Devices, systems, and methods for diagnosis and treatment of overactive bladder

An apparatus, comprising:

• an elongate delivery member configured to be inserted into a bladder through a urethra;
• a therapy delivery element coupled with the elongate delivery member, the therapy delivery element being configured to interface with a tissue in a target region of a bladder wall to provide therapy to the target region;
• one or more sensing tips electrically and mechanically coupled with the elongate delivery member, the sensing tips being configured to interface with one or more tissue surfaces of at least one of the bladder wall and the urethra, the sensing tips configured to convey one or more electrophysiological signals associated with the tissue surfaces at least one of before, during, and after the therapy;
• wherein the apparatus is configured to neuromodulate bladder function;
• wherein a given one of the sensing tips comprises:
• one or more electrodes on a tissue-interfacing surface thereof;
• and
• a degradable support structure configured to dissolve in the presence of a liquid;
• wherein the degradable support structure is arranged relative to the tissue-interfacing surface of the given sensing tip such that the degradable support structure when placed beside the bladder wall and wetted dissolves to cause one or more of the electrodes on the tissue-interfacing surface of the given sensing tip to contact the bladder wall;
• and
• a housing configured for implantation inside the bladder, the housing comprising one or more microcircuits, an antenna and at least one of the sensing tips, the one or more microcircuits configured:
• to monitor electrophysiological signals at said at least one sensing tip;
• to perform signal conditioning of the monitored electrophysiological signals;
• and
• to convey the conditioned electrophysiological signals to an external reader outside the bladder utilizing the antenna;
• wherein the housing comprises a coating, the coating comprising a neuromodulating substance in a biodegradable retaining medium, the biodegradable retaining medium configured to provide controlled release of the neuromodulating substance into the tissue in the target region of the bladder wall.