Wireless pudendal nerve stimulation to reduce urine leakage after childbirth
Official title: Wireless mechano-electrical stimulation of pudendal nerve using piezoelectric platform for stress urinary incontinence
Funded at Cleveland State University · NIH-11370100 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A tiny wireless device that uses mechanical motion to make gentle electrical pulses to the nerve that controls the urethral muscle, aimed at helping women with stress urinary incontinence after vaginal delivery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cleveland State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $471,554 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK135472-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11370100 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women who have stress urinary incontinence that began or persisted after vaginal childbirth and who may have pudendal nerve–related symptoms are the primary candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People with urge incontinence, leakage from pelvic organ prolapse, men, or those with severe structural urethral damage or non-pudendal neurological causes are unlikely to benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
Researchers are developing a small, wireless piezoelectric platform that converts motion into gentle electrical stimulation targeted at the pudendal nerve to encourage nerve healing and muscle reinnervation. The approach aims to boost natural growth factors like BDNF to help the external urethral sphincter recover after childbirth-related nerve injury. The design focuses on avoiding invasive electrodes and enabling repeated, on-demand stimulation outside the operating room. Early work will optimize the device and test biological effects that could lead to future clinical testing in patients with postpartum SUI.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could restore nerve function and reduce or eliminate stress urinary leakage without invasive surgery.
How similar studies have gone: Direct electrical stimulation of the pudendal nerve has shown promise in preclinical studies to promote nerve regrowth and BDNF release, but using a wireless piezoelectric mechano-electrical device for on-demand stimulation is a novel approach with limited prior human testing.
Where this research is happening
-
Cleveland State University
Cleveland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Uz, Metin — Cleveland State University
- Study coordinator: Uz, Metin
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Collagen-based tissue guide to treat stress urinary incontinence in women
A new collagen-based implant approach is being developed to help women with stress urinary incontinence experience better results and fewer complications from current mesh slings.
-
Helping older women with bladder leakage by strengthening pelvic floor muscles with testosterone
This project explores if testosterone can help older women with stress urinary incontinence by making their pelvic floor muscles stronger.
-
A new collagen-based implant for women with stress urinary incontinence
This project is creating a new type of implant made from natural collagen to help women who experience stress urinary incontinence, offering a safer alternative to current mesh slings.
-
Using natural materials to create scaffolds for treating urinary incontinence in women
This study is exploring a new, natural material to help treat stress urinary incontinence in women, aiming to create a gentle support that can dissolve over time and help heal the area better than traditional synthetic mesh.
-
New Diaphragm-like implant to prevent urinary leakage after prostate cancer surgery
A resorbable implant placed at the time of prostate cancer surgery helps men regain bladder control faster and reduces the need for pads or secondary procedures.
-
Bladder health education and continence support for Black and Hispanic women in Washington, DC
A program offering bladder health education and behavioral therapies to help Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic women in Washington, DC reduce urinary leakage and get better care.
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.