URINARY PUMPING DEVICE WITH AN IMPLANTABLE ACTIVATION ARRANGEMENT

Abstract

A urinary pumping device (1) for generating a fluid flow through an urethra (22; 220) of a patient (2; 20), comprises an implantable activation arrangement (11) and a control unit (12). The implantable activation arrangement (11) is configured to induce intermittent compression and release of the urethra (22) when being implanted into the patient (2). The control unit (12) is coupled to the activation arrangement (11). The control unit (12) is configured to operate the activation arrangement (11) such that the fluid flow through the urethra (22) is generated by the activation arrangement (11) inducing intermittent compression and release of the urethra (22).

Claims

1. A urinary pumping device for generating a fluid flow through an urethra of a patient comprising: an implantable activation arrangement configured to induce intermittent compression and release of the urethra when being implanted into the patient; and a control unit coupled to the activation arrangement, wherein the control unit is configured to operate the activation arrangement such that the fluid flow through the urethra is generated by the activation arrangement inducing intermittent compression and release of the urethra.

2. The urinary pumping device of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to operate the activation arrangement to work as an impedance pump.

3. The urinary pumping device of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to control the activation arrangement such that a periodic compression and release of the urethra is generated by the activation arrangement at a predefined frequency.

4. The urinary pumping device of claim 3, wherein the predefined frequency is in a range of about 1 Hz to about 50 Hz and, preferably, in a range of about 5 Hz to about 20 Hz.

5. The urinary pumping device of claim 1, wherein the activation arrangement comprises an implantable electrode configured to be implantable into the body of the patient such that the urethral sphincter of the patient is stimulatable by an electric field generated by the electrode of the activation arrangement.

6. The urinary pumping device of claim 1, wherein the activation arrangement comprises a surrounding portion dimensioned to be arranged around the urethra of the patient.

7. The urinary pumping device of claim 6, wherein the surrounding portion comprises a cuff.

8. The urinary pumping device of claim 6, wherein the surrounding portion comprises a ring portion.

9. The urinary pumping device of claim 6, wherein the activation arrangement comprises a diameter adjuster configured to reduce a diameter of the surrounding portion when being arranged around the urethra of the patient.

10. The urinary pumping device of claim 6, wherein the surrounding portion of the activation arrangement comprises a dimension variable material which exhibits a change of a diameter of the surrounding portion when stimulated.

11. The urinary pumping device of claim 10, wherein the control unit comprises a signal sender configured to send a stimulation signal to stimulate the dimension variable material of the surrounding portion of the activation arrangement.

12. The urinary pumping device of claim 1, comprising a power supply unit configured to provide power to the activation arrangement.

13. The urinary pumping device of claim 1, wherein the control unit is arranged to be separate from the activation arrangement such that it is positionable remote from the activation arrangement.

14. The urinary pumping device of claim 13, wherein the activation arrangement comprises a first wireless adapter and the control unit comprises a second wireless adapter in communication with the first wireless adapter.

15. The urinary pumping device of claim 1, wherein the activation arrangement comprises a pushing member, and the pushing member is configured to compress the urethra of the patient.

16. The urinary pumping device of claim 3, wherein the control unit is configured to control the activation arrangement such that a periodic compression and release of the urethra is generated by the activation arrangement at a predefined amplitude, a predefined pressure, a predefined force and/or a predefined duty cycle, in addition to the predefined frequency.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The urinary pumping device according to the invention is described in more detail herein below by way of exemplary embodiments and with reference to the attached schematic drawings, in which:

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a first embodiment of a urinary pumping device according to the invention for a male patient; and

[0030] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a second embodiment of a urinary pumping device according to the invention for a female patient.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0031] In the following description certain terms are used for reasons of convenience and are not intended to limit the invention. The terms “right”, “left”, “up”, “down”, “under” and “above” refer to directions in the figures. The terminology comprises the explicitly mentioned terms as well as their derivations and terms with a similar meaning. Also, spatially relative terms, such as “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”, “upper”, “proximal”, “distal”, and the like, may be used to describe one element's or feature's relationship to another element or feature as illustrated in the figures. These spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different positions and orientations of the devices in use or operation in addition to the position and orientation shown in the figures. For example, if a device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be “above” or “over” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both positions and orientations of above and below. The devices may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations), and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. Likewise, descriptions of movement along and around various axes include various special device positions and orientations.

[0032] To avoid repetition in the figures and the descriptions of the various aspects and illustrative embodiments, it should be understood that many features are common to many aspects and embodiments. Omission of an aspect from a description or figure does not imply that the aspect is missing from embodiments that incorporate that aspect. Instead, the aspect may have been omitted for clarity and to avoid prolix description. In this context, the following applies to the rest of this description: If, in order to clarify the drawings, a figure contains reference signs which are not explained in the directly associated part of the description, then it is referred to previous or following description sections. Further, for reason of lucidity, if in a drawing not all features of a part are provided with reference signs it is referred to other drawings showing the same part. Like numbers in two or more figures represent the same or similar elements.

