Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
Department of Urology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK.
Proc Inst Mech Eng H. 2024 Jun;238(6):588-597. doi: 10.1177/09544119241262372. Epub 2024 Jul 30.
Technological advancements in the medical field are often slow and expensive, sometimes due to complexities associated with pre-clinical testing of medical devices and implants. There is therefore a growing need for new test beds that can mimic more closely the in vivo environment of physiological systems. In the present study, a novel bladder model was designed and fabricated with the aim of providing a pre-clinical testing platform for urological stents and catheters. The model is collapsible, has a Young's modulus that is comparable to a biological bladder, and can be actuated on-demand to enable voiding. Moreover, the developed fabrication technique provides versatility to adjust the model's shape, size, and thickness, through a rapid and relatively inexpensive process. When compared to a biological bladder, there is a significant difference in compliance; however, the model exhibits cystometry profiles during priming and voiding that are qualitatively comparable to a biological bladder. The developed bladder model has therefore potential for future usage in urological device testing; however, improvements are required to more closely replicate the architecture and relevant flow metrics of a physiological bladder.
医学领域的技术进步通常缓慢且昂贵，部分原因是与医疗器械和植入物的临床前测试相关的复杂性。因此，人们越来越需要新的测试床，以便更紧密地模拟生理系统的体内环境。在本研究中，设计并制造了一种新型膀胱模型，旨在为泌尿科支架和导管提供临床前测试平台。该模型具有可折叠性，杨氏模量与生物膀胱相当，并且可以按需激活以实现排空。此外，所开发的制造技术通过快速且相对廉价的工艺提供了调整模型形状、尺寸和厚度的多功能性。与生物膀胱相比，顺应性存在显著差异；然而，该模型在灌注和排空期间表现出与生物膀胱定性可比的尿动力学曲线。因此，该开发的膀胱模型具有在泌尿科设备测试中的未来应用潜力；然而，需要改进以更紧密地复制生理膀胱的结构和相关流量指标。
