Urological device for the incontinent male

• US 6,981,505 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2002
• Issued: 01/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bioengineering Consultants, Ltd
• Original Assignee: Dale Chadwick, William R. Krause
• Inventors: Krause, William R., Chadwick, Dale
• Primary Examiner(s): Dawson, Glenn K.
• Application Number:
  US10/076,784
• Publication Number:
  US 20020111640A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,420 Days
• Field of Search: 606/1, 606/118, 606135-137, 606151-157, 606201-20455, 606205-211, 244/55, 24484-489, 24499-511, 246/62, 24/19, 24268-286, 244/59, 245/21, 128/885
• US Class Current: 128/885
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/122 Clamps or clips , e.g. for the umbilical cord for the vas deferens A61F6/206
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0054 with pressure applied to urethra by an element placed around the penis, e.g. penis clamp

Abstract

The present invention features a device to prevent the unwanted flow of urine in incontinent human males. This penile clamp is designed to provide an external pressure applied to the underside of the penis at the base thereof to close the urethral canal. The apparatus includes a rigid projection on the lower member of the device that applies a concentrated force on the canal. The upper bar of the device provides an attachment for a pad as an integral part of an easily disinfected clamp that is hinged at one end and provided with an adjustable tensioning closure device at its other end. The closure device is easily removable to allow one hand release of the penis restriction. A screw-type adjustment is easily set and is easily disassembled by a quick-release apparatus. While the clamp can be closed over the penis of an incontinent male to prevent urination, it does not appreciably restrict blood flow therein.

Claims

1. A device used to control male incontinence having:

a.) An upper clamping bar, said upper clamping bar having an interior side and an exterior side, a first hinge end, a closure receiving end and a U-shaped central section connecting said first hinge end and said closure receiving end;

b.) a lower rigid member, said lower rigid member having an interior side and an exterior side, a second hinge end, said second hinge end interacting with said first hinge end, a closure end, said closure end having a closure assembly attachment area, and a central section connecting said second hinge end and said closure end, said interior side of said central section having a protrusion located at approximately a center point of said interior side of said central section;

c.) an adjustable spring biased post closure assembly, said post closure assembly being rotatably attached to said closure assembly attachment area at a distal end and having a stop at a proximal end and a spring biased gripping member between said distal end and said proximal end, said closure assembly interacting with said closure receiving end to maintain said closure receiving end proximate said closure assembly attachment area in a closed position.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said spring biased closure assembly is adjustable to alter the distance between said closure receiving end and said closure assembly attachment area by changing the tension on a spring.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising a removable soft compliant member dimensioned to fit within said interior of said U-shaped central section, the thickness of said compliant member adjusting the distance between said clamping bar and said lower rigid member.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said U-shaped central section further comprises at least one affixing member, said at least one affixing member securing said soft compliant member adjacent to said interior of said U-shaped central section.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said soft compliant member further comprises a button and said affixing member is button receiving hole to enable said soft compliant member to affixed and removed.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said spring biased post closure assembly comprises:

a) a T-shaped post, a distal end of said T-shaped post having a cross bar dimensioned to rotatably interact with said closure assembly attachment area and a proximal end of said T-shaped post receiving said stop, wherein said stop is a screw cap,

b) a spring receiving area within said gripping member,

c) a spring, said spring being dimensioned to fit within said spring receiving area and receive said T-shaped post,

d) said screw cap being dimensioned to increase or decrease compression of said spring as said screw cap is positioned along said proximal end of said T-shaped post.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said upper clamping bar has a upper receiving stat extending from said exterior side to said interior side at said closure receiving end and said lower rigid member has a lower receiving slot extending from said exterior side to said interior side at said closure assembly attachment area, said upper receiving slot and said lower receiving slot being dimensioned to receive said T-shaped post.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said protrusion is shaped and positioned within said tower body member to concentrate pressure on the underside of the penis in the area of the urethra.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein said U-shaped central section further comprises at least one receiving member, said at least one receiving member securing a soft compliant member adjacent to said interior of said U-shaped central section.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein pressure is released from a user'"'"'s penis for urination by pressing on said stop while holding said gripping member.

11. A device used to control mate incontinence having:

a. an upper clamping bar, said upper clamping bar having an interior side and an exterior side, a first hinge end, a closure receiving end and a U-shaped central section connecting said hinge end and said closure receiving end, and an upper receiving slot extending from said exterior side to said interior side at said closure receiving end,

b. a lower rigid member, said lower rigid member having an interior side and an exterior side, a second hinge end, said second hinge end rotatably interacting with said first hinge end, a closure end having a closure assembly receiving area, and a lower receiving slot extending from said exterior side to said interior side at said closure end, and a central section connecting said second hinge end and said closure end, said interior side of said central section having a protrusion located at approximately a center point of said interior side of said central section, said protrusion being shaped and positioned to concentrate pressure on the underside of the penis in the area of the urethra,

c. a removable soft compliant member dimensioned to fit within said interior said of said U-shaped central section.

d. an adjustable closure assembly, said closure assembly hingeably attached to said closure end of said lower body member, said closure assembly interacting with said closure receiving end to adjust said closure receiving end distance from said closure end, said adjustable assembly having;

e. a T-shaped post, a first end of said T-shaped post having a cross bar dimensioned to rotatably interact with the closure assembly receiving area at said exterior side of said closure end and a second end of said T-shaped post being threaded to receive a screw cap, and being dimensioned to be received within said lower receiving slot and said upper receiving slot,

i) a spring holder, said spring holder having a receiving hole to receive said T-shaped post, a spring receiving area and gripping members;

ii) a spring, said spring being dimensioned to fit within said spring receiving area and receive said T-shaped post

iii) a screw cap, said screw cap being dimensioned to increase or decrease compression of said spring as said screw cap is positioned along said second end of said T-shaped post,

wherein compression of said spring forces said closure receiving end interior side closer to said closure end interior side, thereby adjusting the distance between said U-shaped central section and said tower rigid member.

12. The method of treating male incontinence by applying pressure to the urethra comprising the steps of:

a. rotating an adjustable spring biased post closure assembly to an open position;

b. rotating an upper clamping bar to an open position relative to a lower rigid member;

c. placing said lower rigid member adjacent to the underside of a penis;

d. adjusting said lower rigid member to place a interior protrusion adjacent to the urethra of said penis;

e. closing said upper clamping bar;

f. compressing a gripping member to compress a spring on said closure assembly;

g. rotating said adjustable spring biased closure assembly to a closed position;

h. securing said spring biased closure assembly to said upper clamping bar;

i. releasing said gripping member

j. adjusting the clamping pressure of said adjustable closure assembly.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the steps of:

a. compressing said gripping member,

b. rotating said adjustable spring biased closure assembly about a pivot to move said adjustable spring biased closure assembly to a disengaged position from said upper clamping bar.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising the steps of adjusting said clamping pressure of said adjustable closure member by rotating a screw cap adiacent to said spring.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of releasing said clamping pressure to permit urination without removing said device by pressing on said spring biased closure assembly while holding said gripping member.