A functional electrical stimulator for control of female urinary incontinence

The authors have developed a functional electrical stimulator for control of stress urinary incontinence. The initial test prototype was designed to provide an alternating-phase electrical stimulus. The electrical stimulus was applied to the pelvic musculature by means of a vaginal pessary containing two stainless steel electrodes mounted side-by-side on an elongated acrylic housing. Animal tests were performed to select the optimal electrical stimulation parameters used in the final design. The device is microprocessor-based and permits the physician to adjust the amplitude, frequency, and duration of the stimulus.<>