Bladder dysfunctions caused by Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) affect 800,000 people worldwide, with 25,000 new cases each year. Most Spinal Cord Injured (SCI) patients will have impaired bladder function, resulting in the loss of voluntary sphincter control and proper coordination of the bladder and urinary sphincters. Such condition leads to the incapacity of voluntary voiding and the development of bladder hyperreflexia, a serious condition that may lead to permanent kidney damages. A hyperreflexive bladder is overactive and contracts reflexively during filling, resulting in incontinence episodes and high internal pressures.
Victhom’s Urinary Disorders Implant provides a dual electrical stimulation pattern applied on the sacral nerve roots to restore voluntary voiding and suppress bladder hyperreflexia. By means of four nerve cuff electrodes (Neurocuff™), the device uses:
- A permanent low-frequency neuromodulation to suppress bladder hyperreflexia.
- A transient low-amplitude low-frequency stimulation that contracts the bladder muscle and relax urethral sphincter generating micturition upon user action.
Besides the implanted components, the Urinary Disorders Implant comprises a handheld device used by the patient to initiate voiding commands, charge the implant and access the implant status and a programmer device used by the clinician to adjust different voiding therapy stimulation programs. The programmer is also used to adjust permanent neurostimulation therapy for the inhibition of bladder hyperreflexia.
The Urinary Disorders Implant provides the patient with the following advantages:
- Avoids rhizotomy, thus preserving remaining sexual functions of the patient.
- Inhibits hyperreflexia, ensuring low pressure urine storage and the protection of the upper urinary system.
- Provides high voiding efficiency (low bladder post-voiding residual volume).
- Restores urinary continence.
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