Reflex artificial sphinchter

An artificial sphincter containing, when in use, a pressurizing fluid, the artificial sphincter comprising:

• an inflatable occlusion means for occluding a body passage,
• a stretchable fluid reservoir,
• a pump means having a first port in fluid communication with the inflatable occlusion means via a first tube and a second port in fluid communication with the stretchable fluid reservoir via a second tube for selectively transferring pressurizing fluid from the inflatable occlusion means to the reservoir to deflate the inflatable occlusion means so that a blocked body passage is allowed to be opened;
• a balloon holder having a lumen, wherein the lumen establishes fluid communication in between the stretchable fluid reservoir and the second tube,
• a pressure compensation balloon, wherein the pressure compensation balloon is in fluid communication with the lumen of and, when in use, is to be implanted in an abdomen of a patient,
• a semipermeable check valve, wherein the semipermeable check valve is located in the lumen of the balloon holder, wherein the semipermeable check valve always allows fluid flow coming from the second tube to pass towards the stretchable fluid reservoir and wherein the semipermeable check valve only allows a restricted fluid flow from the stretchable fluid reservoir towards the second tube, and
• a pressure sensitive check valve in between the pressure compensation balloon and the lumen of the balloon holder, wherein the pressure sensitive check valve always allows fluid flow from the pressure compensation balloon towards the lumen so that the fluid contained in the pressure compensation balloon is freely flowable towards the inflatable occlusion means and, when in use, a sudden pressure increase which occurs in the abdomen of the patient is instantly conveyed to the inflatable occlusion means.