The FineTech Brindley Bladder Control 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.
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The Bladder System: -
- Eliminates urethral catheters
- Decreases wetness
- Decreases urinary tract infections
- Restores control
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Implanted Receiver, Cables & Electrodes
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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.
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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: -
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- Skeletally mature
- Clinically compete spinal cored lesion
- Neurologically stable
- Intact reflex bladder contractions
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Digital External Equipment
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| 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. |