Artificial endosphincter

• US 7,008,372 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2003
• Issued: 03/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Christian Chaussy, Klaus Schmidt, Stefan Thueroff
• Original Assignee: Willy Rusch GmbH (Teleflex Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schmitt, Klaus, Chaussy, Christian, Thüroff, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lacyk, John P.
• Application Number:
  US10/717,442
• Publication Number:
  US 20040107005A1
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 600 29- 32, 604/246, 604/247, 606197-198, 623 115- 118, 623 12- 124, 623 13- 134, 128/DIG.25, 137/625.28, 251/4, 251/7, 251/336, 251/342
• US Class Current: 600/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0009 placed in or outside the body opening close to the surface of the body plugging an opening in the wall of a hollow or tubular organ A61B17/0057
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0022 placed deep in the body opening occluding blood vessels by internal devices A61B17/12022
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/82 Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95; for closing wounds, or holding wounds closed A61B17/04 - A61B17/115; dilators A61M29/00

Abstract

In an artificial endosphincter (1) for the urethra, comprising a retaining part (2) and a valve (10) which can be manually actuated by pressure from the outside, the retaining part (2) is formed as self-expanding stent. This permits gentle, simple and safe positioning as well as reliable and simple handling of the artificial endosphincter (1).

Claims

1. An artificial endosphincter for a urethra, the endosphincter comprising:

a retaining part, structured as a temperature-independent, self-expanding stent; and

a valve which can be manually actuated by external pressure, wherein said valve is a self-closing, crossed slotted valve.

2. The endosphincter of claim 1, wherein said stent comprises a tubular interlacing having at least one filament.

3. The endosphincter of claim 2, wherein said retaining part has at least one section without said tubular interlacing.

4. The endosphincter of claim 2, wherein said at least one filament has a round cross-section.

5. The endosphincter of claim 2, wherein said at least one filament is produced from one of a plastic material and a metal material.

6. The endosphincter of claim 1, further comprising X-ray impermeable markings.

7. The endosphincter of claim 1, wherein said stent is cylindrical.

8. The endosphincter of claim 1, wherein said stent has at least two cylindrical sections of different radii.

9. The endosphincter of claim 2, further comprising an inner coating and an outer coating, wherein said tubular interlacing is disposed between said inner coating and said outer coating, said inner coating having a smooth inner surface and said outer coating having a structure caused by said tabular interlacing.

10. The endosphincter of claim 9, wherein said inner coating is formed as a tube which is surrounded by said tubular interlacing.

11. The endosphincter of claim 10, wherein said tube leads into a valve receptacle.

12. The endosphincter of claim 11, further comprising a conical transition region disposed between said valve receptacle and said tube.

13. The endosphincter of claim 12, wherein said transition region is covered by said tubular interlacing.

14. The endosphincter of claim 13, wherein filaments of said tubular interlacing taper towards said valve receptacle.

15. The endosphincter of claim 11, wherein said tube and said valve receptacle are formed as one piece.

16. The endosphincter of claim 15, wherein said one piece consists essentially of silicone.

17. The endosphincter of claim 1, wherein said crossed slotted valve has a hollow cylindrical mounting section and a closing section facing said retaining part.

18. The endosphincter of claim 1, wherein said crossed slotted valve has pressure receiving surfaces.

19. The endosphincter of claim 18, wherein said pressure receiving surfaces terminate in sealing lips.

20. The endosphincter of claim 13, wherein said valve is a crossed slotted valve consisting essentially of silicone.