SYSTEMS AND METHODS THAT PROVIDE ELECTRICAL STIMULATION TO A NERVE TO REDUCE A REFLEX THAT AFFECTS A BODILY FUNCTION

1 . A system comprising:

a waveform generator configured to generate an electrical waveform; and

an electrode configured to deliver the electrical waveform to stimulate a nerve to reduce at least one reflex that affects a bodily function.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one reflex comprises a urethral reflex.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the urethral reflex is at least one of a reflex controlling an external urethral sphincter or a reflex controlling an internal urethral sphincter.

4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the urethral reflex impedes the bodily function.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the bodily function comprises voiding the urinary bladder.

6 . The system of claim 5 , further comprising a bladder driver configured to selectively void the urinary bladder when the urethral reflexes are reduced.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the bladder driver is configured to apply electrical stimulation to at least one of a sacral root, a bladder efferent nerve, and an afferent-mediated peripheral nerve to activate the urinary bladder for voiding.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the electrode is a surface electrode or a subcutaneous electrode.

9 . The system of claim of claim 1 , wherein the nerve is at least one of a peripheral nerve, a sacral spinal cord nerve, a sacral root nerve, and a lumber spinal cord nerve.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the nerve comprises an afferent nerve fiber.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the electrical waveform comprises a base frequency, wherein the stimulation is delivered during a period of the base frequency,

12 . A method for affecting a bodily function in a subject, the method comprising the steps of:

generating, by a waveform generator, an electrical waveform; and

delivering, by an electrode coupled to the waveform generator, the electrical waveform to a nerve comprising an afferent nerve fiber of the subject to stimulate the afferent nerve fiber to affect the bodily function.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the electrode is a surface electrode or a subcutaneous electrode.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the electrical waveform comprises a burst waveform.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the electrical waveform stimulates the afferent nerve to reduce urethral reflexes that impede urine flow.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the bodily function comprises voiding the urinary bladder.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising stimulating, by a bladder driver, a second nerve to activate the urinary bladder to facilitate the voiding when the urethral reflexes are reduced.

18 . A neural prosthesis for providing urinary bladder control in a subject, the neural prosthesis comprising:

a waveform generator configured to generate an electrical waveform configured to reduce at least one urethral reflex that impedes urine flow from a urinary bladder of the subject; and

an electrode configured to deliver the electrical waveform to a nerve of the subject;

wherein the electrical waveform causes the nerve to generate at least one action potential to reduce the at least one urethral reflex and facilitate voiding of the urinary bladder.

19 . The neutral prosthesis of claim 18 , wherein the electrode is a surface electrode or a subcutaneous electrode.

20 . The neural prosthesis of claim 18 , wherein the nerve comprises an afferent nerve fiber, and

wherein the electrical waveform is configured to stimulate an afferent nerve to reduce the urethral reflex.