Systems and methods that provide electrical stimulation to a nerve to reduce a reflex that affect a bodily function

Abstract

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system for electrical stimulation. A waveform generator can be configured to generate an electrical waveform. An electrode can be electrically coupled to the waveform generator and configured to deliver the electrical waveform to a nerve to reduce at least one reflex that affects a bodily function.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a waveform generator configured to generate an electrical waveform; and   an electrode configured to deliver the electrical waveform to stimulate a nerve to reduce at least one reflex that affects a bodily function.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one reflex comprises a urethral reflex. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the urethral reflex is at least one of a reflex controlling an external urethral sphincter or a reflex controlling an internal urethral sphincter. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the urethral reflex impedes the bodily function. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the bodily function comprises voiding the urinary bladder. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising a bladder driver configured to selectively void the urinary bladder when the urethral reflexes are reduced. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the bladder driver is configured to apply electrical stimulation to at least one of a sacral root, a bladder efferent nerve, and an afferent-mediated peripheral nerve to activate the urinary bladder for voiding. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode is a surface electrode or a subcutaneous electrode. 
     
     
         9 . The system of claim of  claim 1 , wherein the nerve is at least one of a peripheral nerve, a sacral spinal cord nerve, a sacral root nerve, and a lumber spinal cord nerve. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the nerve comprises an afferent nerve fiber. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical waveform comprises a base frequency, wherein the stimulation is delivered during a period of the base frequency, 
     
     
         12 . A method for affecting a bodily function in a subject, the method comprising the steps of:
 generating, by a waveform generator, an electrical waveform; and   delivering, by an electrode coupled to the waveform generator, the electrical waveform to a nerve comprising an afferent nerve fiber of the subject to stimulate the afferent nerve fiber to affect the bodily function.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the electrode is a surface electrode or a subcutaneous electrode. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the electrical waveform comprises a burst waveform. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the electrical waveform stimulates the afferent nerve to reduce urethral reflexes that impede urine flow. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the bodily function comprises voiding the urinary bladder. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising stimulating, by a bladder driver, a second nerve to activate the urinary bladder to facilitate the voiding when the urethral reflexes are reduced. 
     
     
         18 . A neural prosthesis for providing urinary bladder control in a subject, the neural prosthesis comprising:
 a waveform generator configured to generate an electrical waveform configured to reduce at least one urethral reflex that impedes urine flow from a urinary bladder of the subject; and   an electrode configured to deliver the electrical waveform to a nerve of the subject;   wherein the electrical waveform causes the nerve to generate at least one action potential to reduce the at least one urethral reflex and facilitate voiding of the urinary bladder.   
     
     
         19 . The neutral prosthesis of  claim 18 , wherein the electrode is a surface electrode or a subcutaneous electrode. 
     
     
         20 . The neural prosthesis of  claim 18 , wherein the nerve comprises an afferent nerve fiber, and
 wherein the electrical waveform is configured to stimulate an afferent nerve to reduce the urethral reflex.