Abstract
A miniaturised, totally integrated device intended for long-term treatment with electrical stimulation of female urinary incontinence has been designed. The device, which is moulded in epoxy resin, contains a hybrid circuit and a battery supply. The battery cells are recharged by constant current delivered to the stimulation electrodes by an external unit. The stimulation electrodes are band-shaped and made of stainless steel. The electric device has an oval cross-section to conform with the anatomy of the vagina, and is designed to be of minimum size while maintaining safe encapsulation of the electrical components. Electrical stimulation is applied as constant-voltage pulses of alternating polarity. The pulse repetition rates are selected to be 10, 50 or 20 Hz for the treatment of urge, stress or mixed urge-stress incontinence, respectively. The pulse duration is variable from 0·1 to 5ms, whereas the stimulation voltage amplitude is fixed. The stimulation is intermittent, lasting 10s and interrupted for 20s. The device should be recharged approximately once a week in normal use to maintain stimulation efficiency.
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Ohlsson, B.L., Erlandson, B.E. Miniaturised device for long-term intravaginal electrical stimulation for the treatment of urinary incontinence. Med. Biol. Eng. Comput. 26, 509–515 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02441919
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02441919