# US 9,750,591 B1 · Systems and methods for assisting patients in emptying their bladder efficiently > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,750,591 B1 - Document ID: US9750591B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 15/297,727 - Filed: 2016-10-19 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-29 - Applicants: Sam Sultan - Inventors: Sam Sultan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9750591B1 ## CPC - A61F 2/0036: {implantable (A61F2/0018 takes precedence)} - A61B 5/03: Measuring fluid pressure within the body other than blood pressure, e.g. cerebral pressure {; Measuring pressure in body tissues or organs (determining bladder or urethral pressure A61B5/205)} - A61B 5/205: {Determining bladder or urethral pressure} - A61F 2/042: {Urinary bladders} - A61F 2250/0001: Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants - A61F 2250/008: Alarm means - 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) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract The present disclosure relates generally to systems, components, devices and methods for assisting a patient to empty his or her weakened or paralyzed bladder or a neobladder efficiently. The system and method includes a pressure sensor for sensing the pressure in the urinary bladder of a patient and an alert mechanism which alerts the patient of the bladder fullness and the need to void. An actuating device is operably coupled to the system to selectively activate a compression assembly. When activated, the compression assembly compresses the bladder to permit emptying of the bladder. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for assisting a patient to empty his or her bladder, comprising: a. a pair of plates arranged adjacent opposing walls of a patient's bladder; b. at least one pair of electromagnets connected to said pair of plates and configured to generate an attractive force between them when energized, wherein the attractive force pulls the plates inward to compress the bladder; c. a biasing mechanism connected to said plates and configured to separate the plates when said electromagnets are deactivated; and, d. an actuator coupled to said electromagnets and selectively triggerable by the patient to selectively energize said electromagnets. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, comprising a bladder pressure sensor implanted in a patient's bladder to sense the pressure and reporting the pressure reading to a controller having a processor, wherein the processor compares the pressure reading with data stored in a memory unit and wherein said controller activates, an alert mechanism to alert the patient when the bladder pressure reading exceeds a predetermined threshold stored in said memory unit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein said controller activates said alert mechanism to provide a plurality of alert levels to the patient correlating to the bladder pressure reading successively exceeding a corresponding plurality of predetermined thresholds stored in said memory unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein said alert mechanism is implanted. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein said alert mechanism is a vibrator. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, comprising at least one compression driver arranged between said plates, wherein said compression driver has opposing ends with an end engaging each of said pair of plates and wherein said compression driver is biased to separate said plates when said electromagnets are deactivated. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein said compression driver is biased with at least one spring. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein said electromagnets are arranged in said compression driver. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, comprising a plurality of compression drivers arranged between said plates wherein said compression drivers are biased to separate said plates when said electromagnets are deactivated. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, comprising at least one occluder arranged around a ureter or the urethra, wherein the occluder is operable between an open position and a closed position, and wherein the occluder seals the ureter or urethra in the closed position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein said occluder comprises an electromagnet and a movable plate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein when energized said electromagnet attracts said movable plate to seal the ureter or urethra. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein said movable plate is biased to return the occluder to the open position when said electromagnet is deactivated. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein said occluder is configured to close when the bladder pressure reading exceeds a predetermined threshold, and wherein said occluder is configured to open when the patient triggers said actuator. ### Claim 15 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein when the bladder pressure reading exceeds an alarm level pressure threshold stored in said memory unit, said controller deactivates the compression assembly and said controller activates said alert mechanism to provide an alarm alert level. ### Claim 16 A system for assisting a patient to empty his or her bladder, comprising: a. a controller implanted in a patient; b. a bladder pressure sensor implanted in the patient's bladder to sense the pressure in the patient's bladder and to report the pressure reading to the controller; c. a compression assembly implanted around the patient's bladder and operably coupled to said controller, said compression assembly including a pair of plates arranged adjacent opposing walls of a patient's bladder and at least one pair of electromagnets associated with said pair of plates, wherein when said electromagnets are energized an attractive force is generated between them, pulling said plates together and compressing the bladder; d. an alert mechanism operatively coupled to said controller, e. wherein said controller is configured to activate said alert mechanism to alert the patient when the bladder pressure reading exceeds a predetermined threshold; and, f. an actuator operatively coupled to said controller wherein said actuator is configured to be selectively triggered by the patient, and wherein said compression assembly compresses the bladder when the patient triggers the actuator. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein said compression assembly includes a biasing mechanism connected to said plates and configured to separate the plates when said electromagnets are deactivated. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein said controller has a processor, wherein the processor compares the pressure reading with data stored in a memory unit and wherein said controller successively activates said alert mechanism to provide a plurality of alert levels to the patient correlating to the bladder pressure reading successively exceeding a corresponding plurality of predetermined thresholds stored in said memory unit. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein said alert mechanism is an implanted vibrator. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, comprising at least one occluder arranged around a ureter or the urethra, wherein the occluder is operable between an open position and a closed position, and wherein the occluder seals the ureter or urethra in the closed position.