Integrated programmable neurostimulator to recuperate the bladder functions

Electrical neurostimulation has been used intensively to recuperate the bladder functions. Available techniques do not allow the adequate voiding due to the dyssynergia between the bladder and the sphincter. We proposed a new integrated stimulator designed to allow the recuperation of the bladder functions. The stimulation system, which is an integrated version of a previously proposed stimulator made by our research team, has been extended with some new functionalities. It performs flexible selective stimulations for bladder voiding, a continuous stimulation for suppression of the bladder hyperreflexia and includes a measurement technique to monitor the electrodes-nerve contact allowing the detection of any variation of the nerve impedance or breaking of the electrodes. The stimulation parameters (amplitude, width, frequency) are sent wirelessly by an external controller and are stored in a RAM. An on-chip calibration circuitry provides an efficient and reliable stimulation technique and a voltage regulator supplies the power for the digital core. The modular architecture of the design makes the device an expandable multichannel stimulation system. The stimulator has been designed in the CMOS 0.18 /spl mu/m technology and can supply up to 3 mA in a 1 k/spl Omega/ resistive load. It is a complete and efficient stimulation system using fully programmable parameters allowing the recuperation of the bladder functions.