Electroactive polymer based artificial sphincters and artificial muscle patches
AssigneeSciMed Life Systems, Inc.
InventorMichael S. Banik
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Provided are artificial muscle patches, which are adapted to be implanted adjacent a patient's heart, and artificial sphincter cuffs, which are adapted to be implanted around a body lumen, such as the urethra, the anal canal, or the lower esophagus. The devices of the present invention comprise: (a) one or more electroactive polymer actuators; and (b) a control unit for electrically controlling the one or more electroactive polymer actuators to expand or contract the devices.
Claims44
An artificial sphincter, comprising:
- a cuff that is adapted for placement around a body lumen, said cuff comprising a plurality of electroactive polymer actuators comprising a conductive polymer;
- and
- a control unit electrically controlling said electroactive polymer actuators to expand or contract said cuff.
An artificial sphincter comprising:
- a cuff that is adapted for placement around the esophagus, said cuff comprising one or more electroactive polymer actuators;
- a control unit electrically controlling said one or more electroactive polymer actuators to expand or contract said cuff;
- and
- a sensing system in communication with said control unit for detecting when food or beverage enters said esophagus.
An artificial sphincter comprising:
- a cuff that is adapted for placement around the esophagus, said cuff comprising one or more electroactive polymer actuators;
- and
- a control unit electrically controlling said one or more electroactive polymer actuators to expand or contract said cuff
- a sensing system in communication with said control unit for detecting when the stomach is attempting to regurgitate its contents.
An artificial sphincter comprising:
- a cuff that is adapted for placement around a body lumen, said cuff comprising one or more electro active polymer actuators;
- a control unit electrically controlling said one or more electroactive polymer actuators to expand or contract said cuff;
- and
- a sensing system in communication with said control unit for sensing the degree of contraction of said electroactive polymer actuators.
An artificial muscle patch, comprising:
- a plurality of electroactive polymer actuators comprising a conductive polymer;
- and
- a control unit electrically controlling said electroactive polymer actuators to expand or contract said artificial muscle patch, wherein said patch is adapted for placement adjacent a patient's heart.
An artificial muscle patch comprising:
- one or more electroactive polymer actuators;
- a control unit electrically controlling said one or more electroactive polymer actuators to expand or contract said artificial muscle patch, wherein said patch is adapted for placement adjacent a patient's heart;
- and
- a sensing system in communication with said control unit for detecting a patient's heartbeat, wherein said control unit paces the contraction and expansion of said electroactive polymer actuators with said heartbeat.
An artificial muscle patch comprising:
- one or more electroactive polymer actuators;
- and
- a control unit electrically controlling said one or more electroactive polymer actuators to expand or contract said artificial muscle patch, wherein said patch is adapted for placement adjacent a patient's heart, and wherein said control unit paces the heart as well as the contraction and expansion of said electroactive polymer actuators.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.