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Abstract

A method and system for treatment of incontinence and/or pelvic pain includes the injection or laparoscopic implantation of one or more battery- or radio frequency-powered microstimulators (10) beneath the skin of the perineum and/or adjacent the tibial nerve. The devices are programmed using radio-frequency control via an external controller (20, 30)) that can be used by a physician to produce patterns of output stimulation pulses judged to be efficacious by appropriate clinical testing to diminish symptoms. The stimulation program is retained in the microstimulator device (10) or external controller (20) and is transmitted when commanded to start and stop by a signal from the patient or caregiver. The system and method reduce the incidence of unintentional episodes of bladder emptying by stimulating nerve pathways (8) that diminish involuntary bladder contractions, improve closure of the bladder outlet, and/or improve the long-term health of the urinary system by increasing bladder capacity and period between emptying. The incidence of fecal incontinence is similarly reduced or eliminated. Furthermore, the system and method reduce or eliminate the incidence of pelvic pain by chronically stimulating nerve pathways that derive from the sacral roots using a miniature implantable neurostimulator that can be implanted with a minimal surgical procedure. Moreover, the system and method allow a patient to be taught to receive one or more patterns of neural stimulation that can be prescribed by a physician and administered without continuous oversight by a clinical practitioner.

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