Vaginal Viscoelasticity and Stress Urinary Incontinence: Therapeutic Application of an “Intelligent” Vaginal Device

An intravaginal device to prevent urinary incontinence was devised based on the notions of the ‘viscoelasticity of the anterior vaginal' wall. As the anterior vaginal wall can be divided into segments with differing viscoelastic properties, this device is comprised of two parts: a rigid component to treat the urethral side, and a flexible ring-shaped component to exploit thee lastic properties of the anterior vaginal wall in its horizontal portion under the bladder. The resulting device has the potential to address each stage of bladder function in women: straining, bladder filling, and micturition. These specifications ensure that the device is effective and well tolerated by patients. This is hence a new therapeutic approach for the managementof female urinary incontinence. The high efficiency of the device is a validation of the physiological notion of differential viscoelastic properties of the pelvis (and the anterior vaginal wall) on either side of the vaginal cap.