Wireless AI-guided implant to restore bladder emptying after spinal cord injury
Wireless, Closed?loop System to Restore Urological Dysfunction after Spinal Cord Injury
A tiny wireless, battery-free implant that uses AI to automatically help people with spinal cord injury empty their bladder more normally.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Houston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11330664 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project is building a tiny wireless, battery-free implant that sits on the bladder and uses sensors plus an AI program to detect when your bladder needs to empty. It will deliver targeted electrical pulses to stimulate the bladder and relax the sphincter so urine can flow more normally. The team will design and test the soft, stretchable electrodes and closed-loop control system in the lab and in animal models before any human testing. If successful, the device is intended to move toward future clinical trials for people with spinal cord injury and bladder dysfunction.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with high-level spinal cord injury who have detrusor sphincter dyssynergia and difficulty emptying their bladder are the intended candidates for this approach.
Not a fit: Patients with bladder problems from non-neurological causes or without outlet obstruction are unlikely to benefit from this specific device.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could help people with spinal cord injury empty their bladder more reliably, lowering rates of urinary tract infections, kidney problems, and the need for invasive procedures.
How similar studies have performed: Electrical neuromodulation has helped some patients with bladder dysfunction, but wireless, battery-free AI closed-loop implants are largely untested in humans and have so far been demonstrated mainly in animal studies.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- University of Houston — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Zhengwei — University of Houston
- Study coordinator: Li, Zhengwei
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.