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Minimally-invasive electrical stimulation of the pudendal nerve: a pre-clinical study for neural control of the lower urinary tract.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Yoo, PB; Grill, WM
Published in: Neurourology and urodynamics
January 2007

Electrical stimulation of afferent pudendal nerve fibers can evoke sustained bladder contractions (SBC) in cats, yet evidence of therapeutic efficacy in human subjects is lacking. This pre-clinical study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that robust bladder contractions can be generated with a minimally-invasive needle electrode.In seven adult cats, triggered electromyographic (EMG) signals from the external anal sphincter (EAS) were used to minimize the needle-to-nerve distance; while reflex bladder contractions were recorded as 20-sec trains of current pulses of varying amplitude (threshold to 10 mA) and frequency (1-100 Hz) were applied to the nerve. This stimulation paradigm was repeated at successively greater needle-to-nerve distances (0.5 cm intervals) and also at different electrode positions along the nerve.Electrophysiological access to the pudendal nerve was consistently achieved, as indicated by the average threshold for EAS activation (0.31+/-0.19 mA). Using different combinations of stimulus amplitude and frequency, robust SBCs were evoked in every experiment. More rostral electrode positions exhibited stimulation amplitudes and corresponding maximum bladder pressures (0.68+/-0.36 mA and 25.3+/-3.5 cmH2O, respectively) that were comparable to those of more invasive stimulation methods.The needle electrode provides a minimally-invasive approach that will enable the study of reflexes mediated by pudendal afferents in humans, and allow pre-operative testing before implanting a permanent device.

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Published In

Neurourology and urodynamics

DOI

EISSN

1520-6777

ISSN

0733-2467

Publication Date

January 2007

Volume

26

Issue

4

Start / End Page

562 / 569

Related Subject Headings

  • Urology & Nephrology
  • Urinary Tract Physiological Phenomena
  • Urinary Tract
  • Urinary Catheterization
  • Peripheral Nerves
  • Male
  • Female
  • Electrodes
  • Electric Stimulation
  • Data Interpretation, Statistical
 

Citation

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Yoo, P. B., & Grill, W. M. (2007). Minimally-invasive electrical stimulation of the pudendal nerve: a pre-clinical study for neural control of the lower urinary tract. Neurourology and Urodynamics, 26(4), 562–569. https://doi.org/10.1002/nau.20376
Yoo, Paul B., and Warren M. Grill. “Minimally-invasive electrical stimulation of the pudendal nerve: a pre-clinical study for neural control of the lower urinary tract.Neurourology and Urodynamics 26, no. 4 (January 2007): 562–69. https://doi.org/10.1002/nau.20376.
Yoo, Paul B., and Warren M. Grill. “Minimally-invasive electrical stimulation of the pudendal nerve: a pre-clinical study for neural control of the lower urinary tract.Neurourology and Urodynamics, vol. 26, no. 4, Jan. 2007, pp. 562–69. Epmc, doi:10.1002/nau.20376.
Journal cover image

Published In

Neurourology and urodynamics

DOI

EISSN

1520-6777

ISSN

0733-2467

Publication Date

January 2007

Volume

26

Issue

4

Start / End Page

562 / 569

Related Subject Headings

  • Urology & Nephrology
  • Urinary Tract Physiological Phenomena
  • Urinary Tract
  • Urinary Catheterization
  • Peripheral Nerves
  • Male
  • Female
  • Electrodes
  • Electric Stimulation
  • Data Interpretation, Statistical