetic/pharmaceutical to natural/biological by using Lactobacillus bacteria and their fermentation products. This natural approach targets the underlying muscle contractility mechanism through biochemical modulation rather than conventional pain relief methods.
3Adaptability or versatility
If Lactobacillus bacteria or ferments/metabolites are used as neuromodulation agents, then a natural and effective solution is provided, but the mechanism requires up-regulation of specific enzymes and genes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs Lactobacillus bacteria that naturally produce fermentation products with neuromodulation activity. The bacteria essentially self-service by metabolizing substrates and producing the active compounds (such as GABA or other neuromodulators) that directly act on the bladder tissue, reducing the need for external complex delivery systems.
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 Lactobacillus-based composition effectively reduces muscle contractility and ATP levels, providing a natural and effective solution for managing urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, and menstrual cramping without the need for invasive interventions.
Implementation Method 1
The modification agent can provide neuromodulation activity by up-regulating at least one of maoA enzymes, maoB enzymes, and grin-1 genes
Implementation Method 2
The modification agent can also reduce the amount of extracellular ATP in a target environment that can help reduce the contractility of muscles and organs, such as the bladder
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and compositions for preventing or treating incontinence, overactive bladder, or menstrual cramping in a subject are described. A method can include providing a composition. The composition can include a modification agent. The modification agent can include a strain of Lactobacillus or a ferment or a metabolite thereof. The modification agent can provide neuromodulation activity by up-regulating at least one of maoA enzymes, maoB enzymes, and grin-1 genes. The method can also include administering the composition to the subject to prevent or treat incontinence, overactive bladder, or menstrual cramping. In some aspects, the modification agent can decrease a level of extracellular ATP in a target environment.