Catheter-free wireless ambulatory bladder pressure monitor
Reviewed by Jay Khastgir

Urodynamics (UDS) is a useful physiological test for the assessment of a range of lower urinary tract disorders. A key limitation of standard UDS is its inability to record measurements of bladder pressure, flow, etc. in real-time situations and the need for vesical and abdominal lines. This is the first report of the feasibility and safety of a device that can be inserted into the bladder which can measure bladder pressure and communicate the readings wirelessly to a computer. Eleven adult females with overactive bladder symptoms underwent baseline standard urodynamics, following which the UroMonitor® was inserted transurethrally and second urodynamic study performed with the device simultaneously transmitting bladder pressure. The UroMonitor reproduced bladder pressure capturing 98% (85/87) urodynamic events; two missed events were caused by a radio signal issue which was corrected. Insertion via flexible cystoscopy and removal of the device via a urethral thread was easy, with no peri-procedural complications. Two patients voided the device out painlessly, and one demonstrated worsened detrusor overactivity with the device in, but overall, the device did not alter the volume at first desire to void, cystometric capacity, detrusor pressure at maximum flow rate or post-void residual volume. Standard UDS computes detrusor pressure from intravesical and abdominal pressure readings. The authors have developed an algorithm to distinguish detrusor pressure from abdominal events, although this was not used in the present study. The authors comment that in addition to clinical studies, planned laboratory research will aim to add volume sensing and synchronisation with other devices such as flowmeters. They draw parallels with the development of remote telemetric cardiac monitors, the indications and diagnostic ability of which increased over the years as the technology evolved.

First in human subjects testing of the UroMonitor: a catheter-free wireless ambulatory bladder pressure monitor.
Frainey BT, Majerus SJA, Derisavifard S, et al.
JOURNAL OF UROLOGY
2023;210(1):186-95.