Surgery – Body inserted urinary or colonic incontinent device or... – Implanted
Patent
1994-06-22
1995-12-26
Sykes, Angela D.
Surgery
Body inserted urinary or colonic incontinent device or...
Implanted
128DIG25, A61F 200
Patent
active
054783054
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention concerns prosthetic sphincter devices and, more particularly, such devices of the kind comprising a closed pressure-fluid system operable by the recipient to control a body duct.
Prior devices of this kind can be seen to involve in common four basic component parts, namely, a reservoir for the pressure fluid, an inflatable duct-obturating means, a pump facility operable by the recipient to inflate and/or deflate the obturating means, and a control mechanism for the pump facility, interconnected by tubing. Typically the device is wholly implantable, the pump facility is located subcutaneously for operation by palpation, and the obturating means is a cuff locatable around the urethra or other appropriate site to act against urinary incontinence when inflated and to allow urination when deflated.
In an earlier form of these devices, the pump facility and control mechanism comprise separate pumps connected, by way of valves, between the reservoir and cuff respectively for inflation and deflation. The valves are essentially of unidirectional flow type to direct the pumped fluid appropriately, and also serve a pressure relief function to ensure that the cuff is not inflated above a preset pressure level.
In a subsequently developed form of the devices in question there is a single pump connected, by way of the control mechanism, between the reservoir and cuff to deflate the latter. In this case the reservoir serves to hold fluid at a preset pressure and the control mechanism allows a restricted flow to the cuff to maintain the same normally inflated at such pressure.
It will be appreciated that the devices available are not without certain disadvantages. They are frequently relatively complex, requiring a number of mechanical parts, all of which may be subject to mechanical failure or failure to function correctly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a prosthetic sphincter device for use in incontinence control, to be surgically implantable and controllable from the exterior of the recipient's body, which features a very simple, reliable and resilient operating mechanism and thus reduces the possibility of unsatisfactory operation or mechanical failure.
According to the present invention there is provided a prosthetic sphincter device operable by a recipient to control a body duct, the device comprising in operable interconnection reservoir for transferring fluid from said occlusion means to said fluid reservoir to deflate said occlusion means and thereby open said body duct; and maintain said occlusion means normally inflated; means includes an elastomeric sleeve resiliently engaged around a bead normally to effect a fluid seal therebetween, with such engagement being selectively deformable to allow fluid flow between the elastomeric sleeve and the bead.
Preferably said elastomeric sleeve is part of a deformable bulb and said engagement between said elastomeric sleeve and said bead forms a normally closed valve in a fluid passage between the pump means and the fluid reservoir.
Preferably said bead is provided with a bore for fluid communication between said pump means and said occlusion means, a one-way valve being provided to prevent flow through the bore from said pump means to said occlusion means.
In a preferred form of the embodiment, the one-way valve comprises a ball valve.
Preferably the bead or a further bead is resiliently engaged within said elastomeric sleeve normally to effect a fluid seal therebetween, this latter engagement providing a selectively operable valve between said fluid reservoir and said occlusion means.
In a preferred form of the embodiment a leakage path is provided between the fluid reservoir and the occlusion means, preferably including a throttle opening in a wall of a fluid passage to said fluid reservoir and a thin elastomeric sleeve resiliently mounted around said fluid passage to cover said throttle orifice.
Preferably a self-sealing diaphragm is provided to allow flow of said fluid theret
REFERENCES:
patent: 4256093 (1981-03-01), Helms et al.
patent: 4682583 (1987-07-01), Burton et al.
patent: 4829990 (1989-05-01), Thuroff et al.
patent: 4958630 (1990-09-01), Rosenbluth et al.
British Technology Group Group Limited
Lacyk John P.
Sykes Angela D.
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