15.04.2024

Researchers at Northwestern University (USA) have developed an implant that monitors bladder fullness in real time. The battery-free, flexible device is attached to the bladder wall and transmits the data to a smartphone app.

This innovation offers great potential for people with paralysis, spina bifida, bladder cancer or other bladder diseases that affect their bladder function.

Image: Sensors on a cable with power supply; the implant on a pink background; the right screen shows a mammography image; Copyright: Northwestern University

The elongated tab (near the tip of the tweezers) is the soft, stretchable sensor. The green box is the implantable base station, which contains the electrical components for powering the device and for wireless data transmission.

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How the implant works

The implant measures the stretching of the bladder wall, which increases as the bladder fills. Several sensors record this stretching in various stages and transmit the information to a smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth.

Advantages of the technology

Real-time monitoring of bladder fullness: The app shows the user how full the bladder is, allowing better control and bladder emptying.
Improved quality of life: The technology can significantly improve the quality of life of people with bladder dysfunction by giving them more independence and control.
Early detection of problems: Continuous monitoring can help to detect and treat problems such as urinary tract infections or voiding dysfunction at an early stage.

Long-term function and integration into a regenerative system

Animal studies have shown that the implant functions reliably for over 30 days. In primate studies, it provided precise data for eight weeks. Depending on the application, the implant can remain in the body permanently or dissolve after the patient has recovered.

Combination with bladder regeneration

The researchers are planning to combine the implant with a biodegradable "bladder patch" that can restore bladder function. The patch is colonized with the patient's own stem cells and makes it possible to reconstruct the bladder without removing intestinal tissue.

Vision for the future: intelligent regenerative systems:

Researchers at Northwestern University are also aiming to develop intelligent regenerative systems that can monitor bladder function and stimulate it when necessary. This technology could fundamentally improve the quality of life of people with bladder dysfunction.

Further functions in development

In addition to monitoring bladder fullness, the app will in future provide warnings and directions to toilets. In the long term, the implant could also enable bladder emptying via smartphone control.

The study

The study, which was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), represents a milestone in the development of bioelectronic sensors for bladder monitoring. It opens up new possibilities for the diagnosis and treatment of bladder dysfunction.

COMPAMED-tradefair.com; Source: Northwestern University

More about Northwestern University at: www.news.northwestern.edu