Evaluation of inner urethral softness. Part II. Clinical study using new grooved probe device.

This study, in incontinent women, evaluates the effectiveness of a new device to measure properties of urethral softness. The device is a straight sound with a longitudinal groove cut along its surface. It is inserted through the urethra and into the bladder. A soft, deformable urethra is expected to fill itself into the groove and prevent the loss of urine from the bladder along the groove to the outside. Using this instrument it is learned that (1) postmenopausal women are less able to seal the urethra than younger ones; (2) as the urethra is stretched it is less able to form a seal; and (3) the anterior urethra is the weakest link in sustaining continence when tested by methods used in this program.