Method for diagnosing the function of intrinsic sphincters

Abstract

A method for treating at least one of the urethral and anal sphincters in a patient includes inducing an involuntary reflex cough event within the patient to determine whether a dysfunction exists in at least one of the urethral and anal sphincters. If a dysfunction is determined to exist, then contracting a muscle located at one of at least the urethral and anal sphincters during an inspiratory phase of respiration.

1 . A method for diagnosing the function of intrinsic sphincters in a patient, comprising:
 inducing an involuntary reflex cough event within the patient contracting a muscle located at one of at least the urethral and anal sphincters during an inspiratory phase of respiration; and   diagnosing the function of the at least one of the urethral and anal sphincters.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising detecting changes in intra-abdominal pressure to determine the inspiratory phase of respiration. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising detecting movements of the ribs in a patient during inspiration and expiration for determining the inspiratory phase of respiration. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , comprising detecting movement of the ribs using sensors placed at the anterior surface of the medial border of the costal margin of ribs 8, 9 or 10. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising contracting a muscle located at one of the at least one internal or external urethral sphincters. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , comprising stimulating the muscle to contract by applying a current into the muscle. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , comprising implanting electrodes on the muscle and applying a current to the electrodes for stimulating the muscle to contract. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , comprising controlling muscle contraction by transmitting control signals to the electrodes to initiate electrical stimulation from a control unit in communication with the electrodes. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the control unit is embedded in the abdominal wall. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , comprising transmitting control signals from the control unit to the electrodes through either microwires connecting the control unit and electrodes or wirelessly from the control unit to the electrodes. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising contracting the muscle by activating a mechanical mechanism on at least one of the urethral or anal sphincter to close the sphincter. 
     
     
         12 . A method for diagnosing the function of intrinsic sphincters in a patient, comprising:
 inducing an involuntary reflex cough event within a patient;   applying a current to electrodes implanted on the muscles of at least one of the urethral and anal sphincters in response to control signals received from a control unit to contract the muscle during an inspiratory phase of respiration based on inspiration/expiration endpoints of rib cage movement; and   diagnosing the function of the at least one of the urethral and anal sphincters.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , comprising setting the inspiration/expiration endpoints by determining the point when a patient has completely inhaled and exhaled and using those endpoints to determine when the control unit should transmit the control signals. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , comprising embedding the controller within the abdominal wall of the patient. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 12 , comprising detecting changes in intra-abdominal pressure to determine the inspiratory phase of respiration. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 12 , comprising detecting movements of the ribs in a patient during inspiration and expiration to determine endpoints of rib cage movement. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 12 , comprising detecting movement of the ribs using sensors placed at the anterior surface of the medial border of the costal margin of ribs 8, 9 or 10. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the control unit is embedded in the abdominal wall. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 12 , comprising transmitting control signals from the control unit to the electrodes through either microwires connecting the control unit and electrodes or wirelessly from the control unit to the electrodes. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 12 , comprising contracting the muscle by activating a mechanical mechanism on at least one of the urethral or anal sphincter to close the sphincter.