Improving lead placement for bladder and bowel control treatments
Photoacoustic Tool to Improve Visualization and Success Rates in Sacral Neural Modulation Lead Placement
This study is testing a new tool that helps doctors see better while placing special wires to treat bladder and bowel issues, aiming to make these procedures more successful for people who struggle with incontinence.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Actuated Medical, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bellefonte, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10930716 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a Photoacoustic Visualizer (PAV) system to enhance the accuracy of placing sacral neurostimulation (SNS) leads, which are used to treat bladder and bowel incontinence. By enabling visualization through the needle during the implantation process, the system aims to improve the success rates of these procedures. The project will culminate in a preclinical demonstration to assess the feasibility of this innovative approach at the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. This technology addresses a significant unmet need for individuals suffering from incontinence, which affects millions and can severely impact quality of life.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals experiencing bladder or bowel incontinence who may benefit from sacral neurostimulation.
Not a fit: Patients who do not suffer from bladder or bowel incontinence are unlikely to benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective and reliable treatments for patients with bladder and bowel incontinence.
How similar studies have performed: Similar approaches in neurostimulation have shown promise in improving treatment outcomes for incontinence, suggesting potential success for this novel method.
Where this research is happening
Bellefonte, United States
- Actuated Medical, INC. — Bellefonte, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bagwell, Roger Brooks — Actuated Medical, INC.
- Study coordinator: Bagwell, Roger Brooks
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.