Electronic Bladder Control

Urologists at the University of Maryland Medical Center say a Pacemaker-like device may offer relief for people with severe bladder control problems. The new Interstim device is implanted under the skin over abdomen and controls nerve impulses to the bladder to relieve problems of incontinence, urinary retention and urinary frequency/urgency.

Of the 13 million Americans who suffer from urinary control problems, about 85 percent are women ages 30 to 59. The center's Dr. Toby Chai says the therapy is appealing because "we can try it out for a few days to see how it works before going ahead with an implant."

The device is about the size of a stopwatch and was first used for patients who had a loss of bladder control. Now, Dr. Chai says it is proving effective for patients who need to urinate frequently and urgently dozens of times each day.

The Interstim works by sending mild electrical pulses to the sacral nerves in the lower back that control bladder function. A painless test stimulation at the physician's office can help assess whether the therapy is appropriate.

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