Acute animal studies on the use of an anodal block to reduce urethral resistance in sacral root stimulation

Electrical stimulation of sacral roots for electromicturition results in simultaneous activation of bladder and external urethral sphincter. The sphincter contraction hinders bladder emptying. Here, anodal blocking is described as a means to reduce the activation of the urethral sphincter. Using a tripolar electrode configuration and monophasic rectangular current pulses in acute canine experiments, a reduction of intraurethral pressure response, as compared to stimulation without blocking, of more than 80% could be achieved in all experiments