sacral nerve stimulation to treat urgency urinary incontinence with wireless neuromodulation

Conditions: Urinary Incontinence, Urge

Summary: the purpose of this pivotal study is to illustrate the safety and effectiveness of the stimguard sacral nerve stimulation (sns) system in the treatment refractory urge incontinence. this is a prospective, randomized, controlled, multi-center, study in which 92 subjects will receive a stimguard sns system.

the stimguard sns system is utilized for the treatment of refractory urgency urinary incontinence as defined by the international continence society (ics) standardization of terminology committees joint report as the observation of involuntary leakage from the urethra synchronous with the sensation of a sudden, compelling desire to void that is difficult to defer. the system provides treatment by delivering small controlled electrical pulses to the sacral nerves, as these nerves have been shown to regulate the micturition cycle. in this study, subjects will be randomized into one of two groups with a 1:1 ratio after enrollment. subjects will either be randomized to an immediate or a delayed activation group. an intraoperative test will be performed, and all subjects will receive a permanent implant if they have an appropriate motor nerve root response without significant discomfort at 5 ma amplitude or less.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: a. diagnosis of overactive bladder with urgency urinary incontinence; b. women and men ≥ 18 years of age; c. at least 4 incontinent episodes associated with urge on a 3 day voiding diary with at least 1 each 24 hour day; d. self-reported bladder symptoms present \> 6 months; e. self-reported failed conservative care \> 6 months (i.e., pharmacology, dietary restriction, fluid restriction, bladder training, behavioral modification, pelvic muscle training, biofeedback, etc.); f. off all antimuscarinics and beta-3 adrenergic agonists for at least 2 weeks prior to enrollment; g. have no reported history of urethral obstruction/stricture, bladder calculi or bladder tumor; h. normal upper urinary tract function; i. capable of giving informed consent; j. capable and willing to follow all study related procedures. exclusion criteria: a. any active implantable electronic device regardless of whether stimulation is on or off; b. pregnant as confirmed by a urine pregnancy test or plan to become pregnant during the following 12 months period; c. less than 1 year post partum and/or are breast-feeding; d. neurogenic bladder; e. botox use in bladder or pelvic floor muscles in the past six months; f. taking alpha-blocker therapy; g. have a pvr \>150 cc at baseline; h. primary complaint of stress urinary incontinence; i. current urinary tract infection (uti); j. previous treatment with sacral neuromodulation; k. previous treatment with tibial nerve stimulation, pelvic floor muscle stimulation, or biofeedback within the past 60 days; l. conditions requiring magnetic resonance imaging (mri) evaluation or diathermy procedures; m. inability to operate the stimguard sns system; n. diabetes with peripheral nerve involvement or have severe uncontrolled diabetes (hba1c 8.5 or greater); o. history of coagulopathy or bleeding disorder; p. history of pelvic pain as primary diagnosis (vas score of \> 4); q. anatomical restrictions such that device placement is not possible; r. currently participating or have participated within the past 30 days in any clinical investigation involving or impacting urinary or renal function; s. life expectancy of less than 5 years; t. inability to independently comprehend and complete the questionnaires and diaries; u. unsuitable for enrollment in study by the investigators based on subjects' history or physical examination (including bleeding disorders or anticoagulant medications, and peripheral neuropathy).