Traditional surgical procedures and currently available artificial bladders fail in properly restoring the key natural organ functions, once it is removed due to tumors or other pathologies. In this paper a new concept of fully implantable artificial bladder is reported, together with a strategy for its sensorization. The proposed design enables expansion and contraction, thus internal volume changes under the pressure exerted by urinary fluids. The sensing system is based on a combination of Hall effect sensors and magnetometers, mounted on a flexible PCB and enables precise and reliable monitoring of the amount of urine contained by the artificial bladder prototype. The results are promising in view of the development of a fully implantable, long-term artificial bladder system.
