Continuous real-time ambulatory urodynamic monitoring in infants and young children using infrared telemetry.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the feasibility of continuous real-time ambulatory bladder monitoring in infants and young children using a specially developed ambulatory urodynamic data logger with built-in infrared telemetric on-line facilities.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twenty-nine infants and young children (mean age 3.9 years, range 7 weeks to 9.5 years) with various types of bladder dysfunction underwent urodynamic studies performed using an ambulatory urodynamic recorder with a specially developed integral transmitter that converts digital pressure signals to modulated infrared waves (935 nm). A receiver mounted on the ceiling of the room receives the signals emitted from the recorder. During the investigation, the infant can conduct normal activities, be totally mobile and be accompanied by the mother undisturbed in a private cubicle. The urodynamicist in the next room can observe all the patient's activities through a one-way mirror while continuous real-time on-line pressure signal displays are recorded and monitored using a computer, with event markers placed as necessary. For security, the data recorded during ambulatory investigation are stored in the internal memory of the ambulatory recorder.

RESULTS

All 29 infants and young children completed the urodynamic studies using the new system; the results were satisfactory and reliable, with no data lost during ambulatory recording. The results obtained using infrared telemetry were not significantly different from conventional natural-filling urodynamic studies performed with a cabled on-line urodynamic recorder.

CONCLUSION

The infrared telemetry system provides a reliable and effective way of performing continuous real-time ambulatory urodynamic monitoring in infants and young children. With the development of more powerful telemetric data transmission technologies, such a method could be extended in the near future to a truly ambulatory urodynamic recording with real-time on-line facilities, either at home or in the clinic, both for adults and for children.