Novel implantable pressure and acceleration sensor for bladder monitoring

Abstract

Objectives: To test the hypothesis that an implantable sensing system containing accelerometers can detect small-scale autonomous movements, also termed micromotions, which might be relevant to bladder physiology. Methods: We developed a 6-mm submucosal implant containing a pressure sensor (MS5637) and a triaxial accelerometer (BMA280). Sensor prototypes were tested by implantation in the bladders of Gottingen minipigs. Repeated awake voiding cystometry was carried out with air-charged catheters in a standard urodynamic set-up as comparators. We identified four phases of voiding similar to cystometry in other animal models based on submucosal pressure. Acceleration signals were separated by frequency characteristics to isolate linear acceleration from the baseline acceleration. The total linear acceleration was calculated by the root mean square of the three measurement axes. Acceleration activity during voiding was investigated to adjacent 1-s windows and was compared with the registered pressure. Results: We observed a total of 19 consecutive voids in five measurement sessions. A good correlation (r > 0.75) was observed between submucosal and catheter pressure in 14 of 19 premicturition traces. The peak-to-peak interval between maximum total linear acceleration was correlated with the interval between submucosal voiding pressure peaks (r = 0.760, P < 0.001). The total linear acceleration was higher during voiding compared with pre-and postmicturition periods (start of voiding/phase 1). Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of bladder wall acceleration, a novel metric that reflects bladder wall movement. Submucosal sensors containing accelerometers can measure bladder pressure and acceleration.

Micro-/Nano-Structured Biodegradable Pressure Sensors for Biomedical Applications

“…Despite of the recent development in biodegradable pressure sensors, there are still some issues, such as sensitivity, operating range, and controllability of biodegradability, essentially to be improved for accurate pressure monitoring of various tissues and organs. In other words, regarding there are huge recent demands for healthcare and diagnosis of diseases in early stage through the pressure sensing of diverse tissues and organs, such as intracranial pressure [ 152 , 153 , 154 , 155 , 156 , 157 ], intraocular pressure [ 158 , 159 , 160 , 161 , 162 , 163 ], heartbeat [ 164 , 165 , 166 ], and bladder pressure [ 167 , 168 , 169 , 170 ], we expect that the high-performance biodegradable pressure sensors will be much more important for diverse biomedical applications in the future.…”

Materials and Biomedical Applications of Implantable Electronic Devices

“…There are the implantable wireless monitoring system for bladder pressure (Figure 8e), [ 240 ] and the implantable pressure and acceleration sensor to measure the small‐scale autonomous movements relevant to bladder physiology. [ 241 ] Jang et al. reported an expandable and implantable bioelectronic complex for the urinary bladder (Figure 8f).…”

Design, inverted vat photopolymerization 3D printing, and initial characterization of a miniature force sensor for localized in vivo tissue measurements

“…Diagnostic tests such as physical exam, internal exam urine cytology and cystoscopy cannot be used to quantitatively identify localised in vivo tissue viscoelastic properties. Some of the current technologies employed to interact with tissue in confined spaces include endoscopy [ 3 ], cystoscopy [ 4 , 5 ], prolapse assessment [ 6 , 7 ], biopsy [ 8 ], and analysis of the exterior bladder wall movement [ 9 ].…”