Apparatus for controlling flow in a bodily organ

An intestinal dysfunction treatment apparatus comprising an implantable constriction device configured to gently constrict at least one portion of the tissue wall of a patient's intestines to influence the flow of intestinal contents in the intestinal passageway of the intestines, a stimulation device configured to stimulate the wall portion of the tissue wall, and a control device operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion, as the constriction device constricts the wall portion, to cause contraction of the wall portion to further influence the flow of intestinal contents.

A urinary dysfunction treatment apparatus comprising an implantable constriction device configured to gently constrict at least one portion of the tissue wall of patient's urethra, ureter, renal pelvis or urine bladder to influence the flow of urine, a stimulation device configured to stimulate the wall portion of the tissue wall, and a control device operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion, as the constriction device constricts the wall portion, to cause contraction of the wall portion to further influence the flow of urine.

An obesity treatment apparatus comprising an implantable constriction device configured to gently constrict at least one portion of the tissue wall of a patient's stomach to influence the food flow in a food passageway of the stomach, a stimulation device configured to stimulate the wall portion of the tissue wall, and a control device operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion, as the constriction device constricts the wall portion, to cause contraction of the wall portion to further influence the food flow in the food passageway of the stomach.

An obesity treatment apparatus for treating an obese patient surgically modified by any one of a group of operations called Vertical Banded Gastroplasty, wherein the stomach is compartmentalized into a smaller proximal compartment adjacent the esophagus and a larger distal compartment, the smaller proximal compartment communicating with the larger distal compartment through an outlet opening, the apparatus comprising an implantable constriction device configured to gently constrict at least one wall portion of the tissue wall of the patient's stomach to influence the food flow in a food passageway extending in the smaller proximal compartment through the outlet opening, an implantable stimulation device configured to stimulate the wall portion of the tissue wall, and a control device operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion, as the constriction device constricts the wall portion, to cause contraction of the wall portion to further influence the food flow in the food passageway.

A sexual dysfunction treatment apparatus for treating an impotent male patient comprising:

• a stimulation device configured to stimulate at least one penile portion of the patient's normal penile tissue or the prolongation thereof, and
• a control device operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate the penile portion to cause contraction thereof to at least restrict the blood flow leaving the penis to achieve erection.

A sexual dysfunction treatment apparatus for treating a female patient comprising:

• an implantable stimulation device configured to stimulate at least one portion of the patient's female erectile tissue, and
• a control device operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate the erectile tissue portion to cause contraction thereof to at least restrict the venous blood flow leaving the erectile tissue to obtain engorgement with blood of the female erectile tissue.

A pregnancy control apparatus comprising:

• a movement influence device configured to influence the movement of an egg appearing in the lumen of a uterine tube of a female patient, and
• a control device operable to control the movement influence device to influence the movement of the egg in the lumen of the uterine tube.

A pregnancy control apparatus comprising:

• a flow influence device configured to influence a flow of sperms appearing in the lumen of a uterine tube of a female patient, and
• a control device operable to control the flow influence device to influence the flow of sperms in the uterine tube.

A blood flow control apparatus for controlling a flow of blood and/or other bodily matter in a patient's blood vessel, the apparatus comprising an implantable constriction device configured to gently constrict at least one portion of the tissue wall of the blood vessel to influence the flow in the blood vessel, a stimulation device configured to stimulate the wall portion of the tissue wall, and a control device operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion, as the constriction device constricts the wall portion, to cause contraction of the wall portion to further influence the flow in the blood vessel.

A vascular aneurysm treatment apparatus for treating a vascular aneurysm of a blood vessel in a human or mammal patient, the apparatus comprising an implantable constriction device configured to gently constrict at least one portion of the tissue wall of the blood vessel extending along the aneurysm to reduce the bulge of the blood vessel caused by the aneurysm, a stimulation device for stimulating the wall portion of the blood vessel tissue wall, and a control device for controlling the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion, as the constriction device constricts the wall portion, to cause contraction of the wall portion to further reduce the bulge of the blood vessel and strengthen the blood vessel tissue wall.

A male contraception apparatus for obtaining a time-limited sterility of a male mammalian individual comprising:

• a flow influence device configured to influence a flow of sperms appearing in the lumen of a vas deference of a male patient, and
• a control device operable to control the flow influence device to influence the flow of sperms in the vas deference.

A gallstone trouble treatment apparatus for treating a patient suffering from gallstone trouble, comprising at least one implantable stimulation device configured to stimulate at least one portion of the tissue wall of a biliary duct of the patient, and a control device operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate the tissue wall portion to cause contraction of the tissue wall portion to influence the movement of bile and/or gallstones in the biliary duct.

A pregnancy control apparatus for promoting pregnancy comprising a restriction device configured to postoperatively be adjusted to restrict and release an oviduct of the patient.

A pregnancy control apparatus for avoiding pregnancy comprising a restriction device configured to postoperatively be adjusted to restrict and release an oviduct of the patient.

A male contraception apparatus for obtaining temporary sterility of a male mammalian individual comprising an implantable restriction device configured to restrict the patient's vas deference in the region downstream the ampulla during a controlled period, the restriction device thereby being capable of preventing sperms to reach the urethra, and a control device operable to control the operation of the restriction device.

