Anti-incontinence device
First Claim
1. An apparatus for preventing uncontrolled discharge of urinary fluid from a patient urethra, the device comprising:
- a pressure sensor operable for sensing intra-abdominal pressure when implanted in a patient and operable for generating a pressure signal in response to said sensed pressure;
an actuating device operably coupled to the pressure sensor, the actuating device responsive for generating an electrical signal in response to the pressure signal;
a controller operably coupled to the actuating device and configured for engaging a urethra to selectively compress the urethra and prevent incontinence, the controller comprising a plate adapted to be positioned on one side of the urethra and an element adapted to be positioned on another side of the urethra, the controller operable for varying the distance between the element and the plate in response to said electrical signal to compress the urethra therebetween so that incontinence is prevented when intra-abdominal pressure is experienced by a patient.
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Abstract
An apparatus for preventing uncontrolled discharge of urinary fluid from a patient urethra includes a pressure sensor operable for sensing intra-abdominal pressure when implanted in a patient and operable for generating a pressure signal in response to said sensed pressure, An actuating device is operably coupled to the pressure sensor and is responsive for generating an electrical signal in response to the pressure signal. A controller is operably coupled to the actuating device and configured for engaging a urethra to selectively compress the urethra and prevent incontinence. The controller includes a plate adapted to be positioned on one side of the urethra and an element adapted to be positioned on another side of the urethra and is operable for varying the distance between the element and the plate in response to said electrical signal to compress the urethra therebetween so that incontinence is prevented when intra-abdominal pressure is experienced by a patient.
169 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for preventing uncontrolled discharge of urinary fluid from a patient urethra, the device comprising:
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a pressure sensor operable for sensing intra-abdominal pressure when implanted in a patient and operable for generating a pressure signal in response to said sensed pressure; an actuating device operably coupled to the pressure sensor, the actuating device responsive for generating an electrical signal in response to the pressure signal; a controller operably coupled to the actuating device and configured for engaging a urethra to selectively compress the urethra and prevent incontinence, the controller comprising a plate adapted to be positioned on one side of the urethra and an element adapted to be positioned on another side of the urethra, the controller operable for varying the distance between the element and the plate in response to said electrical signal to compress the urethra therebetween so that incontinence is prevented when intra-abdominal pressure is experienced by a patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for preventing uncontrolled discharge of urinary fluid from a patient urethra, the device comprising:
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a pressure sensor operable for sensing intra-abdominal pressure when implanted in a patient and operable for generating a pressure signal in response to said sensed pressure; an actuating device operably coupled to the pressure sensor, the actuating device responsive for generating an electrical signal in response to the pressure signal; a controller operably coupled to the actuating device and configured for engaging a urethra to selectively compress the urethra and prevent incontinence, the controller comprising a sling adapted to be positioned on one side of the urethra and a movable metal element coupled to the sling, and further comprising an electromagnetic element positioned proximate the metal element, the electromagnetic element creating a magnetic field proximate the metal element in response to the electrical signal for magnetically moving the metal element and thereby directing the sling against the urethra to compress the urethra so that incontinence is prevented when intra-abdominal pressure is experienced by a patient. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification