Inflatable artificial sphincter
First Claim
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1. An artificial sphincter, comprising:
- inflatable fluid operated occlusion means for occluding a body passage;
a fluid reservoir;
a flow passage adapted to provide restricted fluid communication between said occlusion means and said reservoir, said passage arranged such that fluid tends to drain from said reservoir into said occlusion means through said passage;
a pump means in fluid communication with said occlusion means for selectively transferring fluid from said occlusion means to said reservoir to deflate said occlusion means so that the body passage may be opened; and
locking means, located along said flow passage, for selectively occluding the flow of fluid from said reservoir to said occlusion means through said flow passage.
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Abstract
A semi-automatic functioning artificial sphincter including a means for occluding a body passage, a fluid reservoir, and a mechanism for transferring fluid between the occluding mechanism and the fluid reservoir, wherein the sphincter also includes a lock-out mechanism for occluding fluid flow between the fluid reservoir and the inflatable cuff and the occluding mechanism. The occluding mechanism is preferably a valve which is positioned in the fluid path between the reservoir and the occluding mechanism. The valve may be either manually or hydraulically actuated to control one or more aspects of fluid flow through the valve.
146 Citations
8 Claims
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1. An artificial sphincter, comprising:
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inflatable fluid operated occlusion means for occluding a body passage; a fluid reservoir; a flow passage adapted to provide restricted fluid communication between said occlusion means and said reservoir, said passage arranged such that fluid tends to drain from said reservoir into said occlusion means through said passage; a pump means in fluid communication with said occlusion means for selectively transferring fluid from said occlusion means to said reservoir to deflate said occlusion means so that the body passage may be opened; and locking means, located along said flow passage, for selectively occluding the flow of fluid from said reservoir to said occlusion means through said flow passage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification