Researchers have developed a means of preventing bedwetting by foot neuromodulation. By stimulating the nerves in the foot during the day using skin surface electrodes, it is possible to modulate bladder reflex activity during the nighttime. Foot neuromodulation therapy eliminates the sleep disruptions associated with bedwetting alarms and the many side effects associated with drug treatments
Description
Bedwetting can have a dramatic psychological and social impact on children, often leading to significant stress both for the child and their family due to impacted self-esteem, disrupted seep schedules, and increased cleaning demands. Despite being an extremely common problem of childhood, the pathology and etiology of chronic bedwetting are not well understood, and treatment—including behavioral therapy, nighttime alarms, or medications with serious side effects—remains largely ineffective.
Foot neuromodulation therapy eliminates the sleep disruptions associated with bedwetting alarms and the many side effects associated with drug treatments. Its uses can be expanded to other urological or gastrointestinal conditions such as fecal incontinence or bladder pain. Additionally, combining foot stimulation with certain drugs has been shown to enhance the effect of neurostimulation while reducing the drug dosage. This novel therapy is safe, non-invasive, and easy-to-use at home by both the child and parent.
Applications
· Modulating the activity of urological or gastrointestinal organs
· Treating an overactive bladder
· Treating fecal incontinence
· Treating bladder pain
Advantages
· Non-invasive skin surface electrodes
· Easy to use by both the child and parent
· Does not interrupt sleep at night for either the parent or the child
· More effective than behavioral therapy
· Safer than medication
Invention Readiness
Prototype
IP Status
https://patents.google.com/patent/US10315029B2
