While neurostimulator implants have been used in the past to treat overactive bladder (OAB), many patients balk at the idea of undergoing expensive and complex surgery to have a somewhat bulky electrical device placed under the skin. As an alternative, patients can try medications like Vesicare, but these prescription drugs need to be taken on a regular basis, and the cost can add up without insurance coverage or other forms of patient assistance. Now, however, there’s a third option: a smaller, more convenient neurostimulator that doesn’t require batteries.
Vesicare Pills
The Bluewind Medical OAB-1000 is wireless and battery-free. Because it is approximately 90% smaller than most neurostimulators currently on the market, it only requires minimally invasive surgery to implant. Since the device doesn’t require batteries, patients won’t have to worry about having future surgeries to replace the power source. The device is instead powered through a small external unit that patients wear for just 30 minutes a day; this unit can be worn while patients carry on with their normal daily activities.
How do Neurostimulators Work?
Overactive bladder occurs when muscles of the bladder involuntarily contract, causing you to feel like you need to urinate as soon as possible. Neurostimulator devices send electrical impulses to either the sacral nerve or tibial nerve, both of which influence urinary function.
The new battery-free neurostimulator device is placed near the tibial nerve in the lower leg. By stimulating the tibial nerve, it reduces the feeling of frequently or urgently needing to urinate, allowing individuals to reduce bathroom trips and daily disruptions.
How Can the New Neurostimulator Benefit Patients?
An estimated 16% of Americans suffer from overactive bladder, which may cause intense urges to urinate, frequent trips to the bathroom (including multiple trips at night), and potentially incontinence. This condition can be a source of shame and embarrassment, and may cause some people to avoid enjoyable activities such as going to the movies, taking long walks, or traveling.
As neurostimulator devices continue to become smaller, easier to implant, and less expensive, they will become a viable option for more and more patients. Neurostimulator devices can greatly reduce or even eliminate urgency-frequency symptoms and bladder incontinence, greatly improving the quality of life for people who have been suffering from OAB.
