Surgery – Body inserted urinary or colonic incontinent device or...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-09
2001-02-27
Gilbert, Samuel G. (Department: 3736)
Surgery
Body inserted urinary or colonic incontinent device or...
Reexamination Certificate
active
06193646
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to the field of medical devices and more particularly to intraurethral bladder control devices, and still more particularly to intraurethral bladder control devices with retaining means.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of bladder control devices, often referred to as artificial sphincters, is wide spread in the field of the present invention. The use of such intraurethral valving apparatus and its general knowledge in the field of art can be evidenced by, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,553,533; 4,679,546; 4,969,474; and 5,123,428.
A continuing problem found in the prior art devices is the safe and secure retention of the bladder control or valving device in the urethra. It is desirable to have the placement of the bladder control apparatus in the urethra be a nonsurgical function, and it is important not only that the device be securely retained once placed in the urethra, but also that a nonsurgical, safe and reasonably simple means of removing the device be present. Various prior art devices have not met all of these criteria.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The apparatus of this invention overcomes problems existent in the prior art by providing an improved intraurethral bladder control device with retainer apparatus. Broadly speaking, the apparatus of this invention comprises housing having an internal fluid flow path and valving means mounted in the fluid flow path and responsive to pressure from a patient's bladder to open and close the path to the flow of fluid from the bladder. A first retainer is mounted to the distal end of the housing and operates within the bladder to hold the bladder control apparatus within the urethra. In the preferred embodiment described herein, this first retainer comprises a leaf spring having a plurality of leaves which are compressed during placement of the bladder control device into the urethra, which leaves spring open when the distal end of the bladder control device reaches the opening into the bladder from the urethra. As used throughout this disclosure, the term “distal end” shall mean the end of a device or internal lumen which is intended to be closest to the bladder, and the term “proximal end” shall mean the end of the device or lumen which is closest to the urethral labia.
The apparatus of this invention also includes a second retainer which is connected to the proximal end of the bladder control device after its placement in the urethra, and which second retainer extends proximately out of the urethra where a portion thereof wider than the urethra abuts the urethral labia.
From the above brief description it can be seen that what is provided is a bladder control apparatus which is retained in a patient's urethra by a first retaining means operable within the bladder and by a second retaining means abutting the labia of the urethra. Thus a secure and safe system is provided for an intraurethral bladder control device.
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Kulisz Andre A.
Migachyov Valery
Crompton Seager & Tufte LLC
Gilbert Samuel G.
HK Medical Technologies Incorporated
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