Treatment of male urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12263006-B2
Publication Date
2025-04-01
Expiration Date
Abstract
Methods and devices to diagnose and treat male urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction are provided. A multiple sensor-enabled catheter for rectal insertion in a male patient allows for the visualization and manipulation or positioning of the bladder. A multiple sensor-enabled catheter for rectal insertion in a male patient allows for the visualization and implementation of efficient and effective exercises to strengthen pelvic floor muscles.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a catheter-based method for diagnosing or treating urinary incontinence in a subject by inserting into a rectum of the subject a device having a handle and a probe configured to enter the rectum. The probe includes microelectromechanical (MEM) accelerometers positioned along a length of the probe, and the device lacks accelerometers in the handle. The device is used to determine and visualize, on a graphical user interface, a position of the accelerometers of the probe as a representation of an anatomical position of a bladder, bladder neck, or urethra in real-time.
The method further includes manipulating the anatomical position of the bladder, bladder neck, or urethra relative to at least one fixed anatomical reference point selected from pubic bone, a coccyx, a bladder, a urethra, a prostate, and a rectum. This manipulation is performed to diagnose or relieve the incontinence. Real-time visualization on the graphical user interface provides guidance through the anatomical position and movement representation.
In additional implementations reflected by dependent claim refinements, the device and method can include determining muscular function of a bladder sphincter, rectal sphincter, or pelvic floor muscle, and communicating real-time anatomical position as wireless data to the graphical user interface. Further refinements relate manipulation to pelvic floor muscle exercise, including repetition of the pelvic floor muscle exercise one or more times.
Claims Coverage
The document includes one independent claim that sets out the core rectal-device approach with MEM accelerometers along the probe, real-time determination and visualization of accelerometer positions as an anatomical position of bladder-related structures, and manipulation of that anatomical position relative to fixed anatomical reference points. Dependent claims add further inventive features including additional sensor functionality, wireless real-time transmission to a graphical user interface, and a muscular-function and pelvic-floor-exercise based approach.
Rectal probe with MEM accelerometers along probe length and no accelerometers in handle
A method comprising inserting into a rectum of the subject a device comprising a handle and a probe configured to enter the rectum, wherein the probe comprises microelectromechanical (MEM) accelerometers positioned along a length of the probe and wherein the device lacks accelerometers in the handle.
Real-time determination and graphical visualization of accelerometer position as anatomical position
Determining and visualizing on a graphical user interface a position of the accelerometers of the probe as a representation of an anatomical position of a bladder, bladder neck, or urethra of the subject in real-time.
Manipulating bladder/bladder neck/urethra position relative to fixed anatomical reference point
Manipulating the anatomical position of the bladder, bladder neck, or urethra relative to at least one fixed anatomical reference point selected from the group consisting of a pubic bone, a coccyx, a bladder, a urethra, a prostate, and a rectum, thereby diagnosing or relieving the incontinence.
Wireless real-time transmission of anatomical position to graphical user interface
Transmitting the subject’s anatomical position in real time as wireless data to a graphical user interface.
Determining muscular function of bladder sphincter, rectal sphincter, or pelvic floor muscle
Determining the muscular function of a bladder sphincter, rectal sphincter, or pelvic floor muscle in the subject.
Pelvic floor muscle exercise as the basis for manipulation
Having the subject perform a pelvic floor muscle exercise as part of the manipulating step.
Repetition of pelvic floor muscle exercise one or more times
Providing that the pelvic floor muscle exercise is repeated one or more times.
Overall, the claim set centers on a rectal probe with MEM accelerometers distributed along the probe (and no accelerometers in the handle) combined with real-time determination and visualization of an anatomical position representation for bladder-related structures, followed by manipulation relative to fixed anatomical reference points for diagnosing or relieving urinary incontinence. Dependent claims further cover wireless real-time visualization, muscular-function determination, and guiding manipulation via pelvic floor muscle exercise with repetition.
Stated Advantages
Diagnosing or relieving urinary incontinence.
Provides real-time determination and visualization of an anatomical position of a bladder, bladder neck, or urethra on a graphical user interface.
Enables guidance of manipulation relative to fixed anatomical reference points.
Allows determining muscular function of a bladder sphincter, rectal sphincter, or pelvic floor muscle.
Allows manipulation to be associated with pelvic floor muscle exercise, including repeated exercise.
Documented Applications
Baseline and monitoring incontinence rehabilitation is described as including incontinence rehabilitation monitoring, including pre-surgery measurement and intra-/post-surgical positioning and rehabilitation monitoring [procedural detail omitted for safety].
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