Recycled muscle scheme to control incontinence
The Federal Industry Minister, Ian Macfarlane, has announced national government funding of more than $3.8 million to commercialise a device which helps people manage incontinence.
The technique involves taking a strip of muscle from a patient and using it to create an artificial sphincter, the muscle that controls the flow of urine from the body. This surgically constructed neosphincter is controlled by an electrical stimulator and works just like a normal functioning muscle.
Mr Macfarlane said Sydney company, Continence Control Systems International Pty Ltd, will use the Commercial Ready grant to develop an implantable, pacemaker-like device, which helps stop the involuntary loss of urine.
“A successful outcome will not only provide health and social benefits in an ageing population, but also generate significant global sales estimated at more than $1 billion a year,” Mr Macfarlane said.
