Patent classifications
A61F2/004
Connector cuff
An artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) system that includes an elastic tube to be wrapped around a urethra and having at least one connector. The elastic tube has a first end to receive and dispatch fluid and a second end to be connected to the at least one connector. The elastic tube receives and dispatches the fluid to expand and contract the elastic tube and to coapt the urethra for continence and open the urethra for voiding.
Surgical tool and method for identifying an incision site
A method of identifying a site for a perineal incision on a patient includes inserting a distal end portion of an intra-urethral probe into a urethra of the patient, and guiding the distal end portion of the intra-urethral probe along a length of the urethra no farther than a junction in the urethra. The method additionally includes transmitting a signal from the distal end portion of the intra-urethral probe through the urethra, and sensing the signal at a location on a perineal skin surface, where the location correlates with the junction in the urethra.
Artificial urinary sphincter system
An artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) system includes a cuff, a pump, and a single tube that provides the system with an inflatable storage compartment. The single tube is connected between the cuff and the pump and includes a first lumen communicating between the cuff and the pump and a separate second lumen communicating between the cuff and the pump. The cuff is inflatable with a cuff volume of liquid that is sized to selectively close the urethra for treatment of urinary incontinence. The pump is operable to move the cuff volume of liquid out of the cuff to provide the cuff with a deflated state that allows the urethra to open and pass urine. The second lumen has a storage compartment sized to retain the cuff volume of liquid.
System and method for alleviating sleep apnea
A system and method for controlling a device to alleviate sleep apnea comprises determining whether a user of the device is asleep by a microcontroller operatively connected to the device. Using a sensor operatively connected to the microcontroller, it is determined whether a breathing anomaly of the user is detected while the user is asleep. An electromagnet operatively connected to the device generates an electromagnetic field to widen an airway of the user in response to detecting the breathing anomaly while the user is asleep.
Biased artificial sphincter cuff
A cuff for use an as artificial sphincter includes an inflatable chamber and a backing. The inflatable chamber includes opposing inside and outside surfaces and inflated and deflated states. The backing is adjacent the outside surface of the chamber. The inside surface of the chamber includes two or more grooves that define the location of fold lines of the inflatable chamber when the inflatable chamber is in the inflated state. The inflatable chamber and backing are configured to surround a duct of a patient with the inside surface of the chamber facing the duct and the grooves extending substantially parallel to the duct.
Medical arrangement for shutting off a body channel
A medical device for shutting off a body channel is provided including a band section that can be placed around the body tissue surrounding a body channel and can be closed to form a ring enclosing a passage opening for the body tissue, and has a cavity which makes up one part of a working fluid receiving chamber of the device, for receiving working fluid, and a pump unit for conveying the working fluid. The passage opening is made smaller by introducing the working fluid into the cavity. The arrangement also includes a storage container that has a flexible wall which delimits a storage chamber, wherein to apply an additional force to the body tissue guided through the passage opening, the volume of the storage chamber is made smaller by increasing an ambient pressure acting on the storage container, and the wall of the storage container is at least substantially non-extensible.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FIXATION OF IMPLANTABLE DEVICE FOR URINARY CONTINENCE
An implantable device includes a conduit, an adjustable membrane element coupled to the conduit near the front end of the conduit for controllable coaptation of a body lumen, such as coaptation of a urethra as treatment for urinary incontinence, and a fixation mechanism at or near the front end of the conduit. In various embodiments, the fixation mechanism can anchor the implantable device to the tissue using a movement of a push wire. Optionally, the fixation mechanism can also allow the implantable device to be released from the tissue using another movement of the push wire, to allow for re-positioning or removal of the implantable device.
FASTENING MEANS FOR IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL CONTROL ASSEMBLY
A control assembly for implantation in a patient comprises a first unit adapted for subcutaneous implantation at a first side of a body tissue of said patient, a second unit adapted for implantation in a body cavity of said patient at a second side of said body tissue, wherein at least one of the first and the second unit is adapted to control an implanted powered medical device, and an interconnecting device adapted for mechanical interconnection of the first and second units to keep the assembly in place by the body tissue, the interconnecting device having a cross-sectional area which is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the first unit and the second unit in a plane parallel to the extension of the body tissue.
Medical device for narrowing or closing an anatomical channel
A medical device for narrowing or closing an anatomical channel includes a band part (1) which can be placed around the body tissue (2) surrounding the anatomical channel and which can be closed to form a ring that encloses a through-opening (6) for the body tissue, wherein the band part (1) has a hollow chamber (3), and wherein the through-opening (6) can be made smaller by introducing a fluid into the hollow chamber (3). The medical device moreover includes a pump unit (10) which serves to convey the fluid and which has an electric drive (15) controllable by an electronic control system of the device, wherein a pressure value corresponding to the pressure of the fluid in the hollow chamber (3) or dependent on this pressure can be detected by the electronic control system. The device moreover has an air pressure sensor (23) for detecting the atmospheric pressure.
OPERABLE IMPLANT
An operable implant adapted to be implanted in the body of a patient, the operable implant comprising an operation device and a body engaging portion, wherein the operation device comprises a first unit comprising a receiving unit for receiving wireless energy and a first gear system adapted to receive mechanical work having a first force and first velocity, and output mechanical work having a different second force and a different second velocity. The operation device further comprises a second unit comprising an electrical motor adapted to transform electrical energy to the mechanical work, and a distance element adapted to separate the first and second units such that the receiving unit, when receiving wireless energy, is not substantially affected by the second unit.