The Finetech Brindley Bladder Control System is named academically as Sacral Anterior Root Stimulator. It is a highly recommended treatment that helps spinal cord injury patients to restore bladder and bowel functions. Since the product was entered into the market in 1982, there are more than 3,000 patients worldwide are benefiting from it.
About Finetech Brindley Bladder Control System/SARS
The Finetech Brindley Bladder Control System (VOCARE) is a radio-frequency powered motor control neuroprosthesis, which consists of both implanted and external components. Finetech Medical’s implant delivers low levels of electrical stimulation to a spinal cord injured patient’s intact sacral spinal nerve roots in order to elicit functional contraction of the muscles innervated by them. An external, wireless device is used to control the implant and its function.
The Finetech-Brindley consists of the following subsystems:
- The Implanted Components include the implanted Receiver and either Extradural or Intrathecal Electrode Assemblies.
- The External Components include the Controller, Transmitter Block, Transmitter Lead and Battery Charger.
How it works? (SDAF-SARS)
The Finetech Brindley Bladder Control System (VOCARE) uses Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) to stimulate the nerves which connect the spinal cord to the bladder and bowel. This allows people with complete spinal cord injuries to empty their bladder when they decide to (“on demand”).
- The user selects one of the stimulation programs.
- The external controller (A) then sends power and control signals to the transmitter block (C) via the transmitter lead (B).
- The user holds the transmitter block over the site of the implant receiver (D).
- The implant receiver converts the signals from the transmitter block into electrical impulses.
- The impulses travel via extremely flexible cables (E) to the electrodes (F).
- The electrodes transfer the impulses to the nerves causing the appropriate muscles to contract at the appropriate time.
Related Topics
Who can benefit? read more here
Treatment and Diagnosis read more here
Sacral Anterior Root Stimulator (SARS) clinical paper references read more here