Method and apparatus for monitoring implantable device for urinary continence
AssigneeUromedica, Inc.
InventorsTimothy C. Cook, John H. Burton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
One or more sensors are incorporated onto one or more of an implantable device and a surgical tool used for placement and/or adjustment of the implantable device. The implantable device includes an adjustable membrane element for controllable coaptation of a body lumen, such as coaptation of a urethra as treatment for urinary incontinence. In various embodiments, the one or more sensors can be configured to detect information indicative of at least one of a shape of the adjustable membrane element, a position of the adjustable membrane element relative to the body lumen, or a shape of the body lumen.
Claims16
An implantable device kit for controllable coaptation of a body lumen in tissue of a living body, comprising:
- a sensor probe including a probe front end and a sensor incorporated onto the probe front end, the sensor is configured to detect information indicative of a degree of the coaptation of the body lumen;
- and
- an implantable device including:
- an adjustable membrane element including a continuous wall having an inner surface defining a chamber, the adjustable membrane element configured to coapt the body lumen;
- an elongate conduit including a conduit peripheral surface, a conduit rear end, a conduit front end, a first conduit lumen, and a second conduit lumen, the conduit peripheral surface connected to and sealed to the adjustable membrane element at or near the conduit front end, the first conduit lumen having a first opening at the conduit rear end and a second opening in fluid communication with the chamber, the second conduit lumen configured to receive a portion of the sensor probe including the probe front end and to allow the probe front end to advance to a position at or near the conduit front end for the sensor to receive a signal including the information to be detected;
- and
- a rear port connected to the conduit rear end and including a cavity in fluid communication with the first opening of the first conduit,
- wherein the second conduit lumen comprises:
- an outlet at or near the conduit front end allowing the probe front end including the sensor to protrude from the elongate conduit;
- and
- a lumen shoulder,
- wherein the sensor probe is configured for use as a push rod for advancing the implantable device in the tissue during an implantation of the implantable device and comprises a probe shoulder configured to abut the lumen shoulder to allow for transfer of force applied to the sensor probe to the implantable device.
A method for controllable coaptation of a body lumen in tissue of a living body, comprising:
- providing a sensor probe including a probe front end and a sensor incorporated onto the probe front end;
- providing an implantable device including:
- an adjustable membrane element including a continuous wall having an inner surface defining a chamber, the adjustable membrane element configured to coapt the body lumen;
- an elongate conduit including a conduit peripheral surface, a conduit rear end, a conduit front end, a first conduit lumen, and a second conduit lumen, the conduit peripheral surface connected to and sealed to the adjustable membrane element at or near the conduit front end, the first conduit lumen having a first opening at the conduit rear end and a second opening in fluid communication with the chamber, the second conduit lumen configured to accommodate a portion of the sensor probe including the probe front end and to allow the probe front end to advance to a position at or near the conduit front end for the sensor to receive a signal including information to be detected;
- and
- a rear port connected to the conduit rear end and including a cavity in fluid communication with the first opening of the first conduit;
- and
- detecting the information using the signal received by the sensor when the portion of the sensor probe is placed in the second conduit lumen, the detected information indicative of a degree of the coaptation of the body lumen.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.