Artificial sphincter
US4386601A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 12, 1981 |
| Grant date | Jun 7, 1983 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 12, 2001 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S128/25
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An artificial sphincter comprises an inflatable occlusion means which is normally inflated with hydraulic fluid under pressure to cut off flow through a body passage, an improved accumulator balloon having a relatively inelastic shell which serves as a reservoir for hydraulic fluid for the inflatable occlusion means and a gas filled bladder which controls fluid pressure in the closed system, a pump to suck fluid from the occlusion means to deflate it and open the body passage to fluid flow and tubing connecting the inflatable occlusion means, the accumulator balloon and the pump to form a closed system. The sphincter also includes a first check valve at the inflatable occlusion means which allows fluid to freely flow out of the inflatable occlusion means, a second check valve at the accumulator balloon which allows fluid to freely flow into the accumulator balloon and resistance means which restricts fluid flow into the inflatable occlusion means and out of the accumulator balloon to a low rate of flow.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.