Noninvasive Electrical Stimulation Device to Improve Bladder Control for Men With Spinal Core Injury
VA Office of Research and Development
Summary
Urinary incontinence, bladder frequency, and bladder urgency are significant medical problems for people with overactive bladder (OAB) or neurogenic bladder overactivity (NDO). Affected individuals typically experience reflex bladder contractions in response to bladder filling at low volumes, resulting in urinary incontinence and decreased bladder capacity. This project will advance a new device for administering noninvasive electrical stimulation in order to improve bladder control.
Description
Urinary incontinence, bladder frequency, and bladder urgency are significant medical problems for people with overactive bladder (OAB) or neurogenic bladder overactivity (NDO). Restoring bladder control is considered a high priority, but remains a critically unmet need requiring further development. The long-term goal is to develop and clinically implement a "bladder pacemaker" able to restore bladder control for individuals with OAB or NDO. Electrical stimulation of the genital nerves inhibits the spinal neural circuits involved in hyper-reflexive bladder spasms. Genital nerve stimulation (G…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- Male
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Suprasacral SCI * Neurologically stable * Skeletally mature * Presence of reflex bladder contractions * At least 12 months post SCI Exclusion Criteria: * Active sepsis * Open pressure sores on or around pelvis * Bleeding diathesis * Significant urethral trauma, erosion, or stricture * Indwelling catheter for over 1 year AND bladder capacity less than 100 mL * Significant history of autonomic dysreflexia
Interventions
- DeviceNoninvasive electrical stimulation device to improve bladder control
Genital nerve stimulation (GNS) will be applied using a wearable, transcutaneous neurostimulator and sleeve electrode that targets the genital nerve reflex pathway for the treatment of neurogenic bladder associated with spinal cord injury.
Location
- Louis Stokes VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OHCleveland, Ohio