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Publication Number
US-11266343-B2
Publication Date
2022-03-08
Expiration Date
Abstract
Methods and devices to diagnose and treat fecal incontinence in females and males are provided. A multiple sensor-enabled catheter for positioning in a patient's rectum allows for the visualization and manipulation or positioning of an anatomical reference point(s) in the patient's body. A multiple sensor-enabled catheter for rectal insertion in a patient allows for the visualization and implementation of efficient and effective exercises to strengthen pelvic floor muscles.
Core Innovation
The invention describes a method for diagnosing or treating fecal incontinence by inserting into the patient's rectum a device comprising a plurality of microelectromechanical (MEM) accelerometers and a plurality of pressure sensors positioned along a length of the device that extends into the rectum. The device provides position information from the MEM sensors and pressure information from the pressure sensors related to pressure imparted by the patient's rectal sphincter.
The method obtains the position information from the MEM sensors and displays the position information on a graphical user interface to produce a first visual representation of a position of the patient's anatomy selected from one or more of a pubic bone, coccyx, bladder, urethra, uterus, prostate and rectum relative to at least one different anatomical reference point of the patient selected from the pubic bone, coccyx, bladder, urethra, uterus, prostate and rectum. In addition, the method displays the pressure information on the graphical user interface.
Using the position and pressure information, the method manipulates the anatomical state of the patient relative to the at least one different anatomical reference point to an anatomical position that relieves the incontinence. This manipulation is performed to thereby diagnose or treat the fecal incontinence.
Claims Coverage
Only one independent claim is explicitly provided in the supplied claim set. It includes three principal inventive components that are required together: a rectal device with MEM accelerometers and pressure sensors, GUI display of position information relative to anatomical reference points and pressure information, and manipulating the patient's anatomical state to an incontinence-relieving anatomical position using the position and pressure information.
Rectal device with MEM accelerometers and pressure sensors for rectal sensing
Inserting into the patient's rectum a device comprising a plurality of microelectromechanical (MEM) accelerometers and a plurality of pressure sensors positioned along a length of the device that extends into the rectum.
Gui display of anatomy position and rectal sphincter pressure
Obtaining position information from the MEM sensors and displaying the position information on a graphical user interface to produce a first visual representation of a position of the patient's anatomy relative to at least one different anatomical reference point, and displaying pressure information related to pressure imparted by the patient's rectal sphincter on the graphical user interface.
Manipulating anatomical state to an incontinence-relieving anatomical position
Using the position and pressure information to manipulate the anatomical state of the patient relative to the at least one different anatomical reference point to an anatomical position that relieves the incontinence, thereby diagnosing or treating the fecal incontinence.
The provided independent claim coverage centers on a rectal device with MEM accelerometers and pressure sensors, a graphical user interface that displays anatomy position relative to selected anatomical reference points together with rectal sphincter pressure, and using those displayed position and pressure information to manipulate the patient's anatomical state to an incontinence-relieving anatomical position to diagnose or treat fecal incontinence.
Stated Advantages
Diagnosing fecal incontinence.
Treating fecal incontinence by manipulating the anatomical state to an anatomical position that relieves incontinence.
Documented Applications
Using the method to diagnose or treat fecal incontinence, including assessment contexts described as pre/post operative and pre-/post-childbirth for baseline repositioning.
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