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US 5,513,660 AGranted
Expandable urethral plug
AssigneeUroMed Corporation
InventorsJohn G. Simon, Paul D. McLaughlin, Leo C. Felice
Life of this patent
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AssigneeUroMed Corporation
InventorsJohn G. Simon, Paul D. McLaughlin, Leo C. Felice
Estimating the term…
A device for the control of urinary incontinence comprising a urethral plug self-movable between a first condition in which the plug is relatively rigid and generally tubular, with a smaller diameter for travel through the orifice of the urethra, and a second condition in which the plug is flexible and expansible to a larger diameter for retaining the plug in a mammalian body and blocking the flow of urine. A larger diameter is achieved by exposure of a tube-like member of the plug to natural bodily conditions, resulting in an automatic expansion of the tube, whereupon the expansion causes the tube-like member to form a seal with the urethra, bladder neck or bladder wall. The plug further has a meatal plate for anchoring the plug in the urethra and preventing migration into the bladder. Removal of the plug for bladder evacuation is easily accomplished by grasping and pulling a tab associated with the meatal plate, or in another embodiment by pulling on a cord means associated with the meatal plate, causing the deformation of the expanded tube to a smaller diameter. In accordance with a further feature of the invention, there is provided a method for controlling incontinence in mammals.
A remove-to-void device for blocking unwanted flow of urine comprising an expandable member, said member comprising a plastic polymer processing a first shape prior to insertion into a human body said first shape being insufficient in size and volume to form a plug to block the flow of urine and a second shape following insertion into said human body, said second shape being in response to the environment of the urethra, bladder neck or bladder, said second shape forming a urine-impermeable plug, said urine-impermeable plug being of sufficient size and volume so as to remain in place against the flow of urine said second shape occuring automatically without user intervention, such that in said first shape said member is adapted to be configured in its non-expanded disposition, and in said second shape said member is adapted to be configured in its expanded disposition.
A remove-to-void device for use in the urethra to control urinary incontinence comprising an expandable member, said member comprising a plastic polymer and being adapted to assume a first condition in which said member is relatively rigid and substantially tubular in configuration, said first condition being insufficient in size and volume to form a plug to block the flow of urine, said member being further adapted to assume a second condition in which said member becomes flexible and expandable in response to the environment of the urethra, bladder neck or bladder, said second condition forming a urine-impermeable plug, said urine-impermeable plug being of sufficient size and volume so as to remain in place against the walls of the urethra, bladder neck or bladder while blocking the flow of urine, wherein said first condition exists prior to insertion of said device into a human body and said second condition exists automatically without user intervention following insertion of said device into the human body, the device further comprising a cord attached to said member, which when pulled by a wearer, allows said plug to be removed so that the wearer can void.
An automatically expanding, remove-to-void device for blocking unwanted flow of urine comprising a shaft substantially tubular in configuration having an expandable, deformable member at the proximal end of said shaft, said member comprising a plastic polymer and possessing a first shape prior to insertion into a human body, said first shape being insufficient in size and volume to form a plug to block the flow of urine, and a second shape following exposure to bodily conditions in the environment of the urethra, bladder neck or bladder after insertion therein, said second shape forming a urine-impermeable plug, said urine-impermeable plug being of sufficient size and volume so as remain in place against the walls of the urethra, bladder neck or bladder while blocking the flow of urine, said second shape occurring automatically without user intervention, the device further comprising a cord attached to said shaft, which when pulled, allows a wearer to remove the device to void.
A method for preventing an unwanted discharge of urine comprising the following steps:
A method for preventing an unwanted discharge of urine comprising the following steps:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.