New Device May Improve Treatment for Refractory Overactive Bladder Syndrome
In This Article
- Ajay Singla, MD, urologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, said that the device for refractory overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) has some clear advantages over external stimulation
- The electroceutical coin device is a battery-powered implantable device about the size of a nickel that stimulates the tibial nerve
- 65% of patients with refractory OAB with urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) experienced more than a 50% improvement in UUI
A new implantable neuromodulation device produced durable efficacy at 12 months in treating patients with refractory overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) with urgency urinary incontinence (UUI).
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The results of a prospective, single-arm, open-label study showed that 65% of patients with the OAB device experienced more than a 50% improvement in UUI. On average, participants in the trial experienced an 86% improvement in their incontinence quality of life (I-QOL) scores.
The investigational device, which is slightly larger than a nickel, is battery-powered and works by electrically stimulating the tibial nerve. Researchers on the study estimated that the device could be approved and introduced to patients by 2021.
Ajay Singla, MD, urologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, told Urology Times that the OAB device approach appears to be an improvement to the traditional percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) device. The PTNS requires weekly visits for external stimulation, said Dr. Singla, whereas the battery-powered OAB device avoids the need for regular visits.
Dr. Singla also acknowledged that while the device demonstrates the advantages of an implantable device over external stimulation, the efficacy of the device still remains low at 65% of patients experiencing more than a 50% improvement. That efficacy is in line with prior PTNS studies.
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