Urinary sphincter control device
First Claim
1. A urinary sphincter control device for application to a urethra to control flow of fluid through the urethra, comprising a cuff configured be fitted around the urethra, the cuff comprising a plurality of chambers which are discontinuous around the urethra so that blood is able to flow along the urethra in its wall even when the urethra is closed against fluid flow, which can be inflated to cause the configuration of the cuff to change so as to alter the resistance that is provided by the cuff to flow of fluid through the urethra, and at least one of the chambers containing therein a resiliently deformable biassing element for biassing the chamber configuration towards an uninflated configuration, and wherein the biassing element is formed from a shape memory alloy which exhibits non-linear superelastic properties.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A urinary sphincter control device for application to a urethra to control flow of fluid through the urethra, comprises a cuff which can be fitted around the urethra. The cuff comprises a plurality of chambers which extend generally parallel to the axis of the cuff, and which can be inflated by supply of pressurised control fluid thereto. Inflation of the chambers causing the configuration of the cuff to change so as to alter the resistance that is provided by the cuff to flow of fluid along the urethra.
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Citations
16 Claims
- 1. A urinary sphincter control device for application to a urethra to control flow of fluid through the urethra, comprising a cuff configured be fitted around the urethra, the cuff comprising a plurality of chambers which are discontinuous around the urethra so that blood is able to flow along the urethra in its wall even when the urethra is closed against fluid flow, which can be inflated to cause the configuration of the cuff to change so as to alter the resistance that is provided by the cuff to flow of fluid through the urethra, and at least one of the chambers containing therein a resiliently deformable biassing element for biassing the chamber configuration towards an uninflated configuration, and wherein the biassing element is formed from a shape memory alloy which exhibits non-linear superelastic properties.
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13. A urinary sphincter control device for application to a urethra to control flow along the urethra, which comprises
(a) a cuff configured to be fitted around the urethra and configured to be inflated to cause the configuration of the device to change between an uninflated configuration in which flow of fluid along the urethra is restricted and an inflated configuration in which fluid is able to flow along the urethra, and (b) an element for biassing the device towards the uninflated configuration. the element is formed from a shape memory alloy which has been treated so that it exhibits non-linear superelastic properties at body temperature, allowing it to be deformed by inflation of the cuff and to recover elastically when the cuff deflates.
Specification