A female sexual dysfunction treatment apparatus, comprising a stimulation device configured to stimulate a female patient's erectile blood flow passageway to increase the amount of blood in the female erectile tissue and thereby obtaining engorgement with blood of the female erectile tissue by affecting the erectile blood flow passageway.

A female sexual dysfunction treatment apparatus, comprising a device configured to increase the amount of blood in the female erectile tissue and thereby obtaining engorgement with blood of the female erectile tissue.

A system according to claim 622 comprising an implantable device that comprises a heating member for temporarily raising the temperature of the smooth muscle surrounding the artery thereby increasing the blood flow in said artery.

A system for treating a patient having a disorder related to the patient's intestine, comprising an artificial reservoir adapted for receiving and temporarily collecting therein intestinal contents and further adapted to remain within the patient's body when emptying the reservoir, wherein the system further comprises an at least partly artificial flow control device implantable in the patient's body and adapted to control flow of the intestinal contents from the reservoir, wherein the system comprises at least one conduit connected to the reservoir and adapted to be introduced into a surgically divided intestinal opening in the intestine to hold an intestinal wall portion on the outside of the conduit, the system further comprising a flexible sleeve adapted to be placed onto the intestine when the reservoir is implanted, so as to extend over the intestinal wall portion and the conduit such that at least part of the intestinal wall portion is located intermediate the sleeve and the outer surface of the conduit, wherein the sleeve is adapted to increase the strength of the connection between the system and the patient's intestine against forces, resulting from the peristaltic movement of the intestine, which tend to pull on the intestine, when said artificial intestine section is long term implanted.

The system of claim 935, comprising a first passage in flow communication with the reservoir and adapted to being connected to a surgically created first opening of the patient's intestine, said first passage being arranged for transferring intestinal contents to the reservoir, and further comprising a second passage in flow communication with the reservoir, said second passage being arranged for transferring intestinal contents from the reservoir.

The system of claim 969, wherein the sleeve adapted to increase the strength of the connection between the intestine section and the patient's intestine against axial forces resulting from peristaltic movements of the intestine which tend to pull on the intestine, comprising resorbable non-polymeric material

The system of claim 969, wherein said holding device is adapted to hold a suture or stapler mounted through the peritoneal wall.

The system of claim 969, wherein said holding device comprising a part intended for placement outside the peritoneum, when implanted, adapted to pass through the peritoneal wall and hold said intestinal section.

An artificial intestine section adapted to be implanted inside a patient's body, said intestine section having a first open end portion and a second open end portion in flow communication with one another, wherein at least the first open end portion is adapted to being connected to a surgically created lateral opening in a wall of the patient's intestine, wherein the artificial intestine section comprising at least one element adapted to directly or indirectly interact with intestinal contents contained in the artificial intestine section between the first and second open end portions thereof, wherein the at least one element comprises at least an artificial reservoir between the first and second open end portions for receiving and temporarily collecting therein intestinal contents supplied through the first open end portion, wherein said second open end portion is adapted to receive intestinal contents for emptying said reservoir.

The artificial intestine section of claim 833, wherein the at least one valve comprises at least one passage for filling and emptying the compartment with hydraulic fluid.

An apparatus for treating a patient having a disorder related to the passageway of the patient's intestines, the apparatus comprising a pump for implantation in the patient operable on at least one selected portion of the intestines to pump intestinal contents through the passageway of the intestines, wherein said pump includes a constriction device adapted to alternately constrict and release the selected portion to at least substantially reduce the volume of the passageway of the intestines along the selected portion and release the selected portion to increase the volume of the passageway of the intestines along the selected portion, such that intestinal contents is displaced through the passageway of the intestines.

A system for treating a patient having a disorder related to a patient's intestine and a reservoir for receiving and temporarily collecting therein intestinal contents, the reservoir being formed from surgically modified intestine that has been cut along a mutual contact line of laterally adjacent sections of a bent portion of intestine and connected so that the resulting upper and lower halves of the intestine form an intestinal wall of the reservoir, wherein the system comprises an artificial flow control device implantable in the patient's body and adapted to control flow of the intestinal contents from said reservoir, the flow control device comprising at least one pump adapted to act on said intestinal wall so as to reduce the reservoir's volume, thereby emptying the reservoir.

The system according to 1056, wherein the energy source comprises a wireless energy transmitter adapted to wirelessly transmit energy from outside the patient's body to the at least one energy consuming part.

A system for treating a patient having a disorder related to the patient's intestine, comprising an artificial reservoir adapted for receiving and temporarily collecting therein intestinal contents and further adapted to remain within the patient's body when emptying the reservoir, wherein the system further comprises an at least partly artificial flow control device implantable in the patient's body and adapted to control flow of the intestinal contents in the intestine, wherein said reservoir comprises a single opening, said opening being adapted to be connected to a surgically created opening in the patient's intestine when implanted so as to be in flow communication with the intestine, wherein the reservoir is adapted for receiving and temporarily collecting therein intestinal contents as well as emptying the intestinal contents from the reservoir through said single opening, the system further comprising an implantable pump for emptying the reservoir, wherein said pump is adapted to be controlled from outside the human body.

The system of claim 1144, wherein the holding device being adapted to hold sutures and staplers passing through the peritoneal wall, when implanted, to hold said artificial intestine section.

A stimulation device for treating a vascular aneurysm of a human or mammal patient comprising:

• —at least one implantable electrode adapted to placed in close connection to the aneurysm, the at least one electrode being adapted to provide an electrical stimulation pulse on a wall portion of the aneurysm.