US 2006/0142636 A1 · Artificial sphincter with variable viscosity fluid-filled collar

Abstract

Systems and methods for supplementing control of an anatomical sphincter. A collar containing variable viscosity fluid surrounds a portion of an anatomical conduit. The flow of bodily fluids through the anatomical conduit occurs according to the viscosity level of the variable viscosity fluid. Electro-rheologic fluid in the collar liquefies in the absence of an electrical potential difference to render the collar pliable, permitting the anatomical conduit to expand and fluid to flow through the anatomical conduit. Electro-rheologic fluid in the collar solidifies in the presence of an electrical potential difference to render the collar firm, restricting the anatomical conduit from expanding and restricting fluid from passing through the anatomical conduit. A control unit, or battery, operable in response to sensed pressure data or according to an external control unit manipulated by a patient, determines when an electrical potential difference is generated to change the state of the electro-rheologic fluid in the collar. Magneto-rheologic fluids can instead be used in the collar. An implanted or external control unit, or other magnetic source, determines when a magnetic field is generated to change the state of the magneto-rheologic fluid in the collar based on sensed pressure data or according to an external control unit operated by the patient.

Claims33

Dependent claims

An artificial sphincter system comprising:

a collar surrounding a portion of an anatomical conduit;
a variable viscosity fluid contained within the collar, the variable viscosity fluid having at least a liquefied state and a solidified state;
a sensor that receives pressure data of the anatomical conduit or organ to be emptied through the anatomical conduit;
and
a first control unit having an “ON” mode that creates conditions that change the variable viscosity fluid within the collar from the liquefied state to the solidified state, and an “OFF” mode that changes the variable viscosity fluid from the solidified state to the liquefied state, wherein the collar having the variable viscosity fluid in a solidified state restricts fluid flow through the anatomical conduit, and the collar having the variable viscosity fluid in a liquefied state permits fluid flow through the anatomical conduit.

2 more elements

A method for supplementing a natural sphincter muscle, the method comprising:

providing a collar surrounding a portion of an anatomical conduit;
providing a variable viscosity fluid within the collar, the variable viscosity fluid changeable between at least a liquefied state and a solidified state;
providing a sensor that receives pressure data from the anatomical conduit or organ to be emptied through the anatomical conduit;
providing a first control unit having an “ON” mode that creates conditions to change the variable viscosity fluid within the collar from the liquefied state to the solidified state, and an “OFF” mode that terminates the conditions and returns the variable viscosity fluid from the solidified state to the liquefied state;
providing an external control unit operable by a patient, the external control unit having an active input state that overrides the first control unit mode, and an inactive state that defers to the first control unit mode;
determining the first control unit mode according to the pressure data received by the sensor or according to the external control unit;
and
supplementally controlling the flow of fluid through the anatomical conduit by controlling the variable viscosity fluid in the collar according to the presence or absence of the created conditions, whereby the liquefied fluid in the collar permits fluid flow through the anatomical conduit and the solidified fluid in the collar restricts fluid flow through the anatomical conduit.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Artificial sphincter with variable viscosity fluid-filled collar

Life of this patent

Artificial sphincter with variable viscosity fluid-filled collar

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims33