Research into controlling the bladder after spinal cord injury
- Feb 22, 2016
- EmmaArnold
New research from the University of Cambridge aims to help spinal cord injury patients regain bladder and bowel function.
Most quadriplegic people asked said they would prefer to have their sexual function and bladder function back rather than being able to walk again.
As wheelchairs are very developed and work reasonably well, patients get used to using them whereas restoring bladder and bowel control poses more of a challenge.
Professor Fawcett at the University of Cambridge is developing a new device to act as a 'robotic' control of the bladder similar to robotic limbs in amputees.
The device aims to read signals from the sensory nerves in the pelvis which should tell the patient how full the bladder is and enable them to empty it.
Helen Shaw, Senior Litigation Manager at PotterReesDolan, said:
The potential benefits are likely to be of interest in the future but it is noted that the developments for proposed 'biorobotic control' of the bladder are still in the very early stages at present.
A simplified version has been adapted and trialled in dogs with spinal cord injuries and was classed a 'landmark study' even though the transplant did not fully restore bladder control.
Doctors are currently seeking funding to carry out trials in humans.