Performance analysis of the T‐DOC® air‐charged catheters: An alternate technology for urodynamics

Abstract

Aims: Urodynamics (UDS) is widely used for the diagnosis of lower urinary tract dysfunction. Air-Charged catheters (ACC), one of the newer technologies for UDS pressure recording, has been adopted in growing numbers around the world for the past 15 years. Currently, there is a lack of published studies characterizing specific performance of the ACC. Since linearity, hysteresis, pressure drift, and frequency response are important components in characterizing accuracy for cathetermanometer systems; this study aimed to assess these four aspects in ACC. Methods: A total of 180 T-DOC® ACC were used in three different laboratory settings to assess pressure linearity and hysteresis (15 dual-sensor vesical and urethral and 30 single-sensor abdominal), pressure drift over 2 h (115 single-sensor), and frequency response (20 single-sensor). Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation. Results: ACC showed linearity of 0.99 ± 0.01, 0.99 ± 0.01, and 1.01 ± 0.01; and hysteresis of 0.57 ± 0.3%, 0.76 ± 0.48%, and 1 ± 0.89% for the abdominal, vesical, and urethral sensors, respectively. A pressure drift of 2.2 ± 1.4% at 1 h and 4.4 ± 2.5% at 2 h were observed when compared to baseline pressures. The catheters did not show any amplification factor during the sweep from 1 to 30 Hz, and recorded signals up to 5 Hz attenuating higher frequency signals. Conclusions:In this study the T-DOC® ACC showed a linear performance with minimal hysteresis associated with acceptable pressure drift, and adequate frequency response to capture clinically relevant pressures. The accurate results observed in this study suggest that these catheters are technically suitable to be used as a measuring instrument for UDS.

Novel implantable pressure and acceleration sensor for bladder monitoring

“…6b). The air‐charged catheter was chosen to avoid movement artefacts; however, a drift over long‐term measurement has been reported 19 . Additionally, sensing membrane characteristics might become augmented as a result of mucosal contact, and adherent mucus precipitation might play a role.…”

Influence of the urethral pressure transducer in measuring Valsalva leak point pressure in women undergoing multichannel urodynamic testing

“…While no test is without flaws and the ICS standard cystometry is performed with a fluidfilled system, air-charged catheters have gained popularity and have been shown to meet the technical requirements to be used as a pressure-measuring instrument for UDS. 1,18 Additionally, they eliminate the risk of air bubble interference and movement artifacts. 19 Though there is some mixed data regarding the outcomes of anti-incontinence procedures based on VLPP, there have been several studies and a meta-analysis demonstrating the superiority of retropubic tension-free vaginal tape in patients with intrinsic sphincter deficiency (ISD).…”

“…Bump et al found that 8F VLPPs were significantly higher than 3F VLPPs. While no test is without flaws and the ICS standard cystometry is performed with a fluid‐filled system, air‐charged catheters have gained popularity and have been shown to meet the technical requirements to be used as a pressure‐measuring instrument for UDS . Additionally, they eliminate the risk of air bubble interference and movement artifacts …”

Re: McKinney TB et al: Comparison of water and air charged transducer catheter pressures in the evaluation of cystometrogram and voiding pressure studies. Neurourol Urodyn 2018 DOI: 10.1002/nau23466

“…It is amazing that AC catheters systems seem to have overtaken the urodynamic market although we do not know the real potential of AC catheters, what the problems are, and how these may be avoided or solved. There are some careful studies comparing AC and WF in models and a reasonable study on patients which show some aspects of agreement and disagreement between AC and WF. This new publication does not contribute anything useful, rather the opposite.…”