Marshfield Clinic Now Offers the Latest Technology to Treat Urinary Incontinence

Tuesday, July 7th, 2026 -- 9:00 AM

As nearly 100 million people in the U.S. live with urinary incontinence or another bladder condition, Marshfield Clinic now offers the latest technology to treat urinary incontinence.

Incontinence has a greater chance of affecting a person as they age. Left untreated it can lead to health issues, additional costs and burden on caregivers for the elderly or disabled. Dr. Jason Cruff, a board‑certified urogynecologist, recently completed the first implantation of the Medtronic Altaviva™ system on a patient within Marshfield Clinic.

The Altaviva™ implantable tibial nerve stimulation system is a minimally invasive therapy for patients with refractory urgency urinary incontinence who have not found relief with medications or standard treatments.

“Incontinence isn’t something to be ashamed of or to hide; failure to control it can drastically reduce quality of life and lead to other health issues,” Cruff said. “This milestone reflects our commitment to delivering cutting‑edge, evidence‑based innovation and elevating urogynecologic care across our region.”

The device is placed near a patient's ankle. By delivering gentle, targeted stimulation to the posterior tibial nerve, Altaviva™ helps restore normal communication between the brain and bladder, improving urinary control and reducing symptoms.

“Unlike external stimulation therapies, Altaviva™ is fully implantable and designed to work for up to 15 years,” Cruff said. “It doesn’t require external devices or frequent office visits. For patients, this means long‑lasting symptom relief, fewer medications, and a better quality of life.”

The Food and Drug Administration approved Medtronic’s Altaviva device in September. Dr. Kevin Benson, a urogynecologist at Sanford Health, was lead enroller for the Altaviva device pivotal study, TITAN 2, and senior author on the article published in the Journal of Urology.

Marshfield Clinic is a region of Sanford Health. "The Altaviva device represents a significant advancement for patients with urinary incontinence who often weigh the invasiveness of a therapy and the potential adverse effects when considering treatment options,” Benson said.

“I'm excited to offer patients this simple experience and believe the Altaviva device has the potential to transform lives and bring new hope to more people.”

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.