A completely soft bladder implant with Bluetooth capability

Patients with advanced bladder cancer may undergo a radical cystectomy, requiring the full replacement of the organ. However, its functions and delicate surroundings pose a challenge for substitution. The bladder is situated in the tightly packed abdominopelvic cavity, changes volume and shape several times a day, and alerts the need for voiding through pressure.

As is the case with many other artificial organ replacements, current options rely on bulky external components without controlling measures. Noting how such designs impact patient quality of life, Semproni et al. created the Soft Self-Sensitive Artificial Bladder (S3AB), the first fully soft biorobotic implant for natural micturition management.

“We believe that soft robotics is advancing at an exponential pace and is one of the most promising technologies for artificial organs,” said author Federica Semproni. “It offers unique engineering possibilities to address critical challenges in organ replacement, paving the way for groundbreaking, life-changing solutions.”

Inspired by origami design, the researchers engineered a silicone-structured bladder embedded with textile-based sensing and ureteral channels for suturing onto native tubes. A wireless control unit is placed in a subcutaneous pouch. When the bladder reaches 75% of its capacity, an alarm signal is sent to an external device via Bluetooth, alerting the patient to relieve themself.

After successfully validating S3AB in a large animal model, the authors are planning to further optimize this device for full functional recovery.

“The next step is to improve the device’s long-term biocompatibility and durability, and we plan to begin chronic testing soon,” said Semproni. “We are also working on integrating additional missing components, specifically artificial detrusors, as well as urethral and ureteral valves, to restore all bladder functions, including on-demand voiding.”

Source: “A fully implantable sensorized artificial urinary bladder to restore continence and fullness monitoring,” by F. Semproni, V. Iacovacci, S. Musco, S. Onorati, M. Ibrahimi, and A. Menciassi, APL Bioengineering (2025). The article can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0278500 .