Frequently Asked Questions

Neurotechnology Urinary Solutions
Medical conditions are individual situations. You are encouraged to talk to your physician or a health care professional regarding the best solution for you.
 
  What is the difference between an implanted device and an external device?
Implanted devices are surgically placed into the human body. They are medical devices that have been found safe for internal use. There are various implanted devices. For some, the entire system is inside the body whereas others have an external component. Conversely, an external device is a system in which all elements are outside the human body. They typically administer stimulation over the skin.
  What are the advantages and disadvantages of an implanted device?
  There are several advantages of an implanted device. Since it is implanted in the body, there are few, if any, external parts to wear and daily maintenance is minimized. In addition, the system is more directly targeted to the effected area. The disadvantage of implanted devices is they do involve a surgery which can lead to a system that is more expensive.    
  What are the advantages and disadvantages of an external device?
  External devices, by the nature of being outside the body, can not be as targeted as an implanted device. There are also external components to wear and the daily maintenance of those components. Since they are outside the body, they can be less expensive than the implanted device. Another advantage of an external device is the ease to discontinue the use of the system.    
  Will these neurotechnology devices cure my urinary problems?
  Neurotechnology urinary solutions, whether they are implanted or external, are therapies for a specific condition. It has not been proven that they can cure a condition, but they can provide a treatment for the symptoms so you can get back to life.    
  Explain urge incontinence, urge-frequency syndrome and urinary retention.
Urge incontinence and urge-frequency syndrome are also known as an overactive bladder or spastic bladder. Urge incontinence is when a person cannot hold the flow of urine. Whereas urge-frequency syndrome is a condition in which a person has an almost constant need to release urine even when the bladder is empty. Finally, urinary retention, also known as a flaccid bladder, is a condition in which a person’s bladder muscles either do not contract or are too weak to contract in order to extract urine. These are the three most common forms of urinary problems. Please check with your physician to understand which condition applies to your situation.
  What are Sacral Nerve, Pelvice Floor and Tibial Nerve Stimulators?
The sacral nerve is a nerve near the end of the spinal cord. This nerve can control the contractions of the bladder. A sacral nerve stimulator is an implanted device which uses a mild electrical impulse to excite the nerve to make the bladder do its job properly. A Pelvic Floor stimulator is an external device using electrical stimulation to the pelvic floor muscle. Stimulation is generally delivered by a vaginal or anal probe connected to an external pulse generator. This method uses the pelvic muscles to improve the opening and closing of the urethral. Finally, tibial nerve stimulation uses percutaneous needle electrode inserted in the lower leg, and stimulation is applied via the tibial nerve near the ankle. The tibial nerve excites the sacral nerve to control the function of the bladder.
  What is a Pelvic Floor workout or exercise?
Exercising the pelvic floor can help regain control of the bladder for those that have properly functioning muscles. For some, bladder control is lost due to weak muscles that hold the bladder. Daily exercise of the two major muscles in the pelvic area can improve bladder control. Check with your doctor, nurse or physical therapist to help make sure you are doing the exercise the right way.
  If I use these devices would I still need to catheterize or take bladder control medications?
In most cases, you will use the device in place of catheterizing or using bladder control medications. There are some cases in which a person will need to use both, but for the most part, the use of this device will eliminate the need for catheters and bladder control medications.
  How do I go about getting a device?  
 

You may learn more about specific devices by going to the organizations that offer neurotechnology devices for urinary problems listed below:


Implanted or partially implanted devices

External devices

Another resource is the National Association For Continence, www.nafc.org or
1-800-BLADDER. You will want to discuss these options with your physician or urologist.

    
  How much do these devices cost?
  The cost of these devices varies. A simple external device may be only a few hundred dollars whereas a more complex implanted system can be as much as $20,000.    
  Are they covered by insurance?
  For physician identified urinary problems, many of these devices are accepted by third-party insurance and Medicare. However, each policy and coverage guidelines are different, but they are typically classified under Durable Medical Equipment. When considering a device, it is best to check with your physician and insurance policy.