Prosthesis intended for the treatment of a natural lumen or tract, in particular an endo-urethral prosthesis
First Claim
1. A prosthesis adapted to be inserted and contained in a biological lumen or tract, comprising:
- first and second tubular elements that are locatable on either side of a sphincter surrounding the lumen or tract, wherein the first and second tubular elements comprise at least a substantially smooth outer layer of a biocompatible material which is sufficiently flexible to conform to the lumen or tract and sufficiently rigid to maintain an artificial passage through the lumen or tract against a force that tends to obstruct the lumen or tract; and
a connecting element comprising a first end that is connected to the first tubular element, a second end that is connected to the second tubular element, and a flexible middle portion joining the first and second ends that is locatable in the sphincter, wherein the middle portion can be moved by the sphincter to allow the sphincter to close naturally and thereby close the lumen or tract, and wherein abutment of the first and second tubular elements against the sphincter can substantially maintain position of the prosthesis in the lumen or tract.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Prosthesis (8) intended for the treatment of a natural lumen (1) or tract of a human or animal body through which a flow is effected on either side of a sphincter (5), said prosthesis comprising a tubular element (9, 11), in particular of cylindrical shape, which is sufficiently flexible to conform to said natural lumen, but sufficiently rigid to maintain an artificial passage in said lumen, and is intended to be placed in said natural lumen, the wall of said tube comprising a relatively smooth and soft biocompatible material, such as a silicone rubber, at least in its outer part, characterized in that said prosthesis comprises two tubular elements (9, 11), such as are defined in the preamble of the present claim, which are intended to be arranged in said lumen (1) on either side, respectively, of the sphincter (5), and are attached to each other by a flexible and deformable connection means (10) which is intended to be held in the orifice of the sphincter (5), and each said tubular element having an external cross section which is substantially constant from one end to the other of said element.
167 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A prosthesis adapted to be inserted and contained in a biological lumen or tract, comprising:
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first and second tubular elements that are locatable on either side of a sphincter surrounding the lumen or tract, wherein the first and second tubular elements comprise at least a substantially smooth outer layer of a biocompatible material which is sufficiently flexible to conform to the lumen or tract and sufficiently rigid to maintain an artificial passage through the lumen or tract against a force that tends to obstruct the lumen or tract; and a connecting element comprising a first end that is connected to the first tubular element, a second end that is connected to the second tubular element, and a flexible middle portion joining the first and second ends that is locatable in the sphincter, wherein the middle portion can be moved by the sphincter to allow the sphincter to close naturally and thereby close the lumen or tract, and wherein abutment of the first and second tubular elements against the sphincter can substantially maintain position of the prosthesis in the lumen or tract. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification