Overactive bladder syndrome (OBS) causes a frequent and uncontrollable urge to urinate, which can interfere with daily life and affect mental health. A new hydrogel-based device has been developed that can continuously monitor overactive bladder and may improve the treatment of this condition.
The detrusor muscle lines the bladder wall. In healthy people, muscles controlled by nerves relax to hold urine and contract when a person urinates. However, in a person with OBS, muscles become overactive, causing a sudden urge to urinate, frequent urination (8 or more times per day for him, 2 or more per night for him), and in some cases, incontinence. increase.
OBS affects 12.8% of women and 10.8% of men worldwide. In addition to experiencing symptoms, the uncontrolled nature of this condition means that people are less productive at work, less sexually satisfied, poorer mental health, increased rates of anxiety and depression, sleep In addition, if left untreated, OBS can lead to kidney dysfunction and failure.
This condition can be treated with drugs, but drugs do not work for some people. Newer treatments use electrical stimulation of nerves connected to the bladder to reduce overactivity. However, without monitoring bladder activity, it can be difficult to determine the appropriate amount of stimulation. Stimulation should be just right. Otherwise, the treatment will be ineffective.
Accurate monitoring of OBS requires fully electromechanical measurements of bladder and detrusor muscle activity. Previous iterations of bladder monitors have focused on mechanical contraction and relaxation, but body movements associated with daily activities can interfere with signal quality. Furthermore, electromyography (EMG) to monitor bladder bioelectrical or neural activity was not included.
With these limitations in mind, researchers at South Korea’s Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) designed a multifunctional implantable sensor that measures bladder capacity, mechanical contraction and relaxation, and neural activity all in one platform. Did.
Because it is a USH-SI sensor, youUltra-soften timeCombination with hydrogel sstructurally designed IThe slets are made of highly elastic hydrogel and adhere more easily and firmly to the bladder tissue compared to traditional silicone sensors.
In experiments conducted in pigs and rats, researchers found that the sensor could continuously monitor electromechanical activity in real time. Also, the device is small enough to be inserted using laparoscopic (“keyhole”) surgery.
“The new sensor shows that the sensor can be made small enough to be inserted in surgical robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery,” said Professor Steve Park, corresponding author of the study. recover and reduce side effects. ”
Researchers are developing high-resolution multi-array sensors that enable spatiotemporal analysis of bladder activity. They are also working on a fully implantable feedback system incorporating neurostimulators, enabling both diagnosis and treatment of OBS and potentially other conditions.
“We combined a neurostimulator with a USH-SI sensor to treat overactive bladder, a chronic condition,” said Professor Sung-Min Park, lead author of the study. “This allows us to monitor and stimulate nerves at the same time. We expect it to be a platform that can be applied to other organs.”
The study was published in a journal Biosensors and bioelectronics.
Source: Pohang University of Science and Technology
