Device for selectively opening and closing tubular organs of the body
First Claim
1. A device such as an implantable device for selectively opening and at least partially closing tubular organs of the body, comprising a sleeve of elastomeric plastic material adapted to embrace the organ, wherein the sleeve has a slit-like through opening for the organ, the width of the opening being such that the organ is at least partially closed off;
- said slit-like opening defining a plane through said sleeve, and said organ defining a first direction of fluid flow through said organ which lies in said plane; and
wherein the elastomeric plastic material of said sleeve is relatively stiff but manually resiliently deformable in a second direction in said plane of said slit-like opening and transverse to said direction of flow through said organ, so that said opening expands upon the manual application of pressure to said sleeve in said second direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Described is an implantable device for selectively opening and closing tubular organs of the body such as the urethra. The device comprises a sleeve of an elastomeric plastic material, being of a stiff or rigid shape. The sleeve has a slit-like opening for receiving the organ, while the width of the opening is such that the organ is at least partially closed off in the rest condition of the device. Pressure can be applied manually, possibly by way of a remote operating means, to cause the opening to be temporarily enlarged whereby the organ which extends through the opening is also opened. The device may also have a continuously open position which is produced by means of a ball which can be displaced into a retaining seat to hold the opening of the device in an open position.
124 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A device such as an implantable device for selectively opening and at least partially closing tubular organs of the body, comprising a sleeve of elastomeric plastic material adapted to embrace the organ, wherein the sleeve has a slit-like through opening for the organ, the width of the opening being such that the organ is at least partially closed off;
- said slit-like opening defining a plane through said sleeve, and said organ defining a first direction of fluid flow through said organ which lies in said plane; and
wherein the elastomeric plastic material of said sleeve is relatively stiff but manually resiliently deformable in a second direction in said plane of said slit-like opening and transverse to said direction of flow through said organ, so that said opening expands upon the manual application of pressure to said sleeve in said second direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 39, 40, 41)
- said slit-like opening defining a plane through said sleeve, and said organ defining a first direction of fluid flow through said organ which lies in said plane; and
- 22. A device such as an implantable device for selectively opening and at least partially closing tubular organs of the body, comprising a sleeve of elastomeric plastic material adapted to embrace the organ, wherein the sleeve is relatively stiff and has a slit-like through opening for the organ, the width of the opening being such that the organ is at least partially closed off, and including at least at one narrow side of said through opening in the sleeve, a space which is closed with respect to the exterior, and at least one member which is disposed in said space and which is displaceable from the exterior, thereby to secure the device with its opening in a selected condition.
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29. A device such as an implantable device for selectively opening and at least partially closing tubular organs of the body, comprising a sleeve of elastomeric plastic material adapted to embrace the organ, wherein the sleeve is relatively stiff and has a slit-like through opening for the organ, the width of the opening being such that the organ is at least partially closed off;
- wherein a space is provided at least in one wall of said through opening in the sleeve, said space being closed off with respect to said opening by a thin skin portion; and
wherein a member is displaceable in said space, thereby to vary the width of said through opening. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 35, 36, 38)
- wherein a space is provided at least in one wall of said through opening in the sleeve, said space being closed off with respect to said opening by a thin skin portion; and
Specification