Method and apparatus for micturition analysis

Diagnostic cystometry apparatus comprising:

• a source of fluid;
• an elongated urinary catheter adapted to be inserted interiorly of a patient's bladder through the urethra, said catheter having at least one fluid conducting lumen passage therein for delivering fluid to the bladder;
• fluid output supply means connected to said source of fluid and attached to said catheter lumen passage for insufflating a bladder;
• transducer means for generating an electrical signal proportioned to interior bladder fluid pressure;
• recording means for displaying said electrical signal;
• a positive shutoff valve between said fluid output supply means and said catheter lumen passage;
• control means operative to open and close said shutoff valve;
• and
• comparator means operatively associated with said control means and responsive to said electrical signal to operate said control means to close said valve when the amplitude of said electrical signal reaches a predetermined value.

A method for diagnosing micturition and urinary bladder dysfunction comprising the steps of:

• inserting a catheter having at least one fluid lumen therein interiorly of a patient's bladder through the urethra, said catheter having at least one electrode on the external surface thereof positioned to contact the urethral sphincter of the patient when said catheter is inserted in the urethra;
• directing fluid under pressure through said catheter lumen into the patient's bladder;
• monitoring fluid pressure at said catheter, and generating a first electrical signal in response to same;
• directly sensing urethral sphincter electrical responses to said fluid pressure with said electrode on said catheter simultaneously with the monitoring of said fluid pressure;
• generating a second electrical signal corresponding to said urethral sphincter electrical responses;
• and
• simultaneously displaying said first and second electrical signals on a single recording instrument to thereby directly correlate bladder and urethral sphincter responses to predetermined bladder pressures generated by said fluid under pressure.