Neurostimulation Strategy for Stress Urinary Incontinence

Abstract

We have developed a percutaneously implantable and wireless microstimulator (NuStim) to exercise the pelvic floor muscles for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence. It produces a wide range of charge-regulated electrical stimulation pulses and trains of pulses using a simple electronic circuit that receives power and timing information from an externally generated RF magnetic field. The complete system was validated in vitro and in vivo in preclinical studies demonstrating that the NuStim can be successfully implanted into an effective, low threshold location, and the implant can be operated chronically to produce effective and well-tolerated contractions of skeletal muscle.