US 12,337,173 B2
Devices, systems, and methods for promoting voiding in subjects with underactive bladders
Bradley Potts, Durham, NC (US); and Matthew Fraser, Durham, NC (US)
Assigned to Duke University, Durham, NC (US); and The United States Government as Represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC (US)
Appl. No. 17/631,208
Filed by Duke University, Durham, NC (US); and THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AS REPRESENTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, Washington, DC (US)
PCT Filed Jul. 30, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/044218
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 28, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/022020, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 4, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/880,239, filed on Jul. 30, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0266010 A1, Aug. 25, 2022
Int. Cl. A61N 1/36 (2006.01); A61N 1/05 (2006.01)
CPC A61N 1/36007 (2013.01) [A61N 1/0514 (2013.01); A61N 1/0551 (2013.01); A61N 1/36153 (2013.01); A61N 1/36171 (2013.01); A61N 1/36178 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of treating underactive bladder in a subject, the method comprising:
manipulating a controller to provide input associated with inducement of at least one physiological response to a pulse generator, wherein the pulse generator is configured to generate a plurality of pulses based on the input, and wherein a plurality of electrodes is functionally coupled to the pulse generator;
placing the plurality of electrodes orthogonally across and in contact with a dorsal extraluminal surface of the subject's proximal urethra whereby the plurality of electrodes is positioned to simultaneously stimulate the subject's pelvic, hypogastric, and pudendal nerves bilaterally, wherein the plurality of electrodes is configured to be spaced from 0.1 cm to 2.0 cm apart and comprises a flexible electrode support; and
activating the pulse generator to cause the plurality of pulses to be delivered from the plurality of electrodes;
wherein activation of the pulse generator simultaneously stimulates the subject's pelvic, hypogastric, and pudendal nerves and induces the at least one physiological response in the subject, wherein the at least one physiological response comprises at least one of bladder voidance contractions, voiding-associated rhabdosphincter relaxation, and urethral circumferential smooth muscle relaxation, whereby at least one symptom associated with underactive bladder in the subject is improved.