Implantable body fluid flow control device

A method for controlling the flow of a body fluid within a canal in a host body comprising the steps of:

• making an incision in the host body at a selected location to provide access to a selected canal;
• placing an implantable body fluid control device having an electrically operated piston at a selected location around the selected canal to implant said implantable device inside the host body without severing the selected canal to implant said implantable device around the selected canal or operate said implantable device following said implantation thereof;
• and
• locking said implantable device in a closed position following said implantation, so that said constricting piston when operated engages and sufficiently constricts a selected portion of the selected canal to control the flow of the body fluid through the selected canal.

An implantable fluid flow control device for fitting around a body tube without having to sever the body tube to implant said implantable device or to operate said implantable device following implantation thereof, said implantable device comprising:

• a first shell;
• a second shell;
• a hinge for pivotally coupling the first shell to the second shell to form a hollow assembly around the body tube having an open position and a closed position;
• a lock for locking said hollow assembly into the closed position;
• a constricting device for restricting fluid flow through the body tube;
• and
• a control device for selectively moving said constricting device between an extended position to constrict a portion of the selected area of the canal to reduce or stop fluid flow through the canal and a retracted positioned to open the constricted portion of the selected area of the canal to permit fluid flow through the canal, following the implantation of the implantable fluid flow control device.

An implantable apparatus for controlling fluid flow through a canal within a host body without having to sever the canal to implant said implantable apparatus, said implantable apparatus comprising:

• an engaging component for engaging a canal within the body, the canal having a diameter, said engaging component comprising a plurality of portals for allowing body fluid flow outside the canal;
• a constricting element for restricting fluid flow through the canal when said constricting element is activated;
• and
• a control device for activating said constriction element to reduce the diameter of the canal.

A method for controlling the flow of a body fluid within a canal in a host body comprising the steps of:

• making an incision in the host body to provide access to a selected canal;
• placing a controllable constricting device around the selected canal without severing the selected canal;
• locking the controllable constricting device in a closed position, wherein the canal is engaged by the constricting device, so that, when the constricting device is activated, fluid flow through the selected canal is controlled;
• and
• removing the sphincter muscle from the host.

An implantable apparatus for selectively controlling fluid flow through a canal having internal and external walls and diameters, respectively, in a host body without having to sever the canal to implant said implantable apparatus in the host body or to operate said implantable apparatus following implantation thereof, said implantable apparatus comprising:

• a stop device positioned adjacent a selected portion of the external wall of a selected canal through which fluid flows following implantation of said implantable apparatus into the body host;
• an electrically operated constricting piston having a sliding plunger for engaging a certain area of the external wall of the selected canal which is opposite the selected area of the external wall against which said stop device is located when said constricting piston is activated;
• and
• a control device for selectively activating said electrically operated constricting piston,
• whereby, when said control device is activated, the plunger when retracted extends to an extended position to restrict the certain area of the exterior wall of the selected canal against said stop device to reduce the internal diameter of the selected canal located between the plunger and said stop device to reduce or stop fluid flow through the selected canal, and the plunger when extended retracts to a retracted position to open the selected canal to permit fluid flow there through.

An implantable incontinence apparatus for selectively controlling urine flow from a bladder through an urethra having internal and external walls and diameters, respectively, in a host body without having to sever the urethra to implant said implantable apparatus in the host body or to operate said implantable device following implantation thereof, said implantable apparatus comprising:

• a hollow housing, wherein said hollow housing has a plurality of portals for permitting fluid from outside of the urethra to flow into said hollow housing to promote tissue growth and anchor said implantable incontinence device following implantation thereof,
• a stop device within said hollow housing and positioned adjacent a selected portion of the external wall of the urethra through which urine flows following implantation of said implantable incontinence apparatus into the body host;
• an electrically operated constricting piston having a sliding shaft connected to a plunger for engaging a certain area of the external wall of the urethra which is opposite the selected area of the external wall of the urethra against which said stop device is located when said electrically operated constricting piston is activated, said plunger having a front on which more than one ridge is formed to create separate pressure points against the urethra when the plunger engages the urethra;
• a control device for selectively activating said constricting piston;
• whereby, when said control device is activated, the plunger when retracted extends to an extended position to restrict to restrict the certain area of the exterior wall of the urethra against said stop device to reduce the internal diameter of the urethra located between the plunger and said stop device to reduce or stop urine flow through the urethra, and the plunger when extended retracts to a retracted position to open the urethral to permit urine flow there through.