# US 6,293,923 B1 · Intravesicular balloon > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,293,923 B1 - Document ID: US6293923B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 09/268,109 - Filed: 1999-03-15 - Granted: 2001-09-25 - Earliest claimed: 1999-03-15 - Assignees: INNOVENTIONS, Inc. - Inventors: Daniel Yachia; Eran Hirszowicz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6293923B1 ## CPC - A61M 25/0074: {Dynamic characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. openable, closable, expandable or deformable} - A61F 2/0027: {inflatable} - A61M 2209/04: Tools for specific apparatus - A61M 2210/1085: Bladder - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract An expandable balloon for insertion into the urinary bladder of an individual. The balloon may be used in treating the urinary bladder, in monitoring the urinary bladder or in the treatment of urinary incontinence. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for treating urinary incontinence in an individual comprising the steps of: a) inserting an expandable balloon into the individual's urinary bladder, the balloon having a wall, a lumen and a magnetizable portion wherein the balloon upon expansion has a specific gravity less than or equal to that of urine; b) expanding the balloon in the urinary bladder, and c) displacing the balloon into a sealing position with an external magnetizable displacing member for sealing the urinary bladder. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of displacing the balloon within the urinary bladder into an unsealing position for voiding the urinary bladder. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the one or more substances is a drug or antibiotic. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the magnetizable portion comprises one or more magnetizable particles in the lumen of the balloon. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the magnetizable portion of the balloon comprises one or more magnetizable particles attached to the wall of the balloon. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the magnetizable portion of the balloon comprises one or more magnetizable particles embedded in the wall of the balloon. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the balloon further comprises a self-sealing valve. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the balloon comprises means for storing one or more substances and releasing them into the urinary bladder. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the one or more substances are stored in the lumen of the balloon. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the one or more substances are stored in the wall of the balloon. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the one or more substances is a radioactive substance. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the balloon further comprises imaging means for imaging the urinary bladder. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the balloon comprises a transmitter for transmitting signals from the imaging means to a receiver. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the imaging means comprises a microvideo camera. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the imaging means is affixed to an outer surface of the balloon, embedded within a wall of the balloon, or affixed to an inner surface of the balloon. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the balloon further comprises at least one monitoring means for monitoring urinary bladder parameters and contents of the bladder. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, wherein the at least one monitoring means monitors a parameter of the urinary bladder selected from the group comprising: a) bladder pressure; b) urine temperature; c) urine density; and d) urine composition. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, wherein the balloon further comprises a transmitter for transmitting signals from the monitoring means to a receiver. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, wherein the monitoring means is affixed to an outer surface of the balloon, embedded within a wall of the balloon, or affixed to an inner surface of the balloon. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the balloon is inserted into the urinary bladder using an applicator fitted at an end thereof with a gripping device for releasably gripping the balloon. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the gripping device comprises a plurality of flanges. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the balloon comprises a magnetizable portion and the gripping device comprises a magnetizable portion. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising immobilizing the balloon with an immobilizing member, the immobilizing member comprising a magnetizable portion and being securable onto the individual'a body for immobilizing the balloon at a desired location in the individual's urinary bladder. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method according to claim 23, wherein the immobilizing member is in the form of a hygienic pad positionable in the individual's underwear. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the balloon is expanded using an expanding device. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method according to claim 25, wherein the expanding device comprises a syringe for injecting fluid into the balloon to expand the balloon. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the balloon comprises means for storing one or more substances and releasing them into the urinary bladder; and the method further comprises a step of loading one or more substances into the balloon. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method according to claim 27, wherein at least one of the one or more substances is selected from the group consisting of: a) a drug; b) an antibiotic; and c) a radioactive substance. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the balloon comprises: a) at least one monitoring means for monitoring urinary bladder parameters and contents of the bladder; and b) a transmitter for transmitting signals from the monitoring means to a receiver and the method further comprises transmitting signals from the monitoring means to the receiver. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, further comprising at least one step selected from the group consisting of: a) storing the signals in a computer memory; b) displaying the signals on a display; c) processing the signals in a computer processing unit; d) storing results of the processing in a computer memory; and e) displaying results of the processing on a display. ### Claim 31 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the balloon further comprises: a) imaging means for imaging the urinary bladder; and b) a transmitter for transmitting signals from the imaging means to the receiver; and the method further comprises transmitting signals from the imaging device to the receiver. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31, further comprising at least one step selected from the group consisting of: a) storing the signals in a computer memory; b) displaying the signals on a display; c) processing the signals in a computer processing unit; d) storing results of the processing in a computer memory; and e) displaying results of the processing on a display. ### Claim 33 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the balloon is filled with a compressible fluid and compressed before insertion into the bladder.