Smart Implantable Artificial Bladder: An Integrated Design for Organ Replacement

• Published in: IEEE transactions on biomedical engineering Vol. 68; no. 7; pp. 2088 - 2097
• Main Authors: Pane, Stefano, Mazzocchi, Tommaso, Iacovacci, Veronica, Ricotti, Leonardo, Menciassi, Arianna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 01.07.2021; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Algorithms; Artificial bladder; Biomedical engineering; Bladder; Bluetooth; Check valves; Data transfer (computers); Data transmission; Fabrication; Feedback; Fluids; Kidney; magnetic sensing; Monitoring; Real time; Reconstruction; sensorized artificial organs; Sensors; volume reconstruction
• ISSN: 0018-9294; 1558-2531; 1558-2531
• DOI: 10.1109/TBME.2020.3023052

Substituting the natural bladder with an artificial solution, after cancer and other pathologies, is an ambitious challenge in biomedical engineering. In this work we propose a fully implantable smart artificial bladder system (ABS) that collects urinary fluids and provides the subject with real-time feedback on the implant status. To achieve long term duration, the ABS was designed to be unstretchable in order to be treated with urine resistant coatings and included built-in passive check valves preventing reflux to kidneys. To estimate the amount of fluid collected, the ABS was provided with four electromagnetic distance sensing units and a control unit. An algorithm implemented on an embedded controller enabled the reconstruction of the bladder volume through sensors readings. A wireless data transfer system allows for providing a real-time feedback to the subject. Bench tests validated volume reconstruction accuracy and ex-vivo experiments verified the implantability of the proposed device on a human cadaver, proving the reliability of a Bluetooth data transmission system and paving the way towards an in-body/out-body communication. The proposed solution has the potential to overcome the limitations of currently available replacement strategies towards a new generation of implantable devices for lost organ functions replacement.