An artificial sphincter and method closing the artificial sphincter includes a plurality of bodies, a plurality of links, a coupling body, and a coupling assembly. The plurality of bodies each have respective magnets and are arranged from a first terminal body to a second terminal body. The plurality of links respectively resiliently extend and connect between the plurality of bodies. The coupling body has a first end segment and a second end segment respectively connected to a first terminal link and a second terminal link respectively extending from the first and second end segments. The coupling assembly has a clasp configured to close to form a closed loop and a coupling guide configured to be manipulated to thereby orient portions of the clasp to a predetermined orientation for connection in the connected state.

The invention provides a system treating a weak or leaking urinary or other sphincter. The system includes two magnets and one or more devices to immobilize one of the magnets on a first side of the body organ to immobilize the other magnet on the second side of the body organ. The magnets may be positioned around the body organ with opposite poles facing each other. The invention may be used to induce the formation of muscle tissue of a sphincter such as a urethral sphincter or gastroesophageal sphincter, and also for mechanically occluding a leaking urethral or vesicovaginal fistula.

A urinary tract valve includes an expandable valve element positionable within a bladder of a patient via a urinary tract of the patient in a collapsed configuration. The expandable valve element is configured to transition from the collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration after being positioned within the bladder of the patient. The expandable valve element includes a ferromagnetic element that facilitates selective control of the expandable valve element with a magnetic field between an open position and a closed position when positioned within the bladder of the patient. In the closed position, the expandable valve element is configured to seal an internal urethral opening of the patient. In the open position, the expandable valve element is configured to allow urine to pass from the bladder of the patient, through an internal urethral opening of the patient and into a urethra of the patient.

A urethral stent for arrangement in the urethra of a patient is disclosed. The ethereal stent includes a tubular body having first and second openings, retention elements connected to the tubular body at the first opening and to the tubular body at a distance from the first retention element, and a valve. The valve includes a valve seat formed by the first opening and a valve element that is pivotably connected to the tubular body and/or the valve seat. The valve is pivotable between a closed position and an open position to close and open the lumen, respectively. The valve is at least partly made of a ferromagnetic material and has an area which exceeds the area of the first opening. A bladder control assembly comprising the urethral stent is also disclosed.

A urethral stent for arrangement in the urethra of a patient is disclosed. The ethereal stent includes a tubular body having first and second openings, retention elements connected to the tubular body at the first opening and to the tubular body at a distance from the first retention element, and a valve. The valve includes a valve seat formed by the first opening and a valve element that is pivotably connected to the tubular body and/or the valve seat. The valve is pivotable between a closed position and an open position to close and open the lumen, respectively. The valve is at least partly made of a ferromagnetic material and has an area which exceeds the area of the first opening. A bladder control assembly comprising the urethral stent is also disclosed.

An implant for controlling fluid flow within a patient's urethra, the implant comprising a fluid pathway configured to receive a fluid; a seal configured to restrict fluid flow between the fluid pathway and the patient's urethra, in use, and a valve configured to control the flow of the fluid along the fluid pathway.

The invention relates to a urine flow control system (50) including a catheter device (10, 100) for insertion into a urethra, the catheter device (10, 100) having: a proximal end portion (14) and an opposite distal end portion (16, 102), a conduit (C) between said proximal end portion (14) and said distal end portion (16) having a urine inlet opening (2) at said proximal end portion (14) and a urine outlet opening (4, P) at said distal end portion (16, 102), and a magnetically actuatable valve located at said distal end portion (16, 102) for controlled discharge of urine from said catheter device (10, 100) through said outlet opening (4, P), and a magnetic actuator device with an actuator magnet (201), separate from said catheter device (10, 100), for operating said valve, characterized in said magnetic actuator device (200) comprising a housing (205) for receiving urine discharged from said catheter device (10, 100), said housing (205) having a first open end (202) configured for receiving said distal end portion (16, 102) with said magnetically actuatable valve and said outlet opening (4, P), and a second end, said housing (205) having at said first end (202) said actuator magnet (201).

Provided is an implanted urinary control device, which comprises two tool handles. The tool handles each comprise a connecting portion, a urinary tract actuator and a handle actuator. The two tool handles are movably connected to each other via the connecting portions. The two handle actuators move relative to each other, thereby controlling an opening motion of a first urinary tract actuator relative to a second urinary tract actuator. The urinary tract actuator of one of the tool handles is positioned in front of the urinary tract actuator of the other one of the tool handles. The device further comprises tool handle rotation angle limiting mechanisms for limiting opening angles of the urinary tract actuators. The implanted urinary control device has a simple structure, induces less trauma, and provides an ideal urinary control effect.

A urine flow control device, such as an incontinence device, for insertion into a urethra, device comprising: a body having a first end and an opposite second end and a middle part connecting the first end and the second end, a hollow chamber formed in the middle part allowing a mounting tool to extend from the first end to the second end, a fluid channel defined from the second end to the first end via the hollow chamber, a head part at the first end, the head part being integral with said body and comprising a chamber with a displaceable valve member and a valve seal surface, the head part formed so that when a mounting tool is positioned in the device the valve member is displaced inside the head part by the mounting tool and when the mounting tool is not in the device the valve member seals the valve seal surface so as to seal the fluid channel, the head part having an opening for receiving the mounting tool and for urine discharge, the second end being formed so that the distal end of the mounting tool elongates the body when inserted in the hollow chamber and applying an elongating force to the body.

A plurality of bodies that attract one another are provided for implanting in a patient, specifically around a body passage of the patient. For example, the body passage may be the urethra, and the plurality of bodies may be implanted around the outside of the urethra, and the bodies being substantially coaxial with the urethra. The attraction between adjacent bodies may be provided by a magnetic or a mechanical force.