# US 2013/0158624 A1 · Incontinence treatment

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- Number: US 2013/0158624 A1
- Document ID: US20130158624A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/704,337
- Filed: 2011-06-13
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2010-06-15
- Assignees: Sky Medical Technology Ltd.
- Inventors: Duncan Bain; Arthur Tudor Tucker
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130158624A1

## CPC

- A61N 1/36007: {of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control}
- A61N 1/36034: {specified by the stimulation parameters}
- A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B)

## Abstract

The present invention describes the use of transcutaneous electrical stimulation of a nerve emanating from the sacral plexus for the treatment or alleviation of incontinence. In preferred embodiments, the lateral popliteal nerve is stimulated in the region of the popliteal fossa. The stimulation is noninvasive.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for treating and/or alleviating incontinence, the method comprising applying transcutaneous electrical stimulation to a limb of a patient such that a nerve emanating from the sacral plexus is stimulated.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the nerve is selected from the sciatic nerve, tibial nerve, and popliteal nerve.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein either or both of the lateral and medial popliteal nerves are stimulated.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the lateral popliteal nerve is stimulated in the region of the popliteal fossa.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the electrical stimulus used is insufficient to elicit contraction of the muscles innervated by the relevant nerve.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the stimulus is a pulsed DC waveform.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6 wherein the stimulus has a frequency of 0.1 to 100 Hz.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein treatment is administered repeatedly over time.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein treatment is continued at intervals for days, weeks, months, or years.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein treatment is administered in thirty minute blocks.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 for treatment of urinary incontinence.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 for treatment of faecal incontinence.

### Claim 13

A device for treating or alleviating incontinence, the device comprising at least one transcutaneous electrode adapted to be located on a limb of a patient;
a power supply connected to the electrode; and control means for activating the electrode such that transcutaneous electrical stimulation of a nerve emanating from the sacral plexus is effected;
characterised in that the control means is adapted to activate the electrode so as to provide electrical stimulation sufficient to propagate a signal to the sacral plexus and thence to the nerves innervating the bladder and/or rectum.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The device of claim 13 wherein the control means is adapted to activate the electrode to provide an electrical stimulation which is insufficient to cause muscle contraction of the muscles innervated by the stimulated nerve.

### Claim 15 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the frequency is from 30 to 60 Hz.

### Claim 16 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the frequency is from 40 to 50 Hz.