초록 ▼

An active, as opposed to a passive, sphincteric system to be implanted within or near the periurethral tissues of an incontinent patient. The system includes a genitourinary prosthesis comprising an inflatable (and deflatable) balloon (rather than a cuff) which is percutaneously infused with and inf

An active, as opposed to a passive, sphincteric system to be implanted within or near the periurethral tissues of an incontinent patient. The system includes a genitourinary prosthesis comprising an inflatable (and deflatable) balloon (rather than a cuff) which is percutaneously infused with and inflated by a supply of hydraulic fluid or suspended particulate matter to increase both the localized tissue density proximal to the urethra and the passive occlusive pressure applied to the urethra for returning the patient to continence. The system includes an accumulator or reservoir and a check valve located between the accumulator and the balloon to control the flow of fluid or suspended particles therebetween. The check valve may be manually opened, whereby the balloon shrinks and the accumulator swells. Subsequently, the accumulator may be manually compressed, whereby fluid or suspended particles are transferred back to the balloon, by hydrostatic pressure, to reinflate the balloon. Positioning and inflating instrumentation is also disclosed by which to implant the sphincteric system according to a relatively simple insertion process.

대표청구항 ▼

An implantable, manually adjustable sphincteric system to control the flow of matter through a passage within the human anatomy for the treatment of incontinence, said sphincteric system comprising: an inflatable/deflatable containment membrane comprising an expandable balloon being in a normally un

An implantable, manually adjustable sphincteric system to control the flow of matter through a passage within the human anatomy for the treatment of incontinence, said sphincteric system comprising: an inflatable/deflatable containment membrane comprising an expandable balloon being in a normally uninflated condition and adapted to be inflated with a supply of material to thereby increase the local tissue density proximally to said passage for correspondingly increasing the passive occlusive pressure applied to said passage; accumulator means communicating with said balloon to receive material from said balloon when said balloon is deflated and to return said material to said balloon for reinflating said balloon; and flow control means located between said balloon and said accumulator means to control the transfer of material therebetween, said flow control means having passage means being normally biased in a closed condition to prevent the transfer of material therethrough, and force transmitting surface means positioned around said passage means, said passage means being opened, against the normal bias thereof, to permit the transfer of material between said accumulator means and said inflatable balloon in response to a compressive force that is applied to either of said accumulator means, for inflating said balloon, or to said force transmitting surface means, for deflating said balloon.