Surgery – Body inserted urinary or colonic incontinent device or... – Implanted
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-10
2002-09-24
Shaver, Kevin (Department: 3736)
Surgery
Body inserted urinary or colonic incontinent device or...
Implanted
Reexamination Certificate
active
06454698
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a anal incontinence treatment apparatus and method. More specifically, the invention relates to a anal incontinence treatment apparatus for surgical application in the abdomen of a patient for forming a restricted fecal passageway in the colon or rectum. The term “patient” includes an animal or a human being.
Anal incontinence is a wide-spread disease. Several kinds of sphincter plastic surgery are used today to remedy anal incontinence. There is a prior manually operated sphincter system in an initial clinical trial phase where a hydraulic sphincter system connected to an elastic reservoir (balloon) placed in the scrotum is developed. A disadvantage of this system is that thick, hard fibrosis is created around the reservoir by pump movements making the system useless sooner or later.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,443 discloses a hydraulic anal sphincter under both reflex and voluntary control. A pressure controlled inflatable artificial sphincter is desclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,222,377.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a new convenient anal incontinence treatment apparatus and method, the performance of which may be affected by the patient at any time after operation, in particular when need arise over the course of a day, so that the patient substantially always is satisfied or comfortable.
According to one aspect of the present invention an anal incontinence treatment apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises: An energy transmission device for wireless transmission of energy of a first form from outside a patient's body. An operable restriction device implanted in a patient and engaging the the rectum or colon to form a restricted passageway in the rectum or the colon, the device operable in response to a second energy form different than the first form to vary the restricted passageway. And, an energy transfer device implanted in the patient for transferring energy of the first form transmitted by the energy transmission device into energy of the second form, the energy transfer device comprising at least one element having a positive region and a negative region, and creating an energy field between the positive and negative regions when exposed to the first form energy transmitted by the energy transmission device, so that the energy field produces the energy of the second form.
As a result, the advantage is achieved that the anal incontinence treatment apparatus of the invention provides simple and effective energy transmission which ensures an extended and reliable functionality of the apparatus, possibly for the rest of the patient's natural life, and at least many years.
The restriction device preferably controls the cross-sectional area of the fecal passageway in the rectum or the colon, which gives the advantage that the patient is enabled to adjust the cross-sectional area of the fecal passageway whenever he likes during the day. This advantage should not be underestimated.
Advantageously, the restriction device is directly operated with the energy of the second form, preferably in a non-magnetic and/or non-mechanical manner, as the energy transmission device transmits the energy of a first form. The restriction device may be directly operated with the energy of the second form without externally touching subcutaneously implanted components of the apparatus. The advantage of directly using energy as it is transmitted is that the apparatus can be of a very simple design and the few components involved makes the apparatus extremely reliable.
The restriction device may be non-inflatable, i.e. with no hydraulic or pneumatic fluid involved for the adjustments of the restriction device. This eliminates problems with fluid leaking from the restriction device.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the element comprises an electrical junction element, and the electrical junction element is capable of inducing an electric field between the positive and negative regions when exposed to the energy of a first form transmitted by the energy transmission device, whereby the energy of a second form comprises electric energy.
Consequently, the restriction device suitably is electrically operated, whereby the positive and negative regions of the electrical junction element supply electric energy for the operation of the restriction device. The apparatus suitably comprises implanted electric conductors connected to the positive and negative regions of the electrical junction element, whereby the electrical junction element is capable of supplying an electric current, such as a direct current, a pulsating direct current, a combination of a direct and pulsating direct current, an alternating current or a combination of a direct and alternating current, via the conductors. Furthermore, the electrical junction element may be capable of supplying a frequency, amplitude, or frequency and amplitude modulated analog, digital, or a combination of analog and digital signal, which is used in connection with control of the restriction device.
The element, preferably in the form of an electrical semiconductor junction element, suitably forms a flat and thin sheet and has a volume of less than 2000 cm
3
to be suited for subcutaneous implantation, so that the electrical junction element is located just behind the skin of the patient. The electrical junction element should be designed to generate an output current exceeding 1 &mgr;A when exposed to the energy of the first form transmitted by the energy transmission device. Of course, all the components of the energy transfer device including the electrical junction element in contact with the patient's body should be of a biocompatible material. Alternatively, it would be possible to implant the energy transfer device in the thorax or cephal region of the patient, or in an orifice of the patient's body and under the mucosa or intraluminar outside the mucosa of the orifice.
For in vitro appliances, a particular type of an electrical semiconductor junction element has been commonly used, namely a so called p-n (positive
egative) junction element, typically in the form of solar cells. A solar cell transfers solar energy in the form of visible light into electric energy in the form of direct current. For example, a p-n junction element may comprise two layers of semiconductor, one p-type (positive) and the other n-type (negative), sandwiched together to form a “p-n junction”. This p-n junction induces an electric field across the element when absorbing quanta of light (photons).
To be more precise, the quanta of light transfer their energy to some of the semiconductor's electrons, which are then able to move about through the material. For each such negatively charged electron, a corresponding positive charge—a “hole”—is created. In an ordinary semiconductor, these electrons and holes recombine after a short time and their energy is wasted as heat. However, when the electrons and holes are swept across the p-n junction in opposite directions by the action of the electric field, the separation of charge induces a voltage across the p-n junction element. By connecting the p-n junction element to an external circuit, the electrons are able to flow thereby creating a current.
Surprisingly, it has been proven that although both the skin and subcutis absorb energy from an external light beam directed against the skin portion behind which a properly designed p-n junction element is located, the light energy transmitted through the skin can induce a current from the p-n junction element strong enough (minimum 1 &mgr;A) to enable the operation of the electrically operated restriction device. Thus, such a p-n junction element is now for the first time used for in vivo applications.
However, the apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the use of visible light for the wireless transmission of energy. Thus, in accordance with a broad aspect of the invention, the energy transmission device transmits energy b
Cadugan Joseph A
Nixon & Vanderhye P.C.
Obtech Medical AG
Shaver Kevin
LandOfFree
Anal incontinence treatment with energy transfer device does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Anal incontinence treatment with energy transfer device, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Anal incontinence treatment with energy transfer device will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2890142