Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41986359›Full record

ArticleNature communications2026

Wireless electrostimulation implants enable sphincter neuromuscular improvement toward mixed urinary incontinence.

Tianxiang Zheng, Li Tao, Qiuhua Gao, Zhiran Yi, Yaoxia Shao, Yu Xiao, Ning Kang, Christopher H T Lee, Ming Liu, Chengbin Ma and 4 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Tianxiang Zheng *Global College, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-6923-9007
Li Tao *Ruijin Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0000-0162-8164
Qiuhua GaoSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Zhiran YiSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Yaoxia ShaoSchool of Information and Electrical Engineering, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6687-6385
Yu XiaoGlobal College, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Ning KangSchool of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.
Christopher H T LeeSchool of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5132-4126
Ming LiuSchool of Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Chengbin MaGlobal College, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. chbma@sjtu.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0221-8084
Wenming ZhangSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. wenmingz@sjtu.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6743-1006
Yuan ShaoRuijin Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. shaoyuan15@hotmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7300-2408
Lei ShaoGlobal College, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. lei.shao@sjtu.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7385-9033
Metin SittiSchool of Medicine and College of Engineering, Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey. sitti@is.mpg.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8249-3854

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 81970658National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) T2522019
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Mixed urinary incontinence, involving concurrent or diagnostically unclear components of urge- and stress-related dysfunction, remains poorly addressed by current therapeutic strategies. State-of-the-art electrostimulation relies primarily on sacral neuromodulation for urge-predominant symptoms, requiring bulky (~3 cm³) and costly (>$10,000) implants, while stress incontinence is largely managed by mechanical or surgical interventions that do not restore sphincter neuromuscular function. Here, we propose wireless-powered implanted programmable electrostimulation of sphincters (WIPES) that bypasses long nerve loops and provides on-site stimulation at the urethral sphincter. The adhesive-patch-like soft implant integrates wireless power receiving and tunable pulse generation, enabling long-term controlled stimulation with reduced size (<0.3 cm³) and weight (<0.9 g). In rats with experimentally induced urge or stress incontinence (in separate rat models of urge and stress incontinence established under the same experimental conditions), WIPES delivered free-moving stimulation and achieved average alleviation rates of 90.62% (UUI) and 97.92% (SUI) in voiding frequency and volume. WIPES was associated with peri-urethral neuromuscular remodeling and improved bladder-urethral functional outcomes, supporting its potential role in coordinated continence control.

Indexed as

Electric Stimulation TherapyUrethraUrinary IncontinenceUrinary Incontinence, StressUrinary Incontinence, UrgeWireless TechnologyAnimalsDisease Models, AnimalElectrodes, ImplantedFemaleProstheses and ImplantsRatsRats, Sprague-Dawley

Identifiers

PMID41986359
PMCPMC13260462

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.