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a urinary pumping device 1 applied to a male patient 2. The male patient 2 is schematically depicted such that some portions of inside his body are visible. In particular, a rectum 25, a bladder 23, a penis 21, an urethra 22 extending from the bladder 23 to an outlet of the penis 21, and a prostate 24 of the patient 2 are visible.

[0034] The urinary pumping device 1 comprises an activation arrangement with a cuff 11 as surrounding portion. The activation arrangement is implanted into the body of the patient 2 such that the cuff 11 is positioned around the urethra 22. The activation arrangement further has a first wireless adapter 111 mounted to the cuff 11. The urinary pumping device 1 further comprises a control unit 12 equipped with a second wireless adapter 121. The first and second wireless adapters 111, 121 are configured to establish a communication connection between the cuff 11 and the control unit 12. In particular, the control unit 12 is configured to transfer operation signals to the cuff 11 via the first and second wireless adapters 111, 121. The control unit 12 is equipped with a battery 13 as power supply unit. The battery 13 directly supplies energy to the components of the control unit 12 and indirectly supplies energy to the activation arrangement via induction.

[0035] The control unit 12 is configured to control the cuff 11 such that a periodic compression and release of the urethra 22 is generated by the cuff 11. More specifically, the control unit 12 induces the periodic compression and release of the urethra, wherein this compression and release is provided at a frequency in a range of about 5 Hz to about 20 Hz, at a predefined amplitude, a predefined duty cycle, a predefined force and a predefined pressure. These parameters can be adjusted by the patient 2 via the control unit 12. In this way, an impedance pump is implemented in the urethra 22 such that a flow of urine is induced from the bladder 23 to outside the patient's 2 body. In this way, the bladder 23 can be more or less completely emptied such that quasi no urine resides in the bladder 23.

[0036] In FIG. 2 a second embodiment of a urinary pumping device 10 applied to a female patient 20 is shown. The female patient 20 is again schematically depicted such that some portions of inside her body are visible. In particular, a rectum 250, a bladder 230, a vagina 210, an urethra 220 extending from the bladder 230 to an outlet and a pubic bone 240 of the patient 20 are visible.

[0037] The urinary pumping device 10 comprises an activation arrangement with a cuff 110 as surrounding portion. The activation arrangement is implanted into the body of the patient 20 such that the cuff 110 is positioned around the urethra 220.

[0038] The urinary pumping device 10 further comprises a control unit 120 equipped with a wireless simulation signal sender 1210. The cuff 110 is made of a dimension variable polymeric material which can be stimulated. In particular, the cuff 11 is configured to reduce its diameter when receiving a stimulation signal from the control unit 120 via the simulation signal sender 1210. The simulation signal can, e.g., be a ultrasonic signal or the like. Like this, the control unit 120 can exhibit a change of a diameter of the cuff 110 by stimulating the material of the cuff 110.

[0039] The control unit 120 is equipped with a battery 130 as power supply unit. It further is configured to control the diameter of the cuff 110 such that a periodic compression and release of the urethra 220 is generated. More specifically, the control unit 120 induces the periodic compression and release of the urethra, wherein this compression and release is provided at a frequency in a range of about 5 Hz to about 20 Hz, at a predefined amplitude, a predefined duty cycle, a predefined force and a predefined pressure. In this way, an impedance pump is implemented in the urethra 220 such that a flow of urine is induced from the bladder 230 to outside the patient's 20 body. In this way, the bladder 230 can be more or less completely emptied such that quasi no urine resides in the bladder 230.

[0040] This description and the accompanying drawings that illustrate aspects and embodiments of the present invention should not be taken as limiting-the claims defining the protected invention. In other words, while the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. Various mechanical, compositional, structural, electrical, and operational changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this description and the claims. In some instances, well-known circuits, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the invention. Thus, it will be understood that changes and modifications may be made by those of ordinary skill within the scope and spirit of the following claims. In particular, the present invention covers further embodiments with any combination of features from different embodiments described above and below.

[0041] The disclosure also covers all further features shown in the Figs. individually although they may not have been described in the afore or following description. Also, single alternatives of the embodiments described in the figures and the description and single alternatives of features thereof can be disclaimed from the subject matter of the invention or from disclosed subject matter. The disclosure comprises subject matter consisting of the features defined in the claims or the exemplary embodiments as well as subject matter comprising said features.

[0042] Furthermore, in the claims the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. A single unit or step may fulfil the functions of several features recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. The terms “essentially”, “about”, “approximately” and the like in connection with an attribute or a value particularly also define exactly the attribute or exactly the value, respectively. The term “about” in the context of a given numerate value or range refers to a value or range that is, e.g., within 20%, within 10%, within 5%, or within 2% of the given value or range. Components described as coupled or connected may be electrically or mechanically directly coupled, or they may be indirectly coupled via one or more intermediate components. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.