Feasibility of Triggered Sacral Neuromodulation for Neurogenic Bladder

Incontinence associates with military service and post-traumatic stress disorder in both male and female Veterans. Neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) is caused by spinal cord injury or disorder, or peripheral neurodegenerative conditions, and causes urine leakage at low volumes. NDO is disproportionately experienced by Veterans and treatment effectiveness varies greatly between individuals. This project will demonstrate the feasibility of a new type of nerve stimulation-triggered sacral neuromodulation-to treat NDO in Veterans. A wireless bladder sensor will be inserted into the bladder to transmit a feedback signal enabling stimulation from a percutaneous lead. The wireless sensor will also measure NDO symptoms during simulated activities of daily living without catheters. Catheter-free detection of bladder activity will improve the outcomes of neuromodulation evaluations for Veterans with NDO. Future work could use the triggered neuromodulation system to study other methods of nerve stimulation to treat bladder, bowel, or sexual dysfunction.

Neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) resulting from spinal cord injury or disorder (SCI/D) affects 80% of individuals with SCI/D. It is also associated with peripheral neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, diabetic neuropathy, or stroke. NDO causes urinary incontinence that profoundly impacts dignified, independent living, associates with numerous comorbidities and fall risk, and is a leading factor in functional decline among the elderly. Urinary incontinence contributes to social isolation and clinical depression and associates with military service and post-traumatic stress disorder in Veterans.

Restoring urine storage is consistently cited as a high priority by individuals with NDO. Continuous SNM is an off-label treatment, which is effective for some individuals with NDO. Triggered sacral neuromodulation-in which SNM is applied only during the portion of the bladder fill cycle where NDO occurs-could show unique benefit in treatment in some individuals. While triggered SNM increased bladder capacity in sheep and rats, feasibility has not yet been demonstrated in humans with NDO.

The primary goal of this research is to demonstrate the feasibility of increasing bladder capacity and reducing bladder filling pressures using triggered SNM in Veterans with NDO. This will expand on unique technologies developed by the research team: the UroMonitor, the Context-Aware Threshold (CAT) algorithm, and the Application Specific Control Unit (ASCU). The UroMonitor is a small, transurethrally-inserted sensor that wirelessly transmits bladder pressure data. CAT is a wavelet-based algorithm that detects detrusor contractions from pressure data in real time. The ASCU is a modular neurostimulation platform supporting wireless communication and custom control software. The investigators will modify and integrate these technologies to demonstrate the feasibility of automatically triggering SNM in Veterans. A secondary goal is to use the UroMonitor to determine bladder capacity, detrusor contraction rate, and filling pressures during a percutaneous SNM evaluation to identify individuals who respond to SNM therapy before a permanent implantation.

Both translational goals will be accomplished through two Specific Aims (SA):

SA1 will determine the change in bladder response to conditionally-triggered SNM during natural filling cycles after a two-week sacral neuromodulation evaluation phase in Veterans with NDO. The investigators will apply triggered SNM using data transmitted from the UroMonitor to the ASCU. Triggered SNM will be applied for up to eight hours at three timepoints in the two-week percutaneous evaluation phase in eight Veterans. Voided urine volume, time between voids, and detrusor contraction frequency will be compared to determine change in conditional SNM response at the two timepoints and compared to baseline. Outcome measures will be measured from validated questionnaires, catheter-referenced bladder pressures, and collected voided urine.

SA2 will determine change in bladder capacity, filling pressure, and detrusor contraction frequency during natural filling cycles throughout a two-week continuous sacral neuromodulation evaluation. The investigators will demonstrate the feasibility of using the UroMonitor to characterize NDO symptoms (bladder capacity, filling pressure, and detrusor contraction rate) over several bladder filling/emptying cycles. Eight Veterans will receive standard, continuous percutaneous SNM for two weeks. NDO symptoms will be measured using the UroMonitor before SNM and after one and two weeks of continuous SNM. Accuracy of symptom quantification will be compared to standard catheter-based testing and validated urinary behavior questionnaires.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosis of neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction consistent with International Continence Society definition which includes all bladder/urinary sphincter dysfunction related to any neurological disease or injury
* Male or female
* If SCI, time from injury \> 6 months to allow for recovery from the acute phase
* Can tolerate lying prone \> 1 hour
* Functional bladder capacity \> 100 mL confirmed by urodynamics examination
* Low risk of upper urinary tract deterioration
* Over 18 years of age, able to speak and understand English, capacity for consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Active urinary tract infection
* Chronic indwelling or suprapubic catheter usage
* Severe or rapidly progressive neurologic disease
* Abnormal sacral anatomy
* Anticipated need for MRI of body parts below the head
* Pelvic organ prolapse beyond the hymen
* Pregnancy
* Treatment with Botox injection within last six months
* Current treatment with percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation or other forms of neuromodulation
* History of sacral neuromodulation treatment or presence of sacral neuromodulation leads or implant
* Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome
* Benign prostatic hyperplasia preventing catheterization to empty
* History of anatomically relevant pelvic or anti-incontinence surgery