초록 ▼

A method for controlling the function of a bladder, includes identification of the anatomical location of at least one nerve controlling the muscles for the bladder and/or its sphincter and positioning of an electrode on the nerve to selectively stimulate the nerve for continence and evacuation purp

A method for controlling the function of a bladder, includes identification of the anatomical location of at least one nerve controlling the muscles for the bladder and/or its sphincter and positioning of an electrode on the nerve to selectively stimulate the nerve for continence and evacuation purposes. The electrode can be implanted in a patient either surgically or percutaneously and may be either removed after proper stimulation has achieved the desired result (neurostimulation) or may be left intact on the nerve for selective stimulation thereof. An electronic control system is disclosed for electrically energizing two or more implanted electrodes in a preselected timed relationship.

대표청구항 ▼

A method for simultaneously controlling the coordinated and synchronized functions of a bladder and associated external sphincter in an anatomical system of a selected human, said system including S2, S3 and S4 sacral segments of a spinal cord and a sacral nerve originating at each of said sacral se

A method for simultaneously controlling the coordinated and synchronized functions of a bladder and associated external sphincter in an anatomical system of a selected human, said system including S2, S3 and S4 sacral segments of a spinal cord and a sacral nerve originating at each of said sacral segments and each of said sacral nerves including a dorsal root and a ventral root in a sacral canal, said sacral nerves forming a pelvic nerve when they leave the sacral canal connected to said bladder to control contractions of a detrusor muscle thereof, a superior somatic nerve and an inferior somatic nerve connected to muscles controlling the external sphincter of said bladder, said method comprising the steps of identifying the anatomical location and functional characteristics of those nerve fibers controlling the separate functions of said bladder and external sphincter, separating motor, sensory and autonomic and somatic nerve fibres controlling the separate functions of the bladder and associated external sphincter from other nerve fibers, positioning electrode means on selected ones of said nerve fibers for electrically stimulating such fibers while simultaneously isolating adjacent nerve fibers therefrom, and applying coordinated and synchronized pulse trains sequentially or simultaneously to said electrode means to simultaneously and/or separately control the functions of said bladder and external sphincter.