News - The FineTech-Brindley (VOCARE) Bladder System

The FineTech-Brindley (also known as the VOCARE) Bladder System is a medical device which has been used by people with spinal cord injuries to empty their bladder (or urinate) on demand. A secondary use of the device is to aid in bowel evacuation and promote penile erection. The System is CE Approved for sale in the EC and is approved by the FDA for sale in the USA.

The Bladder System: -

• Eliminates urethral catheters
• Decreases wetness
• Decreases urinary tract infections
• Restores control

The Bladder System includes surgically implanted internal components, and an external control unit. Internally, a pacemaker-type receiver-stimulator is surgically implanted under the skin of the abdomen. The System sends electrical signals through electrodes to the nerves that lead to the bladder and bowel. The user controls this implant with an external controller, which is about the size of a personal stereo/CD player. This unit consists of internal circuitry and a small transmitter antenna that is used when bladder stimulation is needed. This External Controller can be stored and used as required.

Candidates for the Bladder System are individuals who have a clinically complete spinal cord injury with resulting paraplegia or quadriplegia. The following list includes some of the guidelines for the device: -

• Skeletally mature
• Clinically compete spinal cored lesion
• Neurologically stable
• Intact reflex bladder contractions

The Bladder System is designed to allow the user to empty the bladder when appropriate and, after voiding the bladder, to have a low residual volume of urine. The system may also assist with evacuation of the bowels and promote penile erection in some males.