Magnetic Sensing System for Monitoring the Volume of an Artificial Bladder

Traditional surgical procedures and currently available artificial bladders fail in properly restoring the key natural organ functions, once it is removed due to tumors or other pathologies. In this paper a new concept of fully implantable artificial bladder is reported, together with a strategy for its sensorization. The proposed design enables expansion and contraction, thus internal volume changes under the pressure exerted by urinary fluids. The sensing system is based on a combination of Hall effect sensors and magnetometers, mounted on a flexible PCB and enables precise and reliable monitoring of the amount of urine contained by the artificial bladder prototype. The results are promising in view of the development of a fully implantable, long-term artificial bladder system.