Incontinence bladder control method and apparatus

An implantable apparatus for controlling urinary incontinence in a patient, comprising:

• a reservoir containing fluid positionable subcutaneously over the patient's anterior pubis;
• inflatable compression means positionable intrapelvically above the patient's pelvic diaphragm between the patient's posterior pubic symphysis and urethra for occluding the urethra;
• conduit means arranged to extend over the patient's superior pubis through the abdominal wall between said reservoir and said compression means to provide fluid communication therebetween for inflating the compression means in response to fluid flow from said reservoir;
• said inflatable compression means being arranged to compress against the urethra and/or bladder neck along an extended area of only the anterior side thereof, the compression means comprising an inflatable balloon having a semirigid skirt surrounding an entrance portion of the balloon for directing the expansion of the balloon preferentially in a direction axially of the balloon from said entrance so as to compress the urethra in an inferior-posterior direction.

An implantable apparatus for controlling urinary incontinence in a patient, comprising:

• a reservoir containing fluid positionable subcutaneously over the patient's anterior pubis;
• inflatable compression means positionable intrapelvically above the patient's pelvic diaphragm between the patient's posterior public symphysis and urethra for occluding the urethra;
• conduit means arranged to extend over the patient's superior pubis through the abdominal wall between said reservoir and said compression means to provide fluid communication therebetween for inflating the compression means in response to fluid flow from said reservoir;
• said inflatable compression means being arranged to compress against the urethra and/or bladder neck along an extended area of only the anterior side thereof, the compression means comprising an inflatable balloon having a sidewall of variable thickness, the thickness being greatest in an entrance portion of the balloon and least in an end portion remote from the entrance of the balloon for directing the expansion of the balloon preferentially in a direction axially of the balloon from said entrance so as to compress the urethra in an inferior-posterior direction.

An implantable apparatus for controlling urinary incontinence in a patient, comprising:

• a reservoir containing fluid positionable subcutaneously over the patient's anterior pubis;
• inflatable compression means positionable intrapelvically above the pelvic diaphragm between the patient's posterior pubic symphysis and urethra and arranged to compress solely against the anterior side of urethra along an extended area for occluding the urethra;
• conduit means providing fluid communication between said reservoir and said compression means for inflating the compression means in response to fluid flow from said reservoir and interconnecting the reservoir and compression means with said conduit means extending over the pubis;
• valve means in the conduit means between said reservoir and said compression means for retaining fluid discharged from the reservoir in the compression means under pressure;
• and
• means for directing inflation of said compression means preferentially in a posterior-inferior direction when said compression means is so positioned;
• the valve means being positioned adjacent the reservoir for subcutaneous positioning therewith and including means externally actuable manually by the patient for releasing a reverse flow of fluid from the compression means to permit voiding.