Electrically operable incontinence treatment apparatus

• US 20060142635A1
• Filed: 01/31/2003
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Potencia Medical AG
• Original Assignee: Potencia Medical AG
• Inventors: Forsell, Peter
• Application Number:
  US10/543,631
• Publication Number:
  US 20060142635A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/29
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0036 implantable A61F2/0018 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2005/414 by constricting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0001 Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/41 Devices for promoting penis erection penis implants A61F2/26; massage of the genitals A61H19/00

Abstract

An apparatus for treating an anal or urinary incontinent patient comprises a constriction device applied on the patient'"'"'s large intestine or urethra, and an electrically powered operation device, which is integrated with the constriction device and adapted to operate the latter to constrict the large intestine or urethra to close the intestinal or urethral lumen and to release the large intestine or urethra to open the intestinal or urethral lumen. An electric power supply is subcutaneously implanted in the patient remote from the constriction device and an insulated electric wire connects the power supply and the electrically powered operation device. The electric wire is resilient and extends helically between the electric power supply and the electrically powered operation device. As a result, the resilient helically extending electric wire is capable of addressing the movements from the large intestine or urethra, because it may easily be temporarily extended without risking breakage.

Claims

1. An apparatus for treating an anal or urinary incontinent patient comprises a constriction device adapted to be applied on the patient'"'"'s large intestine or urethra, an electrically powered operation device that operates the constriction device to constrict the large intestine or urethra to close the intestinal or urethral lumen and to release the large intestine or urethra to open the intestinal or urethral lumen, an electric power supply adapted to be implanted in the patient remote from the operation device, and an insulated electric wire connecting the electric power supply and the operation device, the electric wire being resilient and extending helically between the electric power supply and the electrically powered operation device.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an implantable energy transforming device capable of transforming wireless energy transmitted from outside the patient'"'"'s body into electric energy.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation device comprises an electric motor connected to the electric power supply by means of the helical electrical wire.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the constriction device is non-inflatable.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the constriction device comprises an elongate constriction member adapted to extend around the large intestine or urethra.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the constriction member comprises a main portion and two elongated end portions, and the operation device establishes longitudinal relative displacement between the end portions of the constriction member.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the operation device comprises an electric motor and a movement transferring means in engagement with at least one of the end portions of the constriction member and operable by the electric motor to displace said one end portion relative to the other end portion of the constriction member.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the movement transferring means comprises a gear wheel fixed relative to said other end portion of the constriction member and a gear rack formed on said one end portion of the constriction member, the gear wheel and the gear rack being in mesh with each other.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the operation device comprises a worm gear connected between the electric motor and the gear wheel.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the constriction device comprises a hydraulic constriction device and the operation device comprises an electrically driven pump hydraulically connected to the hydraulic constriction device.

11. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the constriction device comprises a housing containing the operation device, and the elongate constriction member and the housing are adapted to form a loop around the patient'"'"'s large intestine or urethra.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a wireless remote control (16)for controlling the operation device to operate the constriction devices.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one implantable sensor for sensing at least one physical parameter of the patient.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the sensor comprises a pressure sensor for directly or indirectly sensing the pressure against the constriction device.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a control device for controlling the operation device in response to signals from the sensor.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the control device comprises an internal control unit implantable in the patient for controlling the operation device in response to signals from the sensor.

17. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a control device for controlling the operation device

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the control device comprises an internal control unit implantable in the patient for controlling the operation device.

19. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the internal control unit is programmable.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the control device comprises an external control unit outside the patient'"'"'s body, the internal control unit being programmable by the external control unit.

21. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a switch implantable in the patient for directly or indirectly switching the electric energy supplied by the electric power supply.