Device for the height-adjustable fixing and support of internal anatomical organs

• US 6,117,067 A
• Filed: 08/11/1998
• Issued: 09/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jose M.A. Gil-Vernet
• Original Assignee: Jose M.A. Gil-Vernet
• Inventors: Gil-Vernet, Jose Ma
• Primary Examiner(s): Lacyk, John P.
• Application Number:
  US09/131,985
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 600/29-31, 600/37, 128/DIG. 25, 623/12, 623/14
• US Class Current: 600/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00805 Treatment of female stress urinary incontinence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/004 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0063 Implantable repair or support meshes, e.g. hernia meshes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0003 having an inflatable pocket filled with fluid, e.g. liquid or gas
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/25 Artificial sphincters and devices for controlling urinary incontinence

Abstract

The present invention comprises a device for adjusting the height and supporting internal anatomical organs. The device comprises a chamber having elastic properties, the volume of which varies in accordance with the amount of fluid in the container. To increase or decrease the volume, a capsule connected by a tube to the container is provided which is adapted to be located near the skin of the patient. A hypodermic needle can extract or introduce fluid into the capsule thereby to change the volume of the chamber. A thread is connected to one base of the chamber and the other base is adapted to sit on an anatomical region in the body. The thread is adapted to surround the selected organ whereby changes in the volume of the chamber changes the distance between the bases thereby to move the organ.

Claims

1. A device for adjusting the height of internal organs comprising an elastic chamber the volume of which varies in relation to the amount of a fluid received in said container, said chamber being sized to be received within a selected area of the body, at least one thread connected to said container and adapted to be connected with a body part whereby changes in the volume of said chamber causes movement of said thread to affect consequent movement of the body part, a subcutaneous capsule adapted to be located close to the skin of a patient, and a tube connecting said capsule with said chamber, whereby the introduction or removal of a fluid from said capsule causes variations in the volume of said chamber.

2. A device as in claim 1, and a fluid for filling said chamber, said fluid carrying a contrasting component.

3. A device as in claim 2, wherein said fluid is water.

4. A device as in claim 1, wherein said elastic chamber comprises two opposed bases, the first base being adapted to sit on a selected anatomical region, said second base being connected to said thread for suspension of the selected body part.

5. A device as in claim 4, wherein said elastic chamber has unidirectional deformation characteristics.

6. A device as in claim 5, wherein the lateral walls of said elastic chamber are stronger than said base walls to permit unidirectional deformation in the direction of separation of said first and second bases from each other.

7. A device as in claim 4, wherein the elastic chamber is provided with high strength plates on said first and second bases.

8. A device as in claim 7, and a web comprising a grid between said first base and said plate provided thereon.

9. A device as in claim 7, wherein the plate connected to said second base is rigidly connected thereto.

10. A device as in claim 7, wherein said plates are made of titanium.

11. A device as in claim 1, and tubular elements positioned adjacent said chamber and receiving said thread therethrough to prevent damage to the walls of said chamber.

12. A device as in claim 1, wherein said thread comprises high strength, biocompatible synthetic material.

13. A device as in claim 1, and a hypodermic needle for introducing or extracting the liquid from said capsule.

14. A device as in claim 1, wherein the ends of said thread are attached to said elastic chamber.