Method and apparatus for micturition analysis

Abstract

A method and apparatus for analyzing micturition disturbances are provided. The apparatus comprises a gas cystometry system for monitoring bladder detrusor reflexes and an electromyographic monitoring system which, in the preferred form of this invention, are combined within a unitary enclosure. The cystometry system further compromises a catheter for injecting fluid interiorly of the bladder and associated electronic circuitry for deriving interior bladder pressure. The electromyographic system comprises one or more electrodes for sensing sphincter electrical activity and electronic circuitry interconnected with the electrodes for amplifying sphincter electrical outputs. A dual trace strip chart recorder interconnected with the cystometry apparatus and the electromyography apparatus provides simultaneous display of bladder detrusor reflexes and related sphincter electrical activity for correlated analysis by the attendant physician. In the preferred embodiment of this invention the electromyographic electrodes are operably mounted at the bladder-engaging end of a cystometric catheter. A method disclosed herein for diagnosing micturition dysfunction comprises the steps of generating a cystometrogram, generating a sphincter electromyogram, and simultaneously displaying the cystometrogram and the electromyogram to thereby correlate micturition neurological responses.