Georgia Urology Introduces Altaviva™ Implantable PTNS Device for Overactive Bladder
Overactive bladder (OAB) affects millions of people, causing them inconvenience and hardship in everything from work and social commitments to intimate relationships. The burden of overactive bladder can be overwhelming, and patients with its most severe forms often find themselves isolated, avoiding situations and activities that would otherwise improve their lifestyle.
Recognizing the need for customized solutions for our patients, Georgia Urology is very excited to announce that several of our urologists have begun offering the Altaviva™ implantable PTNS (percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation) device by Medtronic.
This device offers a bridge between traditional PTNS—which required 12 weeks of weekly follow-ups, followed by monthly clinic visits—and more invasive sacral neuromodulators implanted into the back, such as Medtronic InterStim and Axonics, both of which are suitable for moderate to severe cases of OAB.
The Altaviva system can essentially be described as a pacemaker for the bladder. However, it is particularly interesting because it is implanted directly above the ankle and stimulates the tibial nerve. This nerve peripherally connects to the bladder, helping improve function while being implanted far more conveniently than near the pelvis. By sending tailored signals to the tibial nerve, we can effectively regulate the bladder to minimize the leaks and urge incontinence associated with OAB.
Not only does this implantable stimulator reduce the need for OAB medications (which, of course, have side effects), but it also eliminates the inconvenience associated with traditional PTNS and even bladder Botox.
How Patients Can Maximize the Effectiveness of Their Implantable Device
While the Altaviva PTNS device has an excellent record in clinical trials* of dramatically improving the burden of OAB, there is plenty that you, as a patient, can do in your lifestyle to further improve your symptoms and make the device even more effective:
- Stop Smoking: You may have guessed it! Smoking not only increases cancer risks, but it can also reduce blood flow throughout the body, dysregulate bodily functions, and act as a direct irritant to the bladder.
- Stay Well-Hydrated: While most believe that drinking less is part of OAB prevention, this is not exactly true—or at least it’s more nuanced than you may think. Dehydration causes highly concentrated urine, which irritates the bladder. Proper hydration is critical to bladder health. Drinking enough water at the appropriate times is crucial to helping the bladder get back to normal function, with or without a neurostimulator.
- Improve Diet and Lose Weight: Excess weight and obesity act as hormonal and neurologic disruptors and can place significant physical pressure on bladder function. In fact, many urologic concerns can be improved by eating wholesome foods (including lean proteins and vegetables) and, if necessary, losing some weight.
- Exercise Regularly: Exercise is, of course, helpful for losing weight, but it also stimulates blood flow and promotes hormonal regulation, which can dramatically improve virtually every bodily function, including mitigating an overactive bladder. Patients must exercise regularly, within their abilities, to improve urinary issues.
The Bottom Line
Altaviva brings some excellent, novel options to patients with mild to moderate overactive bladder who do not wish to come in for regular, ongoing clinic therapies.
We encourage anyone who suspects that they have an overactive bladder to schedule a consultation to understand more about their treatment options. In the meantime, feel free to download and complete a voiding diary to help your urologist better understand your condition and speed up the diagnostic process!
***Attributed to Dr. Wyatt
*Lee U, Xavier K, Carey J, Pickering A, Harris-Hicks J, Giusto L, Finkelstein K, Kim J, Yaklic J, Gillespie E, Grunow N, Benson K. Implantable Tibial Neuromodulation Therapy Improves Symptoms of Urge Urinary Incontinence from the TITAN 2 Pivotal Study. J Urol. 2026 Jan 26:101097JU0000000000004958. doi: 10.1097/JU.0000000000004958. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41587348.
