Tibial Nerve Stimulation Assessment via Sensor Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for overactive bladder (OAB) lack effective methods to assess patient response to tibial nerve stimulation, particularly in correlating daily activities with treatment efficacy, leading to suboptimal treatment adjustments.
Innovation Solution
An electronic processor receives data from various sensors, such as GPS, accelerometers, and gyroscopes, to assess the subject's response to tibial nerve stimulation, allowing for modification of the treatment protocol based on activity patterns and outputting feedback to the patient or caregiver.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If activity data from sensors is collected and analyzed to assess treatment response, then treatment personalization and efficacy are improved, but device complexity and data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
An electronic processor acts as an intermediary between the implantable stimulator and the external sensors. The processor receives sensor data, performs the assessment of treatment response, and generates feedback without requiring direct complex interactions between the implant and multiple sensors, thereby managing system complexity while enabling personalized treatment assessment
2Measurement precision
If direct voiding episode monitoring is implemented, then measurement precision of OAB symptoms is improved, but device complexity and invasiveness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces direct mechanical/sensor-based voiding detection with an indirect assessment method using activity data from sensors (accelerometer, gyroscope, GPS). The electronic processor analyzes patterns in this activity data to infer voiding episodes and treatment response, avoiding the need for complex direct monitoring hardware while maintaining assessment capability
Data Source
AI summary
A method for assessing treatment of a subject who has overactive bladder (OAB) includes using an implant to stimulate a tibial nerve of the subject according to a stimulation protocol. An electronic processor is used to receive, from one or more sensors, data indicative of activity of the subject over a time period extending over at least one week. Based on the data, a characteristic of a response of the subject to the stimulation is assessed. Other embodiments are also described.