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US 10,307,236 B2Granted
Biased artificial sphincter cuff
AssigneeBoston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
InventorBuddy L. Snow
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
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.
Claims20
A cuff for use as an artificial sphincter around a duct of a patient, the cuff comprising:
- an inflatable chamber having an inside surface, an outside surface opposite the inside surface, an inflated state, and a deflated state, the inflatable chamber having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion being coupled to the second end portion when the cuff is installed around the duct of the patient;
- a backing adjacent the outside surface of the inflatable chamber;
- and
- a biasing mechanism including two or more grooves, wherein the grooves predefine the location of fold lines of the inflatable chamber, at which the inflatable chamber will fold upon itself when the inflatable chamber is in the inflated state, wherein the inflatable chamber and the backing are configured to surround the duct of the patient with the inside surface of the inflatable chamber facing the duct and the grooves extending substantially parallel to the duct,
- wherein the backing includes a flexible member, a first elongated reinforcing member attached to the flexible member, and a second elongated reinforcing member attached to the flexible member, at least one groove being disposed between the first elongated reinforcing member and the second elongated reinforcing member, wherein the first elongated reinforcing member and the second elongated reinforcing member are disposed on an outer surface of the flexible member, wherein the first elongated reinforcing member and the second elongated reinforcing member are disposed apart from each other along a longitudinal axis of the backing at locations between the first end portion of the inflatable chamber and the second end portion of the inflatable chamber, the first elongated reinforcing member having a length that extends substantially parallel to the at least one groove, the second elongated reinforcing member having a length that extends substantially parallel to the at least one groove.
2 more elements
An artificial sphincter system for controlling a flow through a duct of a patient, the system comprising:
- a balloon;
- a cuff comprising:
- an inflatable chamber having an inside surface, an outside surface opposite the inside surface, an inflated state, and a deflated state, the inflatable chamber having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion being coupled to the second end portion when the cuff is installed around the duct of the patient;
- a backing adjacent the outside surface of the inflatable chamber;
- and
- a biasing mechanism including two or more grooves, wherein the grooves predefine the location of fold lines of the inflatable chamber, at which the inflatable chamber will fold upon itself when the inflatable chamber is in the inflated state, wherein the inflatable chamber and the backing are configured to surround the duct of the patient with the inside surface of the inflatable chamber facing the duct and the grooves extending substantially parallel to the duct,
- wherein the backing includes a flexible member, a first elongated reinforcing member attached to the flexible member, and a second elongated reinforcing member attached to the flexible member, at least one groove being disposed between the first elongated reinforcing member and the second elongated reinforcing member, wherein the first elongated reinforcing member and the second elongated reinforcing member are disposed on an outer surface of the flexible member, wherein the first elongated reinforcing member and the second elongated reinforcing member are disposed apart from each other along a longitudinal axis of the backing at locations between the first end portion of the inflatable chamber and the second end portion of the inflatable chamber, the first elongated reinforcing member having a length that extends substantially parallel to the at least one groove, the second elongated reinforcing member having a length that extends substantially parallel to the at least one groove;
- and
- a control pump fluidically coupled to the balloon and the cuff.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.