Application of nocturnal electrobioimpedance volumetric assessment: a feasibility study in men without erectile dysfunction.

摘要

PURPOSE: Electrobioimpedance volumetric assessment is based on the principle of delivering a constant, nondetectable alternating current to a tissue segment. A potential difference measured between the electrodes is converted to impedance. Since impedance changes with variations in blood flow, penile volumetric change is measured noninvasively. We applied this procedure to the development of a new device to evaluate erectile activity nocturnally, and we report our findings in men with no history of erectile dysfunction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study group comprised 10 men with a mean age of 44 years who had no history of erectile dysfunction. The NEVA device consists of a small recording device attached to the upper thigh, and 3 small adhesive electrode pads placed over the hip and on the penile base and glans, respectively. Each subject used the NEVA device for 2 nights. RESULTS: Overall 20 nights of electrobioimpedance volumetric assessment were recorded. Tumescence monitoring revealed 3 to 6 erections per night per subject (mean 3.45) lasting 10 to 50 minutes (mean 17). As determined from the impedance measurements, mean volume change was 14.4 ml. with a 213% mean volume change over baseline. CONCLUSIONS: The new NEVA device is small, comfortable to wear and easy to use. It determines the number and duration of erectile events and percentage increase of blood volume changes during these events in normal men in a noninvasive manner. Future directions of study include a comparison to men with erectile dysfunction and analysis of the dynamic information of the NEVA data.